Annual Report 2019-20

As crisis calls Canadians together during this COVID-19 pandemic, we turn to history for inspiration.

We remember the dedication of Canadian physicians who fought to save patients a century ago, working to levels of exhaustion and their own loss of life during the influenza pandemic of 1918–20. This experience affected families and communities everywhere and led to the creation of a new national health department to manage valued resources during future public health crises.

We recall the resilience and determination of Canadian researchers — including Frederick Banting, Charles Best and their team — who discovered a dramatic new treatment for diabetes in 1921. Thanks to their efforts and ingenuity, insulin today helps millions of people worldwide to control their disease.

Throughout the past, when things seemed most dark, Canadians have always found a way.

Consider the Second World War, which ended seventy-five years ago this September. Canada and its allies stepped up on all fronts and over many years to defeat fascism. The risk was enormous, and the challenges were daunting. But Canadians persevered.

History abounds with stories of dedication, resolve, and resilience. We also see that today, as Canadians respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We see teachers, students, and parents embracing new technologies and new ways of earning. We see companies and communities finding new ways to unite Canadians despite the realities of physical distancing.

History tells us that there is hope for whatever the future might throw our way.

As we head into the fall of 2020, Canada’s History Society will continue to share the inspiring stories of Canadians, both past and present. It is encouraging that continued community collaboration is at the forefront of our new reality, with technology bringing us together as never before.

Wishing you good health, shared stories of united experience, and enduring inspiration.

On January 20, 2020, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette presented the Governor General’s History Awards. In her opening remarks, Her Excellency emphasized the importance of history, saying, “Without understanding our past, we cannot make sense of the present, and we can’t build a better future.”

The day prior, the recipients presented their award-winning work at the Canada’s History Forum, held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. This year’s forum, “Small Stories, Big Ideas” explored the idea that a single story can compel us to explore larger themes and concepts in Canadian history.

The annual History Makers Gala, sponsored by TD Bank Group, was a night of celebration for the whole history community. In addition to honouring the award recipients, the theme of the gala, In Good Company, marked the 350th anniversary of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The opening reception, sponsored by Power Corporation of Canada, featured lively Metis-style music by local group Fiddleground. As guests moved into the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History, they were treated to a spectacular evening of great food, conversation, and company. The evening ended with a moving musical performance by award-winning duo Twin Flames.

The Governor General’s History Awards include honours in five categories: teaching, scholarly research, popular media, museums, and community programming. These prestigious awards celebrate the very best in Canadian history and inspire us all to learn more about Canada’s diverse and fascinating stories.

The goal of Kayak magazine is to bring Canada’s past to life for our young readers by highlighting the fascinating people and events that have shaped our country.

We publish four print issues and one online edition in English every year; the digital edition along with one print edition is available in French.

In 2019 we extended our commitment by making all five issues available online in French. We also responded to teachers’ needs by ensuring there is classroom material on our website to go with all issues in both official languages.

As usual, the past year saw Kayak tackle a wide variety of themes, from labour history and bilingualism, to legendary ghosts and monsters, to the diversity of Canadian families. Our special digital issue explored the fur trade from a variety of perspectives.

In August 2019 Canada’s History Society hosted a national meeting of history educators at the McCord Museum in Montreal. The meeting brought together teachers, researchers, and museum educators from across the country for a series of conversations about history education and programming in Canada.

Dr. Carla Peck (University of Alberta), Dr. Lindsay Gibson (University of British Columbia), and Dr. Catherine Duquette (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) also worked with attendees on their research project, “Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future,” which recently received a seven-year partnership grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.