A historic occasion
Governor General’s History Awards celebrate the creative and innovative people and organizations who make history relevant every day.
All across Canada, history champions are working every day to enlighten our students, connect our communities, and share increasingly diverse stories of the past.
In Nova Scotia, students at the Booker School in Port Williams were encouraged to tackle a decidedly controversial topic — what to do about the statue of Sir Edward Cornwallis, founder of Halifax and oppressor of the Mi’kmaq. The students researched multiple perspectives and shared their positions with the public, bringing people together, rather than wedging them further apart.
In Northern Quebec, the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute invited Canadians to learn about the values, teachings, and cultural history of the Eeyou Istchee, or People of the Land, through a travelling exhibit, Footprints: A Walk Through Generations.
These inspiring initiatives are just the tip of the iceberg.
Teachers are embracing technology and innovation to move beyond the boundaries of the classroom, turning students from passive recipients to active participants.
Museums and heritage groups are strengthening our communities through participatory and inclusive projects that add incredible depth to our understanding of the past.
In January, the Governor General’s History Awards were held at Rideau Hall to celebrate the exemplary and inventive work of teachers, writers, scholars, and organizations that promote and popularize Canadian history.
Employing the framework of historical thinking that encourages us to ask rigorous questions of the past, the recipients’ innovative approaches are breathing new life into old stories and inspiring the next generation of storytellers.
A day earlier, the award recipients shared their work with the national history community at the 11th Canada’s History Forum.
The annual networking opportunity brought together historians, educators, museum curators, community leaders, and the public to encourage an exchange of ideas and to shape new thinking so that Canadian narratives can reach wider, diverse audiences.
Canada’s National History Society is proud to deliver the Governor General’s History Awards and the Canada’s History Forum. We invite you to join us in celebrating the achievements of these talented Canadians.
For more about the award recipients, go to CanadasHistory.ca/awards. To watch a recording of the forum, visit CanadasHistory.ca/HistoryForum.