Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society: Presentation by Lori Oschefski about British Home Children
2026-01-22 13:30 (America/Toronto) | Harrow Arena Community Room, 243 McAffee St., Harrow, Ontario, N0R 1G0, Canada
Join us on January 22nd at 1:30 for a presentation by Lori Oschefski about British Home Children. Between 1869 and 1932 impoverished children were migrated from Britain to Canada to be placed as domestic and agricultural help – several were placed in Harrow and Colchester South. Lori Oschefski is founder and president of Home Children Canada, a charity committed to cataloging the stories of Home Children and reuniting families separated by these migration programs. Lori is an author widely recognized for her expertise and contributions to the field. In 2016, she attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as one of four Canadians invited by Barnardo’s to represent the Home Children at their 150th-anniversary celebration.
Join us as Lori talks about the struggles and history of British Home Children and how to research in our own families. The presentation will be available in person at the Harrow arena community room AND online through Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84610827921?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 846 1082 7921
Passcode: [REDACTED]

HEIRS January Meeting - British Home Children
2026-01-22 13:30 | Harrow Arena Community Room, 243 McAffee St., Harrow, Ontario, N0R 1G0, Canada
HEIRS January Meeting JANUARY 22ND AT 1:30 PM
Join HEIRS for a presentation on the history of the British Home Children migration programs. PRESENTED BY HOME CHILDREN CANADA Learn about key resources for research and explore the vast contributions Home Children made to Canada’s development and war efforts. contact: heirsont@gmail.com for info
MEETING WILL BE AVAILABLE
IN PERSON:
Harrow Arena Community Room, 243 McAffee
AND ON-LINE:
ZOOM link info

Culinary Historians of Canada: Book Launch for Nathalie Cooke’s "Tastes and Traditions: A Journey Through Menu History"
2026-01-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Menu Matters
A Book Launch for Nathalie Cooke’s “Tastes and Traditions: A Journey Through Menu History”
Friday, Jan. 23 (2-4)
Sidney Smith Hall, room 2098 (Natalie Zemon Davis Room)
100 St. George Street, at Harbord Street
University of Toronto Campus
Registration is free but required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1979757908197?aff=oddtdtcreator
Join us for an appetizing exploration of why menus matter and the stories they tell us today. We will come to menus belatedly, after the dishes have been washed up, so to speak. So in her exploration of ways in which menus matter, Professor Nathalie Cooke keeps at least two audiences in mind: diners of the menus’ moment and we who look at menus from distances spanning years, even continents and linguistic divides.
Nathalie Cooke is professor of English at McGill University and a recognized scholar in literary food studies and material culture. Her research explores how objects like menus and textiles tell stories: through design, language, and hidden codes. She works across disciplines and archives, often drawing public attention to overlooked artefacts and their cultural significance. From Victorian fiction to WWII resistance stitching, her projects bridge academic inquiry with public engagement. Cooke brings history to life through close reading and material analysis. Her books focus on the evolution of literary and culinary taste.

Guelph Black Heritage Society - Bloom & Belong Summer Drop-In for BIPOC Youth
2026-01-23 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-01-30 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-02-06 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-02-13 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-02-20 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-02-27 16:30 - 18:30 | Heritage Hall, Essex Street 83, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 3K9, Canada
Fridays in July & August
Heritage Hall, 83 Essex Street, Guelph
Open to youth ages 12–18
Free refreshments provided
Join us for a welcoming and empowering space where BIPOC youth can connect, create, and celebrate community all summer long. All are welcome.
Special thanks to the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board for their generous support of this initiative.
For more information, contact: info@guelphblackheritage.ca

Glencoe & District Historical Society Workshop "Lost Lambton Houses: Mapping Heritage Farms in Southwestern Ontario"
2026-01-24 11:00 - 13:30 | Glencoe and District Historical Society Archives, 178 McKellar Street, Glencoe, Ontario, N0L 1M0, Canada
A Workshop with Evan Abma
Friday, January 24, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch provided (you are welcome to bring a contribution)
📍 Location: The Archives, 178 McKellar Street, Glencoe, ON

