There are many great women whose campaigns, achievements and contributions have led to substantial change in Canadian history. Their stories need repeating!
The Women's History Project wants to illuminate those stories of past changemakers in a modern way, capturing the hearts of those new to history and the equality movement and honouring the women who came before us.
If you would like to sponsor one or more of our events, please contact us. We have sponsorship packages available.
History Unfinished: Our Events Program
This event will be held at All Saints Ottawa a building of national historic significance located in the heart of Sandy Hill. The Other Hill is a community-led initiative designed to inspire crucial conversations by bringing Canada’s leading authors, artists, and thinkers to Laurier Avenue East, where history and diversity meet.
L’événement se tiendra à All Saints Ottawa, un bâtiment d'importance historique nationale situé au cœur du quartier Côte-de-sable,. L'autre colline est une initiative communautaire conçue pour inspirer des conversations cruciales en amenant les principaux auteurs, artistes et penseurs du Canada sur l'avenue Laurier Est, là où l'histoire et la diversité se rencontrent.
In celebration of Women's History Month, The Women's History Project, in collaboration with The Other Hill, and the University of Ottawa Library Women's Archives Initiative is hosting a special event featuring Dianne Dodd, author of Our 100 Years: The Canadian Federation of University Women. Dianne will discuss CFUW’s century-long legacy of advocacy, achievements, and its ongoing influence in shaping the Canadian nation followed by a moderated fireside chat and Q&A.
This occasion presents a unique opportunity to showcase and discuss the contributions of women in Canadian history and the vital role of archival research.
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Dans le cadre du Mois de l'histoire des femmes, le Projet sur l’histoire des femmes, en collaboration avec L’autre colline et les Archives des femmes de la Bibliothèque de l'Université d'Ottawa, organise un événement spécial auquel participera Dianne Dodd, autrice de Our 100 Years: The Canadian Federation of University Women. Dianne discutera de l'héritage centenaire de la Fédération canadienne des femmes diplômées des universités (FCFDU) en matière de défense des droits, de réalisations et d'influence continue dans le façonnement de la nation canadienne. Le tout sera suivi d'une causerie et d’une période de questions.
Il s'agit d'une occasion unique de mettre en lumière les contributions des femmes à l'histoire du Canada et de souligner le rôle vital de la recherche archivistique.
PAST EVENTS
The Women’s History Project in partnership with the University of Ottawa, the Famous 5 Foundation and Famous 5 Ottawa hosted the
Power of Women’s Voices in Public Life with special guest, the Rt. Honourable Kim Campbell, PC, CC, OBC, KC.
Together we saluted a truly remarkable woman and celebrated Ms. Campbell’s many contributions to Canada and Canadian history. We wanted you to be part of this important event.
Photo credit of Buffy Sainte-Marie - Matt Barnes
To celebrate National Indigenous History Month and in advance of National Indigenous Peoples Day, The Women’s History Project hosted The Power of Indigenous Women’s Voices with special guests:
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Buffy Sainte-Marie. Musician, poet, visual artist, pathfinder, activist - legend. Founder of the Nihewan Foundation and Cradleboard Teaching Project.
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Jeannette Corbiere Lavell. Educator, community worker, advocate, activist - and founder of the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
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Moderated by Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University
October 27, 2022
In the third online event in our History Unfinished series, A Woman's Place in the Media, panelists explored the milestones and groundbreaking moments we should remember. Are women’s voices truly heard through the media? What are the barriers that still need to come down and what new opportunities have opened up? How have opportunities for women in the media evolved? What was it like starting out? What are the barriers that still need to come down? What new opportunities have opened up?
Moderated by:
Germaine Chazou-Essindi, was recently appointed the first Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the National Arts Centre.
Speakers:
Monika Ille is a member of the Abenaki First Nation of Odanak. She has built a rich and diverse portfolio over the course of 30 years in the broadcasting industry.
Trina McQueen, O.C., is a media executive who began her career in television as host of the first season of CTV's W-5. She later moved to CBC, where she rose to Vice-President of the news; the first woman in North America to lead a network news department. She left CBC to launch the Discovery Channel, and later moved to CTV as vice-president and COO of the network.Today, she teaches at the Schulich School of Business at York University, where she is Director of Curriculum Development for the Arts, Media and Entertainment program.
Angela Antle (St. John's), has been a CBC host and producer for over 25 years. She was one of the founding producers and a guest host for Canada's premier culture program "Q". Antle is also a multi-platform producer who has worked on documentaries and digital strategies.
The subjects of motherhood, sexual health, and reproductive justice are vast and complex. We covered some of the historical highlights relating to birth control, abortion rights, and reproductive technologies. Anti-choice rhetoric, the connection between sexual and mental health, intersectional and ethical issues around access, sterilization, sexual identity, and social class are still relevant today. We would like to consider the relevance of these hot topics and highlight the work that still needs to be done.
With Speakers
Donna Cherniak, MD is a physician specializing in family medicine. She is actively practising in the Sherbrooke area. She is co-author of the Birth Control Handbook, 1968, an initiative of the McGill Students Society, A Book about Birth Control, 1979, STD Handbook, 1997, and the Menopause Handbook, 1997.
Karin Wells is a CBC Radio documentary maker and a three-time recipient of the Canadian Association of Journalists documentary award. Wells is also a lawyer and in 2011 was inducted into the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Honour Society. Author of The Abortion Caravan, 2020 and More Than A Footnote: Canadian Women You Should Know, 2022.
Maureen McTeer, is a lawyer specializing in health law, an author of five books and a well-known women’s rights advocate. Her fifth and current book, FERTILITY: 40 Years of Change, (Irwin Law, 2022) covers the major issues of infertility, assisted human reproductive technologies, genetics and embryo research. Photo credit Valberg Imaging, Inc.
Jennifer Brant (She/Her) Kanien’kehá:ka, is a mother-scholar and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Jennifer writes and teaches about Indigenous maternal pedagogies, reproductive justice for Indigenous women, and Indigenous women's literature. J
Sponsors
Reclaiming Our Place
Honouring Indigenous Women Leaders
Reclaiming Our Place - Monday, June 20, 2022
The Women’s History Project together with the Canadian Research Institute on the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) is staging its second online event in its History Unfinished series, Reclaiming Our Place, a virtual Indigenous Women’s Circle to honour Indigenous women activists, Indigenous women chiefs and storytellers. Speakers highlighted their personal journeys as part of this National Aboriginal Day special.
Moderated by
Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University
Speakers
Courtney Montour, Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) filmmaker, ‘Mary Two Axe Earley: I am Indian Again’
The Hon. Lillian Dyck, O.C., retired Senator, member of the Cree Gordon First Nation
Jeanette Corbiere Lavell, Wikwemiknog First Nation, educator, advocate and founding member of the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Pam Palmater, Mi'kmaq lawyer, professor, activist
Sharon McIvor, Member of the Lower Nicola Band, Aboriginal women’s rights activist, Co-Chair of the Feminist Alliance for International Action
Women and the Law: Celebrating the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms at 40!
A Woman's Place in Law - Thursday, April 14, 2022
Framing the launch of History Unfinished, this event made references to women's suffrage, the Persons Case and explored Section 15 and Section 28 in the Charter of Rights and the Constitution Act of 1982. Topics included landmark cases that were made possible by the Court Challenges Program and led by the Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Sponsored by the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women.
Guest Speakers
The Honourable Judy Erola, former Minister responsible for the Status of Women (1980-1984).
Mary Eberts, Constitutional Lawyer, a trailblazing lawyer and human rights advocate.
Kerri A.Froc, Lawyer, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick.