Making History Relevant - Canada's History

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History is essential for understanding the complex issues that face us today. As individuals, communities, and nations, we engage with the past to help navigate both the present and the future. History trains us to be thinkers, innovators, leaders, and engaged citizens.

The need for authentic history has never been more important, but unfortunately, the experiences of the past are often misused, ignored, or forgotten by society. Making the case for history is not always easy.

In light of this trend, a group of concerned history professionals came together in 2013 to form the History Relevance Campaign. The group articulated the value of history and identified seven ways that the knowledge and practice of history is vital to individuals, communities, and the nation.

Inspired by their work, the 10^th Canada’s History Forum welcomes speakers from North America to share why history is important in contemporary life, and to discuss how the core values of history — such as identity, empathy, leadership, and legacy —can be adapted and incorporated into our everyday work.

Presentations focus on what we can do as individuals and as communities to ensure that history has a vital role in the places we live and work. See the event programme.

Watch the Presentations

Tim Grove on the Values of History

In this presentation, Tim Grove discusses History Relevance and The Value of History Statement.

Jean-Pierre Morin Makes the Case for History

In this presentation, Jean-Pierre Morin discusses the absence of history in the federal government and asks “What would we need to do to ensure that history can meet the needs of those making decisions?”

Andrea Eidinger Makes the Case for History

In this presentation, Andrea Eidinger discusses the question, “how to make history relevant?” from the perspective of an academic historian, a professor, and a public historian.

Jan Grabowski Makes the Case for History

In this presentation, Jan Grabowski discusses his work that focuses on participation of non-Germans in the German genocidal project.

Making the Case for History Panel Discussion

In this discussion, panelists discuss what they think we should do as teachers, historians and every day people to underline the importance of history, but also to watch out for the abuses of control of this historical narrative.

Arielle Meyer on the Importance of History

In this presentation, Arielle Meyer discusses why history is important to her.

Dominique Trudeau Makes the Case for History Education

In this presentation, Dominique Trudeau outlines the strategies for history education in the museum setting using McCord Museum as an example.

Lindsay Gibson Makes the Case for History Education

In this presentation, Lindsay Gibson discusses reflects on how history education has changed in Canada.

Project Showcase: Treaty4Project

In this presentation, Naomi Fortier-Fréçon and Calvin Racette discuss Treaty4Project.

Project Showcase: Hodul’eh-a: A Place of Learning

In this presentation, Tracy Calogheros and Alyssa Tobin discuss Hodul’eh-a: A Place of Learning, which is a collaboration between the Exploration Place Museum and the Lheidli T’enneh Nation.

On the Importance of Reconciliation Discussion

In this discussion, Life Speaker Noel Starblanket and Calvin Racette discuss the importance of the reconciliation process.

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