Join the Glencoe & District Historical Society for an engaging midday session with Evan Abma, local historian, Chair of the Sarnia Heritage Committee, and a leading voice in documenting Ontario’s disappearing rural heritage.
Over the past several years, Evan has undertaken an ambitious research project mapping historic farmhouses across Lambton County. Using a wide range of sources—including historical land registers, tax assessments, farm directories, topographic maps, census records, satellite imagery, concession maps, and digital tools such as Google MyMaps—he has documented approximately 1,700 historic farmhouses still standing, down from about 2,000 in 2009.
In this 30–40 minute presentation, Evan will:

Walk participants through the research methods and tools used to identify and map historic farms
Demonstrate how these approaches can be adapted by local historians, heritage groups, and landowners
Share insights into patterns of loss, including farm consolidation, demolition trends, and planning barriers
Reflect on why preserving historic farmhouses matters for understanding our rural landscape, settlement history, and architectural heritage

The Google Map.
The Facebook Group: Lost Lambton, Found!
What are the implications here in SW Middlesex?
Over the years, Glencoe & District Historical Society members have been actively documenting heritage architecture, historic farms, cemeteries, and rural landscapes across Southwest Middlesex. We are eager to learn how historical land records, assessments, directories, and census data can be layered with modern tools such as Google MyMaps to create living, shareable records of our rural heritage. This presentation may help spark ideas for how we can apply similar methods locally, building on the work already underway in our community.
Call to Action:
If you have an interest in historic farmhouses, rural architecture, mapping, research, or local history—and especially if you’ve already gathered notes, photos, or stories—this session is for you. Come learn, ask questions, and imagine what a shared, community-driven heritage map for Southwest Middlesex could look like. Your knowledge and curiosity are part of preserving the stories written into our landscape.

Background
Evan’s work began after he noticed that many historic homes featured in an online article about Warwick Township were no longer standing. What started as a small tracking project quickly expanded to all of Lambton County, revealing uneven patterns of preservation—some areas retaining many historic homes, while others have seen rapid decline.
These farmhouses represent more than buildings. They embody the aspirations of early rural settlers, marking a transition from log cabins to substantial homes that reflected permanence, prosperity, and connection to the land. Their loss, Evan argues, erodes not only housing stock but also our tangible link to rural history.
The presentation will be followed by time for conversation, questions, and informal discussion over lunch.
This event will be of interest to:

Local historians and genealogists
Farmers and rural landowners
Heritage advocates and planners
Anyone interested in rural history, landscape change, and preservation

All are welcome.
Please join us for learning, conversation, and community around the shared task of understanding—and caring for—our rural heritage.

Heritage York Annual Howland Lecture: Tim Morawetz
2026-01-25 14:00 | Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St., York, Ontario, M6S 2R6, Canada
Heritage York invites all to the annual Howland Lecture at the Lambton House, held in memory of our neighbourhood’s own Father of Confederation Sir William Pearce Howland, onetime proprietor of the Lambton House. This year, it will take place on Sunday, January 25th at 2 pm.
Author Tim Morawetz will present on Art Deco Architecture, focusing on Ontario. The author of “Art Deco Architecture Across Canada,” Morawetz has presented widely around the province to architects and general audiences to wide acclaim.
We recommend taking the TTC 55 bus from Jane Station which stops right in front of the Lambton House.

East York Historical Society Celebrates Black History Canada
2026-01-27 18:30 - 20:00 | S. Walter Stewart Toronto Public Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave., East York, ON, M4J 2K5, Canada
All are Welcome (bring as many guests as you like) to attend. Free Admission, Free Parking, Free Refreshments

Our Special Guest Speaker Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon on””Living Free in the Time of Slavery: The Long Family in Toronto”

6:30 PM Doors Open into John S. Ridout Auditorium, Refreshments Served.
7:00 PM President Welcome and Remarks and the reading of the Land Acknowledgement
by Toronto Public Library [S. Walter Stewart Branch] Staff.
7:15 PM East York Historical Society Welcomes Presenter Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon
7:45 PM includes Q & A.
8:00 PM East York Historical Society evening general meeting wrap sharp with Thanks.

