What’s Happening
In Memoriam
The Worker’s History Museum wanted to remember our former Board and Trustee member, Pat McGrath, who passed away in November 2013. She gave a bequest of $10,000 to the Museum in her will. A group consisting of Robert Hatfield, Barb Stewart, Arthur Carkner and Zelma Buckley met to see how [...]
The Battle of 66th Street – How the Gainers Strike Rallied a Nation
In the summer of 1986, the Alberta oil boom had gone bust (it has before and will again). The bad economy was pitting workers against police as employers used the times to push for concessions and cuts. Workers in turn fought for their lives. Picket lines were up at Suncor [...]
Do You Know Jack?
Do You Know Jack? Elgin Street, in downtown Ottawa is named for James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, KT, GCB, PC and Governor General of the Province of Canada 1847-54. Just off Elgin, a City of Ottawa Community Centre and Pool, and the short lane [...]
National Day of Mourning – April 28
Is today the day you die at work? This is a question asked by the Canadian Labour Congress. Between 1993 to 2011, 17,062 people lost their lives due to work-related causes – an average of 898 deaths per year. In 2012 alone, 75 Quebecers lost their lives in workplace accidents. [...]
Wonder and Curiosity: The WHM’s Ukranian Typewriter
Is it possible to attribute personality to a machine? The typewriter is a complicated device – even the word “typewriter” is notoriously sticky, used to refer both to the machine itself and its user. When we think of a typewriter, the mind wanders from the hammers and keys of the [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Valérie Lalonde
If you’ve noticed the Workers’ History Museum’s increasing French language presence over the past six months, it’s mainly due to this month’s Volunteer Spotlight. Although she has not been with the Museum for very long, Valérie Lalonde has already become essential to our work. Somehow she juggles raising two young [...]
Trivia Night March 29, 2014!
Do you and your friends know lots of interesting bits of information and trivia? Come on out for a night of fun and fundraising for the Workers’ History Museum! Date: March 29, 2014 Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: The Glen Scottish Restaurant & Pub, 1010 Stittsville Main Street Cost: $10 per [...]
Britannia Unveiled
Sunday, 23 February will go down in Canadian history as the day the Canadian men won Olympic hockey gold in Sochi. It will go down in the Workers’ History Museum’s history as the day we won our first gold medal: our first permanent exhibit! “Britannia: The People’s Playground” is a [...]
Announcing the 2014 Annual General Meeting
All members of the Workers’ History Museum are invited to the 2014 AGM, to be held on March 10th at 7pm (Institutional Members Caucus at 6pm). The PSAC is allowing us the use of their boardroom at 233 Gilmour Street. According to the WHM’s by-laws: • The Annual General Membership [...]
New Exhibit Uncovers Britannia’s Working Class History
The Workers’ History Museum is unveiling its permanent exhibit, “Britannia: The People’s Playground,” as part of the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre’s 21st Annual Winter Garden Party. When: 11:30-2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 23, 2014 Where: Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, 102 Greenview Avenue, Ottawa Admission: Free “Britannia: The People’s Playground” looks at [...]
Black Workers in Canada: The 20th Century Experience
Black Canadians, and Black Canadian workers in particular, have too often been a forgotten part of Canadian history. As part of Black History Month, we hope to share a little of their experience and what it means to our lives today. Contributions During Wartime Black Canadians played an extremely important [...]
Volunteer Spotlight on Bob Allen
This month’s volunteer spotlight is on our dedicated WHM Secretary, who faithfully attends all our meetings and diligently records our words for posterity. Let’s hear more about this former union rep and his work with the Museum. What is your name? My name is Bob Allen. Where are you from? [...]