An Author Talk: “Orval Shaw, The Bandit from Skunk’s Misery” - London, Ontario May 20th.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2025

Westminster Township Historical Society Presents

An Author Talk: “Orval Shaw, The Bandit from Skunk’s Misery”

Local historian Paul Langan brings to life one of Ontario’s most colourful outlaws

WHAT:   Author talk by Paul Langan on his book “Orval Shaw – The Bandit from Skunk’s Misery”

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 20, 2026 — 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lambeth United Church Auditorium, 4268 Colonel Talbot Road, London, ON

HOST:    Westminster Township Historical Society

ADMISSION: Open to the general public — all are welcome

LONDON, ON — The Westminster Township Historical Society warmly invites the public to an engaging author talk by Ontario historian Paul Langan, who will speak about his book, Orval Shaw, The Bandit from Skunk’s Misery. The event takes place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Lambeth United Church Auditorium, 4268 Colonel Talbot Road, London, Ontario.

Orval Shaw was a man whose name once echoed across more than 40 cities, towns, and rural communities throughout Ontario. Equal parts folk hero and outlaw, he became one of the province’s most captivating fugitives during the 1920s and 1930s. Growing up near Bothwell, Ontario, Shaw developed an intimate knowledge of the dense, swampy woodland near Newbury in southwest Middlesex, a region known locally as Skunk’s Misery, which earned him his legendary moniker: the “Skunk’s Misery Bandit.”

Shaw repeatedly evaded large police posses, who at times employed Indigenous guides to navigate the difficult terrain, through sheer woodcraft and cunning. He was said to have laughed at officers from a tree branch while they searched below. After finally being captured in 1928, he escaped from the Chatham jail, triggering a multi-county manhunt, before eventually serving time at Kingston Penitentiary.

Author Paul Langan first encountered Shaw while researching other local history topics in Hespeler, Ontario, and was astonished that no one had previously compiled a comprehensive account of his life. Drawing on historical records, newspaper archives, and the support of a distant relative of Shaw’s, Langan spent years piecing together the full story. The result is a richly detailed portrait of a man shaped by hardship, defiance, and survival, a compelling chapter in the history of southwestern Ontario.

“Orval’s life would make a fantastic Hollywood movie,” says Langan. “His story is a compelling mix of hardship, rebellion, and survival. It’s a story that deserves to be told.”

The talk is free and open to all members of the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.

About Paul Langan

Paul Langan is a local historian and author whose research focuses on the rich and often overlooked stories of southwestern Ontario. His book on Orval Shaw was launched at the historic Jim Kish Theatre in Bothwell in November 2024 and has since been presented to historical societies across the region.

About the Westminster Township Historical Society

The Westminster Township Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of Westminster Township and the surrounding area of southwestern Ontario.