Toronto's Lost Shipwreck
2026-01-28 19:00 - 21:00 | University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, 1050 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1G9, Canada
Scarborough Underwater Club Inc., University of Toronto Scarborough proudly present !

Beyond the Familiar: Cultivating Exploration Close to Home

Join Heison Chak, OUC President and seasoned technical diver, as he shares the story behind a remarkable discovery beneath Toronto’s waters.
In August 2025, a Canadian dive team ventured into the unknown and uncovered a forgotten wooden schooner resting quietly on the lakebed — a vessel believed to have sailed the Great Lakes in the early days of Toronto’s history.
Through photos, stories, and insights from the expedition, discover how curiosity discipline, and careful planning led to and extraordinary find that connects our present to a long-vanished past.

When: Wednesday, January 28, 2026. 7-9PM

Where: UofT Scarborough campus, Sam Ibrahim Building, Room IA-B1100, parking lot H

Deadline to register: Saturday, January 24, before midnight.

All are invited to attend this public event.

Address: 1050 Military Trail, Toronto ON M1C 1G9

Contact Owen Jones <suciowen@gmail.com> with any questions. Please notify us of any last minute cancellations so we can account for refreshment !

Weston Historical Society - "TORONTO HOCKEY BEFORE LEAFS”
2026-02-04 19:30 | Weston Seniors’ Residence, King Street 15, Toronto, Toronto, M9N 3X1, Canada
The WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents…”TORONTO HOCKEY BEFORE LEAFS” with Guest Speaker Adam Waiser
Wednesday February 4, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. 15 King Street, Central King Seniors Residence in the Social Room
Topic: WHS Membership Meeting – February: Skating Into History: Toronto’s Hockey Beginnings

Time: Feb 4, 2026 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 838 4327 6020
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Canada Black Music Archives : Black History Month Showcase
2026-02-05 17:00 - 22:00 | City of Toronto Archives, Spadina Road 255, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2V3, Canada
The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) will be hosting their annual Black History Month Showcase on Thursday, February 5th, 2026!
With support from TD Bank Group through TD Ready Commitment and sponsored by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, this exciting FREE event will be hosted at the City of Toronto Archives and promises an exciting lineup with some of Toronto’s premier R&B and soul artists.
This special programming includes a daytime presentation with musician and esteemed chef Roger Mooking in conversation with CBMA co-founder Phil Vassell.
The evening showcase will feature stellar performances by veteran Black Canadian musician’s including Jully Black, Liberty Silver, Tanika Charles, Divine Brown and Dru (In Essence), with mixes by DJ Carl Allen and hosted by Mel Boogie.
Registration is mandatory so grab your tickets below. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate Black music and culture with the CBMA this Black History Month!

Historical Society of Ottawa Speaker Series : “Avant Bytown: La région sous le Régime français”
2026-02-07 13:00 | Ottawa Public Library, St-Laurent Branch, Coté Street 515, Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 0Z8, Canada
Guest Speaker
Jean-François Lozier, Conservateur, Amérique française, Musée canadien de l’histoire

Admission is free. All are welcome to attend.
Please note: this presentation will be conducted in French.

Coptic Museum of Canada Fundraising Gala
2026-02-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Coptic Museum of Canada, 41 Glendinning Ave., Scarborough, Ontario, M1W 3E2
A milestone worth celebrating!
Join us for the Coptic Museum of Canada’s Fundraising Gala, marking 25 years of preserving and sharing Coptic heritage since 2000.
An unforgettable evening with a meaningful purpose, preserving our history for future generations.
Details:
📅 Feb 7 | ⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM EST
📍 41 Glendinning Ave, Scarborough
🎟️ $50 per ticket
Be sure to RSVP soon; space is limited. All are invited to join us in celebrating our story!
Get your Tickets here
OR:
E-Transfer: copticmuseumcanada [AT] gmail.com
(Please indicate “2026 Fundraising” in the message box)
Cheque payable to Coptic Museum of Canada
41 Glendinning Avenue, Scarborough, ON M1W 3E2
Or contact us (copticmuseumcanada [AT] gmail.com) for cash/in-person payment

