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Our events program

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Picket Lines & Power: Women Who Reshaped Work, March 5, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EST 

 

How did women in Canada fight for the right to work, to organize, and to be recognized as full participants in public life? 

 

This session traces the pivotal moments, movements, and voices that shaped women’s labour history—from early suffrage activism to the 1981 postal workers’ strike that transformed maternity leave rights, to the legal battles that redefined workplace protections. 

 

Featuring: 

 

  • Marion Pollack, CUPW Trailblazer

  • Joan Sangster, Professor, Trent University

  • Others to be confirmed

 

This is history told not as a timeline, but as a legacy of resistance. 

Voices Rising: Activism and the Modern Workplace, April 9, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EDT 

 

What does gender inequality look like in the modern workplace? How are we dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace? Who is still left behind? And how are activists, labour leaders, and researchers pushing for change? 

 

This session will examine persistent inequities across industries, women's unpaid work, impact of the care economy on women’s labour and barriers faced by women with diverse identities 

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Speakers to be confirmed.

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Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Designing Tomorrow’s Workplaces, May 7, 2026, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EDT 

 

What does the future hold for women entering and transforming the workforce? How can we ensure that the next generation inherits not only opportunities, but the knowledge of the struggles that made those opportunities possible? What will be the impact of AI on women’s work and women’s voices? 

 

Speakers to be confirmed

 

 

Join the Conversation 

 

You can register for all three events by clicking on the link here.

 

Whether you’re stepping into the workforce for the first time or shaping policy at the highest levels, this series offers a space to learn, question, connect, and mobilize. 

Together, we can write women back into history—and into the future of work. 

Past events

Annual Monique Bégin Lecture | Conférence annuelle Monique Bégin

October 30, 2025 | Le 30 octobre 2025

The Women’s History Project, in partnership with the University of Ottawa, hosted the Annual Monique Bégin Lecture with keynote guest speaker Dr. Theresa Tam, former Chief Public Health Officer for Canada and featuring Huguette Labelle, former Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, who will deliver introductory remarks.

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To celebrate Women’s History Month this October—and in tribute to the extraordinary legacy of the Honourable Monique Bégin—this inaugural lecture on Thursday, October 30, focusede on women’s health and two women's journeys.

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*****

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Le Projet d’histoire des femmes, en partenariat avec l’Université d’Ottawa, est fier de présenter la Conférence annuelle Monique Bégin avec l’invitée de marque Dre Theresa Tam, ancienne administratrice en chef de la santé publique du Canada, ainsi que la participation de Mme Huguette Labelle, ancienne chancelière de l’Université d’Ottawa.

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Pour souligner le Mois de l’histoire des femmes en octobre — et rendre hommage à l’extraordinaire héritage de l’honorable Monique Bégin — cette conférence inaugurale du jeudi 30 octobre portera sur la santé des femmes et le parcours ces deux femmes.

Writing Women into History

 

The challenges of learning, exploring, discussing, and researching women’s histories are an ongoing struggle – both within Canada and on a global scale. From barriers such as lack of materials or sources related to women, lack of records written about or by women specifically, male-led narratives or historical trends that have been disinterested in women’s work, women’s spaces, or women’s stories. Feminist politics and activists have been instrumental in revealing the gaps in history concerning women, often seeking to understand the historical roots of gender oppression and inequalities. 

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Gendered History and the Cultural History Turn
Thursday, January 23, 2025
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This event focused on the challenges of exploring gender history and uncovering women’s diverse experiences in history. Why is it important?  What has the historical space for discussion looked like for women’s history and gender history? What different methods and kinds of sources do historians have to use for telling feminist stories?

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With guest speakers:

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  • Dr. Rose Fine Meyer, Senior Lecturer at OISE, University of Toronto

  • Adele Perry, Director, Centre for Human Rights Research, Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba

  • Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First People’s House of Learning at Trent University (Moderator)

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Curating and Gender
Thursday, February 20, 2025
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This webinar explored the challenges and processes of our changing understanding of women’s history, taking the lens of places and tools now being used to share and showcase more gender history. What types of strategies, opportunities or barriers are faced? How is women’s history curated? How can we extend our understanding of what is autobiographical and what is women’s storytelling?  

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With guest speakers:

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  • Dr. Afua Cooper, University of Toronto, multidisciplinary scholar and author, previously founded and co-coordinated the Black Studies Program at Dalhousie University.

  • Katie Pollock, Curator, Indigenous Histories and Contemporary Culture, Canadian Museum of History

  • Stacey Barker, Historian and author, Arts & Military History, Canadian War Museum

  • Talia Chung, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries at the University of Ottawa (Moderator)

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Storytelling and the future of gendered history
Thursday, March 20, 2025
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This webinar looked at the future of gender studies and telling women’s stories. Why is it important for future generations? What can be done better going forward? What role does activism play in ensuring women’s voices get louder and more sustained for the following generations? What makes gender history a powerful tool for societal change for women today?

 

With guest speakers:

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  • ​Josie Nepinak, President of the Native Women's Association of Canada

  • Camile Robert, Quebec Board Representative of Canadian Committee on Women's and Gender History

  • Margie Wolfe, Co-Founder of Second Story Press

  • Margaret McPhail: Founding Member of Rise Up! Feminist Archives

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Writing Women into History
October 9, 2024

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 hosted a special event featuring Dianne Dodd, author of Our 100 Years: The Canadian Federation of University Women. Dianne discussed 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 presented 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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The Power of Women's Voices in Public Life
October 18, 2023
 

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

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The Power of Indigenous Women's Voices
June 14, 2023
 

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.

  • Jeannette Corbiere Lavell. Educator, community worker, advocate, activist - and founder of the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)

  • Moderated by Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University

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Women's Sexual and Reproductive Justice
March 2, 2023
 

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. With Speakers

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Donna Cherniak, MD is a physician specializing in family medicine. She is co-author of the Birth Control Handbook, 1968, an initiative of the McGill Students Society.

 

Karin Wells is a CBC Radio documentary maker and author of The Abortion Caravan. 

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Maureen McTeer,  is a lawyer specializing in health law, an author of five books and a well-known women’s rights advocate. Photo credit Valberg Imaging, Inc.

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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.

A Woman's Place in the Media
October 27, 2022
 

Panelists explored the milestones and groundbreaking moments. 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? 

 

Moderated by:

Germaine Chazou-Essindi, Government of Canadaz

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Speakers:

Monika Ille is a member of the Abenaki First Nation of Odanak. CEO of APTN

 

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.

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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.

Reclaiming our Place: Honouring Indigenous Women's Voices
June 20, 2022
 

The Women’s History Project together with the Canadian Research Institute on the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) staged its second online event, 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.

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Moderated by

Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University

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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

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Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Charter of Rights
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.

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Guest Speakers

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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

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