Category Archives: History in the News

The Continuing Relevance of Museums in Canada

      No Comments on The Continuing Relevance of Museums in Canada
Group of young university students handle archeological materials in classroom setting.

This summer, the Government of Canada helped to promote visits to museums through the Canada Strong pass. While initially focused on seven of the country’s nine national museums, other provinces and territories also opted to offer reduced and free admission. Ultimately, 87 museums across the country were part of the initiative, and early data indicates that it helped to boost attendanc. While the removal of admission fees increases accessibility, and – in turn – public enjoyment and appreciation of museums, the reality is that museums across the country are suffering from a lack of resources. To be effective stewards of the cultural heritage that they care for, museums need adequate financial support.

The Warmth of The Sun – Brian Wilson – an appreciation

Musically the thing about Brian Wilson is that it’s not all about Pet Sounds and Smile. A lot of Beach Boys tracks are equally impressive. Ballads such The Warmth Of The Sun and In My Room are a template for vocal harmonies achieved by groups such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Eagles. David Crosby and Jerry Garcia were Beach Boys defenders even when the cool kids thought they were unhip. Neil Young once shared a house with Dennis Wilson. Songs like I Get Around (Keith Richards’ personal favourite), Good Vibrations and Sail On Sailor rock like mad. Often overlooked albums like Smiley Smile (sort of an unplugged version of Smile), Friends, Sunflower, Surf’s Up, Holland, The Beach Boys Love You and Carl And The Passions – So Tough contain many gems.

Blogging from the ground up: Active history and working against ‘post-truth’ discourses

While it’s true that more misinformation is flooding our algorithms with every passing day, it’s much more difficult for that misinformation to wind its way into complex, well-researched work. Amidst all the falsity that pollutes our social channels, perhaps blogging, for historians, can become a form of resistance against that tide.

The Open History of Crisis

      1 Comment on The Open History of Crisis
The cover of a book. The title is "In Crisis, On Crisis: Essays in Troubled Times". The author is James Cairns. The book features wavy blue lines like abstract waves and their are folded paper boats "floating" in them.

James Cairns “It is exceptionally difficult to grasp the present as history.”[1] Thus begins David McNally’s book on the 2008-09 financial crisis. In everyday usage, the present means now, this instant. History is what happened in the past, and the future is time yet to come. The real relationship of past, present, and future, however, is far more fluid and… Read more »

How Do We Reflect on Our Past Without Knowing It?: YWCA Canada, Residential Schools, and Indian Hospitals

Black and white photo of two teenage girls bent over a table, working with fabric.

Our findings are not unique to YWCA Canada. We know that similar work in Residential Schools and Indian Hospitals was carried out by service organizations and philanthropic societies across Canada. We believe our report joins the important work of many others who seek to move the history and ongoing impact of Residentials Schools and Indian Hospitals beyond the narrow scope allowed by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

On Tariffs

      No Comments on On Tariffs

David Webster— Tariffs on you!— No, bigger tariffs on you!— No, I have the biggest, most beautiful tariffs, and I am slapping them on you! Anyone could be excused for thinking it was a battle of toddlers. But this is deadly serious: a trade war, one that reminds us of moments of trade tension between Canada and the United States… Read more »

The Economic Consequences of Tariffs

      No Comments on The Economic Consequences of Tariffs

This is the first post in a three-part series on the history of tariffs. You can read the introduction by David Webster here. Heather McKeen – Edwards The idea of tariffs is far from new, politically or economically. In fact, most countries in the world have some tariffs right now. Tariffs are a type of trade barrier, and their goal… Read more »

Trump needs a history lesson. Maybe we all do

      No Comments on Trump needs a history lesson. Maybe we all do

By Robert Englebert The tariff war has begun. Since coming into office only weeks ago, Donald Trump’s on-and-off again threat of taking a sledgehammer to free trade has kept Canadians on edge.   Canadians are angry and frustrated, especially at Trump’s continued assertion that our country is not viable and that we should become the 51st state. I am not… Read more »

Shocked, but not Surprised: The End of USAID in Historical Perspective

Photograph of a young Black girl. She is wearing a collared shirt with pink stripes and using a pen to write in a notebook.

It was a shock when I read that as the unofficial head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a group that has no Congressional authority, Musk began to shutter USAID operations at the beginning of February. Musk bragged on his social media platform that he was putting USAID “into the wood chipper.”  At that time, the USAID website went dark, and as I am writing this, it is still down.

The Great State of Canada? Time for a Rethink

      1 Comment on The Great State of Canada? Time for a Rethink
Brother Jonathan rides a steam train over Louis Joseph Papineau as "liberty" escapes in the steam from the train's funnel.

By Thomas Peace Donald Trump’s return to the White House has brought with it a revival of continentalist rhetoric to North American politics. “It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon…” A few days ago, when Finance Minister Chrystia… Read more »