Albion Bolton Historical Society: AGM and Historical Show & Tell
2026-02-09 19:30 | Caledon Seniors’ Centre, 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton, Ontario, L7E 1Y2, Canada
The first meeting of 2026 is on February 9th for a 7:30 PM start.
PLEASE NOTE we have changed the meeting location to Rotary Place, Caledon Senior’s Centre, 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton, Multi-purpose Room 2, located behind the Caledon Wellness Centre on the North Hill.
The meeting will begin with our short Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by a members & guests Show & Tell. You are invited to bring something of local historical interest.

Toronto Railway Museum: Black Railway Porters in Canada
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | online
Join author and historian Channon Oyeniran as she shares the story of the Black men who worked as sleeping car porters on Canadian railway routes. This presentation will also explore some of the established Black communities in which many of these men lived and came from, as well as explore the experiences many Black men had as Sleeping Car Porters in Canada.
This presentation will explore and discuss:

Who were the Black Sleeping Car Porters?
Black Sleeping Car Porters and established Black Canadian communities.
Labour Challenges and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
Black Canadian Leaders and their connections to Sleeping Car Porters.

About our speaker:
Historian and author Channon Oyeniran has an indescribable passion and thirst to not only know more about history, in particular- slavery (historical and modern), but to educate people on these issues and to assist in stopping it from continuing!
Channon is a graduate of University of Toronto with a bachelor’s degree in history and Caribbean Studies, the University of Hull (UK) with a Master’s Degree in Slavery Studies, and she is currently undertaking her PhD at Queen’s University. Channon has expanded her knowledge and information about Black History and the issues that the Black community faces both locally, here in Canada and internationally, by participating in conferences and workshops relating to the Black experience and history in Canada.
Channon served as the Vice-President for the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) from 2017-2023, where she helped the organization to preserve, celebrate and spread the rich Black history of Ontario and Canada.
Channon is the founder of Oyeniran Education Support (OyES), an educational organization that helps individuals and institutions identify and align with their intrinsic values, gifts and nurtures them to greatness. Channon uses the OyES platform and others, to teach people about Black History. Channon Oyeniran was born in Scarborough, Ontario but is a longtime resident of the Durham Region. She currently resides in the Durham Region with her husband and their sons.
About the series:
The Toronto Railway Museum hosts guest speakers online via the Zoom Webinar platform the Second Tuesday of each month. These talks are free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10 to support future programming. The Toronto Railway is a registered Canadian charity (838626943RR0001) and charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations over $25.

The Historical Society of Ottawa: Algonquin Anishinaabeg of the Ottawa River Valley: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
2026-02-11 19:00 | online
Guest Speaker: Lynn Gehl Ph.D, Anishinaabe Algonquin Advocate, Academic, Author & Artist

Details
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the Rideau Canal and Bytown — but how did this impact the Algonquin people, for whom the Ottawa Valley has been home for millennia?
Dr. Gehl makes the case that, two centuries later, we have yet to resolve crucial issues such as that our nation’s capital – the “heart of Canada” – continues to trespass on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg and that the violation of Algonquin rights continues.
A Special Bytown200 Presentation.
Admission is free. All are welcome to attend.
Registration via Zoom : https://tinyurl.com/HSO-11-Feb-2026

Esquesing Historical Society: From Kensington Palace to Glen Williams
2026-02-11 19:00 | Knox Presbyterian Church, 116 Main St. S., Georgetown, ON, L7G 3E6, Canada
Historian Mark Rowe will highlight his new book, Kissed by Two Kings, the story of his 3x Great-grandmother and extend the story to his branch of the family and how he ended up in Glen Williams. This presentation will be preceded by our Annual General Meeting.
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 116 Main St., S., Georgetown, 7:00 p.m.

