Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching

We invite all interested teachers to complete the Stage 1 application form to provide an overview of an original project they have developed for their students. Stage 1 deadline: April 22.
Article / Governor General's History Awards
Jackie Kovacs, Editorial Director, Canada’s History magazine celebrates some incredible inventions made in Canada with guest host, Syd Smith. This segment aired February 7, 2025.
The roots of the drug addiction crisis in Vancouver's downtown Eastside stretch back to the opium dens of the nineteenth century and the heroin scene of the 1960s. Now, when thousands of people are dying of street drugs spiked with synthetic opioids, historian Dave Hazzan traces the origins of drug culture in Vancouver and other big Canadian cities.

In the latest newsletter

Tailor Made

Thousands of Filipina garment workers found a better life in Canada, thanks to a unique labour-immigration scheme.

On Guard for Teeth

The term “hockey teeth” seems like an oxymoron — the gappy grins of so many players say a mouthful about how rough our favourite game can get.

Courting Justice

The Supreme Court of Canada was not always as supreme as its name suggests. Since 1875 the court has grown in importance alongside the country’s increasingly independent legal landscape.

2024 Governor General's History Awards

Jo Anne Broders

Jo Anne Broders and her Grade 8 class embarked on a year-long journey to uncover and honour the history of a little-known Mi’kmaq cemetery in Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey (Nii Laryea Osabu I, Atrékor Wé Oblahii kè Oblayéé Mantsè)

Cross-Border Cosmopolitans offers fresh insights into Black liberation movements in the twentieth century, focusing on the transnational efforts of Black North Americans of American, Caribbean, and Canadian descent.

Chinese Canadian Museum

The Chinese Canadian Museum is Canada’s first museum to honour the contributions, history, heritage, and the rich and diverse stories of past, present, and future Chinese Canadians.
The Governor General's History Awards

Celebrating the very best in Canadian achievements in the field of history and heritage.

View all the recipients, past and present

Latest Stories

Cash but Don’t Carry

A weighty 1950s-era cash register was used at a Northern store.

Saving Sweet & Sour

To halt the demolition of Toronto’s first Chinatown, restaurateurs found that the way to a politician’s heart is through his stomach.

A Nation’s Paper

Book review: All the essays in A Nation’s Paper have been published in the pages of the daily newspaper. Without exception, they’re concise, insightful, and easy reading.

My Grandfather’s Knife

Book review: An Edmonton-born historian traces the stories of five objects related to the Second World War, beginning with his grandfather’s knife.

Oh, Buona Vista!

Outdoor pageant regales audiences with stories and songs about Newfoundland and Labrador.

A Meeting of Minds

The Governor General’s History Awards celebrate Canadians who are contributing to this country’s story.
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Education

Preparing for Difficult Conversations

In this lesson, students will assess their knowledge of the Residential School system and the ongoing investigations related to students who died while attending Residential Schools.

Tracing the Tensions of the Cold War

In this lesson, students will examine the context of the Cold War and the causes that led to the conflict.

Running Towards Change

In this lesson, students will learn about Terry Fox and explore the history and development of lower limb prostheses.

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Students will learn about different types of energy sources used throughout Canada’s history, exploring the challenges, benefits, and harms associated with creating electricity.