Celebrating Excellence and Building a Community

What a joy it was to see teachers, museum representatives, community volunteers, authors and other history lovers meeting and mingling in Winnipeg in November 2024 as we celebrated winners of the Governor General’s History Awards. After arriving at the historic Fort Garry Hotel, laureates and invited guests were treated to a whirlwind of exciting events made possible by generous supporters of Canada’s History Society. Amidst the busy itinerary, there was still lots of time for folks to discuss the shared passion for our past that brings them together as part of a community of those who believe in the importance of sharing the stories that make us who we are as a country. Here’s a glimpse into the celebratory events.

On the morning of Tuesday, November 19, guests joined historian Philippe Mailhot for a bilingual bus tour of key Winnipeg historic sites. Next on the agenda: the evening’s gala celebration to honour winners of Governor General’s History Awards for excellence in museums, popular history, teaching, scholarly research, and community programming.

Wednesday, November 20, was thought-provoking and awe-inspiring. The first-ever Governor General’s History Symposium took place in the morning on the University of Winnipeg campus. It began with the lighting of a qulliq and throat singing, after which host and moderator Sophie Gaulin welcomed seven diverse and distinguished panellists. Her Excellency Mary Simon sat in the circle, listening and taking notes as the panellists explored the event’s theme: Fostering Understanding and Empathy through Inclusive History. They discussed how history can help us live a good life, and what we can do to achieve a more inclusive history in Canada.

The evening of November 20 was the culmination of the festivities. Laureates, their guests, and invited dignitaries gathered at Government House on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature. The Honourable Anita Neville, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, welcomed attendees to the Governor General’s History Awards, which were presented by Her Excellency Mary Simon. The reception afterward was marked by lively conversation and perhaps a bit of wistfulness as events drew to a close.