Culinary Historians of Canada: Saloons to Soul Food
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 | online
In recognition of Black History Month, Faith Ebanks will join us on February 12th to delve into Black history in relation to King Street East and the surrounding neighbourhood in Toronto. This neighbourhood was formerly the home to the Underground Railroad restaurant and the Epicurean Recess – two Black-owned food establishments that stood during two different moments in Toronto’s vast and complicated history. Faith will discuss the history and significance of soul food as an edible form of Black culture, and celebrate the bravery, innovation and perseverance of Black entrepreneurs, business owners, and freedom seekers who not only shaped Canadian history, but whose lives and legacies are all too often unknown or overlooked.
Faith Ebanks is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto with a master’s (MA) degree in history. She also holds a Honours Bachelor of Arts (HBA) degree with a double major in history and art history. Her research explored the relationship between horror and the ongoing legacy of slavery and colonialism throughout the Atlantic World from the 16th to the 21st century. In 2023, she created Being Black on King, and has delivered it through tours with Heritage Toronto ever since. CHC is grateful for the assistance of Heritage Toronto for this presentation.

Toronto's First Post Office - Toronto Book of Love
2026-02-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Toronto’s First Post Office, Adelaide Street East 260, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1N1, Canada
On February 13, join local favourite, Adam Bunch, for a special presentation just in time for the romantic season and explore Toronto’s history through true tales of romance, marriage, passion, heartache, lust, and the scandalous love affairs of the early city. Learn how Toronto has been shaped by crushes, jealousies, and flirtations as told by the author himself.
Coffee, tea, and cookies will be served. Pre-registration is required and spots are strictly limited!

Canada Black Music Archives : Film Screening and Discussion PORTIA WHITE: THINK ON ME
2026-02-18 17:30 - 20:00 | Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2C5, Canada
Are you looking for an informative film to watch this February? If so, join the Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) at the Archives of Ontario on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026. The CBMA will be running a screening and panel discussion of Portia White: Think On Me from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.
The screening will spotlight the enduring legacy of the legendary contralto, who was as international star. Portia White is known as one of the best classical artists of the 20th century and is a notable figure in Black Canadian Music History.
Following the film, Slyvia D. Hamilton will join a panel discussion with Professor Ola Mohammed and David “Click” Cox of Clk Creative that focuses on the film’s aesthetic, historical and cultural performance hosted by Professor Mark V. Campbell.
Seating is limited! Please reserve your seat at the link.

Toronto Postcard Club's 44th Annual Vintage Postcard Show and Sale
2026-02-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Sakura Way 6, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1Z5, Canada
From the early 1900’s through the ‘chromes’ of modern times, you are sure to find something of interest. Thousands of vintage postcards for sale in organized boxes filed by topic and geography. Hope to see you there!

The Historical Society of Ottawa: The Ottawa Mosque and the Ottawa Muslim Association
2026-02-23 13:00 | Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch, 120 Metcalfe St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5M2, Canada
Guest Speaker
Mohamed Ghadban, Vice-President, OMA
Details
The Ottawa Mosque, the first mosque in the nation’s capital and one of the oldest in Canada, was conceived in 1964 and completed in 1973, at a time when Canada’s nationwide Muslim population numbered fewer than live in just Ottawa today.
Join us a we explore the history of the Ottawa Mosque and our city’s Muslim Community.
Admission is free. All are welcome to attend.

Oxford Historical Society - How Do I Love Thee? Exploring a history of the Valentine
2026-02-25 18:30 | Chartwell Oxford Gardens, 423 Devonshire Ave, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Please join us Wednesday February 25, 2026 for a special presentation by Scott Gillies, Chair of the Oxford Historical Society. This is a free event. Donations Welcome!

