Chris Young

Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Chris Young’s grade 10 students explored their community’s history through a project called “Kelvin Remembers the Winnipeg General Strike.”

Through primary and secondary source research, museum and historical site visits, and seminar discussions, students learned about the connections between their school, city, and this historic event.

The students were encouraged to investigate lesser-known histories associated with the strike. By studying the strike through multiple perspectives, the students gained an appreciation for the strike’s complexities and its polarizing legacy.

On May 15, 2019, the one hundredth anniversary of the first day of the strike, the students came together to host a special commemorative day at their school.

The students organized a gallery walk of their research projects for other students and staff to peruse. They also invited guest speakers, historians, and politicians to attend and to speak on the impact of the strike.

“Kelvin Remembers the Winnipeg General Strike” was an interactive and inventive project that made the history of the strike relevant to students and empowered them to share their knowledge and actively engage with commemorative acts.