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

NEW DATES - 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.

We are hosting a 3-part webinar series that would be of interest to feminists, advocates, students of history or gender studies. We are gathering panels of academics, experts, curators, story tellers and activists to look at Writing Women into History three-ways!

REGISTRATION IS FREE.

Donations greatly appreciated. Your contribution will help support our programming. Tax receipts are available on donations greater than $30.

Gender History and the Cultural History Turn

Thursday, January 23, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EST

This event will explore 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? How has history changed from looking at dates, regional conflicts, wars and battles, monarchies and power ideologies to the more inclusive lens of class, culture, identity, attitudes and race?

Discussion among academic experts to set the scene and dive into historiography.

Curating and Gender

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EST

This webinar will explore 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?

Discussion among authors and museum curators to shine light on how these stories are told to the public and who is involved in the telling of them.

Storytelling and the Future of Gendered History

Thursday, March 20, 2025, 4:30pm – 6:00pm EST

This webinar will look to 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? What is our role in preserving history for the women of the future?

Discussion among leaders of women- and gender-focused initiatives will focus on bringing women’s history to the forefront.

To register

PAST EVENTS

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.

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:

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

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

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.