HEIRS February Meeting in Celebration of Black History Month
2026-02-26 13:30 | Harrow Arena Community Room, 243 McAffee St., Harrow, Ontario, N0R 1G0, Canada
The Stories We Tell: From Africa to Canada, Presented by Edward Milo Johnson
Through poetry, spoken word, and storytelling, from his book ”The Color of Freedom,” Milo Johnson reflects on the resilience, struggles, and triumphs experienced by the African
diaspora during their journeys to freedom. The presentation includes visual art by Myriam Wilson.
Join us on February 26 at the Harrow Arena community room for a memorable presentation by Milo Johnson. Everyone is welcome!
Town of Essex heritage colouring books will be available at the meeting.

La Société d'histoire de Toronto CONFÉRENCE - Regards vers l’avenir : La transition socio-écologique à Toronto et en Ontario
2026-03-04 19:00 | Théâtre de l’Alliance française, Spadina Road 24, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2S7, Canada
Conférencière : Christine Beaudoin, professeure adjointe en Environnements Urbains, Université de l’Ontario français
Nos sociétés font face à de nombreuses transformations socio-culturelles, politiques et économiques. Plusieurs crises écologiques (changements climatiques, surexploitation des ressources, perte de biodiversité, rareté de l’eau potable…) font aussi pression sur nos sociétés. Dans un tel contexte, la transition socio-écologique émerge comme moyen d’assurer un futur plus vert et plus juste pour tous, en considérant à la fois les besoins des communautés ainsi que les besoins de la planète.
Cette présentation nous projette vers le futur en adressant la transition socio-écologique à Toronto, et plus largement en Ontario. Habitant à Toronto depuis trois ans, Christine Beaudoin s’appuie sur des expériences personnelles à Toronto et des recherches en milieux urbains et ruraux ontariens.

Women's History Project: Picket Lines & Power: Women who reshaped work
2026-03-05 16:30 - 18:00 | online
The Women’s History Project is excited to invite you to our second Writing Women Into History webinar series. Our 2026 theme is: From Resistance to Redesign: Women Transforming Work
Across Canada and beyond, the movement to learn, teach, and protect women’s histories is reaching a defining moment. For generations, feminist scholars, leaders, and changemakers have shown how women’s stories — including around labour, leadership, and resistance — have been undervalued or unknown. Reclaiming these histories offers more than overdue recognition: it gives us the insight we need to redesign the future of work. By understanding where inequities come from, we can challenge them more effectively, champion fairer practices, and build systems that truly value women’s contributions.
The Women’s History Project invites you to be part of this powerful three‑part webinar series, where we confront these gaps together. You’ll hear directly from women who have researched these histories, lived them, and fought to change the conditions shaping women’s work in Canada and from women who continue to challenge the status quo and look ahead to new opportunities. —as well as from those continuing to challenge the status quo and push toward new possibilities.
This series is for anyone committed to gender justice: students, educators, researchers, labour organizers, activists, policymakers, community advocates, and emerging leaders who believe that understanding women’s history is essential to transforming our world. collective future. We must know our history to defend our future.
Session 1: Picket Lines & Power: Women Who Reshaped Work (use this link to register)
March 5, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EST
This session traces the pivotal moments, movements, and voices that shaped women’s labour history—from early suffrage activism to the 1981 postal workers’ strike that transformed maternity leave rights, to the legal battles that redefined workplace protections. This is history told not as a timeline, but as a legacy of resistance. Meet our panelists!
Marion Pollack (Moderator)
Marion Pollack is a retired postal worker and a former activist in the Canadian Union of Postal Workers from Vancouver B.C. She held elected positions locally, regionally, and nationally in CUPW, but her most important role was that of a CUPW shop steward. With a group of other people, she worked for gender equality in her Union, the workplace, and the labour movement. In retrospect she wishes she could have been more inclusive and diverse in this work. She was a member of the CUPW National Women’s Committee for over 9 years. Marion was an active participant in the 1981 CUPW strike which resulted in paid maternity leave for postal workers.
Joan Sangster, Professor, Trent University
Joan Sangster is a Vanier Professor Emeritus at Trent University, Peterborough, where she taught in History, Canadian Studies, and Gender and Women’s Studies. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and past president of the Canadian Historical Association/ Société historique du Canada, she held visiting fellowships at McGill, Duke, and Princeton Universities. She has written eight books, co-edited seven essay collections, and published book chapters and articles dealing with working women, the labour movement, suffrage movements, women and the law, Indigenous settler relations, and feminist historiography.
Joan’s book, Earning Respect: The Lives of Working Women in Small – Town Ontario won the Canada prize and Transforming Labour: Women and Work in Postwar Canada an honourable mention for the CHA’s Canadian history book prize. Her recent Demanding Equality: A History of Canadian Feminism, which secured the Hilda Neatby prize for the best book in women’s and gender history, offers an overview of Canadian feminism which argues for the politically multi-vocal, hybrid character of equality-seeking women’s movements in Canada. She has been an associate and co-editor of the US-based Labor: Studies in Working-Class Histories of the America and the Canadian Labour.
Julia Smith, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba
Julia is an associate professor in the Labour Studies Program at the University of Manitoba on Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation. Her research and teaching focuses on the history and politics of work, unions, labour relations, and women’s activism in North America. She has an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies at Trent University and an M.A. and B.A. Hons. in History from Simon Fraser University. She is also a member of the Graphic History Collective.
Dr Leslie Nichols, Assistant Professor, Laurentian University
Leslie Nichols is an assistant professor in the Equity, Diversity, and Human Rights program within the Sociology unit at the School of Social Sciences at Laurentian University. She holds a PhD in Policy Studies, an MA in Work and Society (now Labour Studies), and a joint BA in Women’s and Gender Studies and Historical Studies. She grew up in several regions across Canada—including Northern Alberta, Northern Quebec, and Southern Ontario—and has strong family connections to Nova Scotia.
As a structural intersectionalist, Dr. Nichols uses theories of neoliberalism, feminism, and intersectionality to study and improve the working and living conditions of some of Canada’s most equity‑deserving communities. Her research focuses on the work experiences and social well‑being of groups such as immigrants, youth, and people marginalized by gender. She has examined issues related to unemployment, precarious work, self‑employment, and unpaid labour.
Join us for two more session!
We would love it if you would join us for Session 2 & 3 of this inspiring series.
You can reserve for all three sessions here on Eventbrite —- or to each of the individual events below.
Session 2: Voices Rising: Activism and the Modern Workplace
April 9, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EDT
This session will examine persistent inequities across industries, women’s unpaid work, the impact of the care economy on women’s labour and barriers faced by women with diverse identities. This is a call to action for anyone committed or interested in how to buildbuilding workplaces where all women can thrive.
Session 3: Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Designing Tomorrow’s Workplaces
May 7, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EDT
This forward-looking session will explore emerging opportunities for women in evolving industries, how leaders can build equitable, inclusive futures and the lessons today’s trailblazers want to pass on. This is a conversation about possibility—and responsibility.
Why This Series Matters
Women’s histories have too often been pushed to the margins of mainstream narratives. Yet these stories—of struggle, solidarity, innovation, leadership, and courage—are essential to understanding how gender inequality has been built, resisted, and reshaped over generations.
From the early fights for maternity leave and reproductive rights, to landmark human rights cases, to decades of unpaid and under‑recognized labour, women have continually challenged Canada to confront its inequities. The push for pay equity, workplace safety, accessible childcare, and fair representation is part of a long continuum of women demanding better—for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. And while progress has been made, the work is far from finish
Founded in 20221, The Women’s History Project is committed to advancing gender equality by shining a light on women’s achievements across Canadian history. We believe that understanding the past equips women—and allies—to lead, advocate, and create meaningful change today.
We hope to see you there!
Visit our Substack to learn more about what the Women’s History Project does, and find out about our 1000 Voices, 1000 Stories podcast, subscribe to the Voices & Stories weekly digest, and explore recommendationsrecommendation from On Our Bookshelf.
Be part of the history we’re building.
Join us there.
