What’s Happening
Sad News
Pat McGrath, former Workers' History Museum Director and Trustee, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at the age of 60. Pat was a dedicated, hard-working union activist and a good friend. She was a great supporter of the Workers' History Museum. Her cheery disposition, outgoing personality and positive outlook [...]
Preservation and Activism in Lowertown East
In July 2013, I served as a volunteer on a Heritage Ottawa walking tour focusing on Lowertown East. The tour was guided by Nancy Miller-Chenier, Co-chair of the Lowertown Community Association’s Heritage Committee and long-time resident of the neighbourhood. Their work in Lowertown was started to save buildings from demolition [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Evert Hoogers
If you’ve ever attended any WHM events, you’ve surely met this month’s volunteer. He’s a constant presence, whether talking to visitors about the museum at Colonel By Day or graciously recording the proceedings of each Communications meetings. We hope you enjoy meeting this lifelong activist. Name: Evert Hoogers Where are [...]
Adrian Harewood to host Cal Best launch
Adrian Harewood, News Anchor at CBC News Ottawa, will join the Workers' History Museum for a celebration of the life and legacy of Cal Best. Mr. Harewood will be our Master of Ceremonies at the Ottawa launch of the WHM's exciting new project – including the premiere of our film [...]
Remembering the Civil Service: Call for Participants
“Remembering the Civil Service: A Study of Aboriginal Labour Experiences in the Post-War Ottawa Federal Civil Service” is an oral history study designed to help self-identifying First Nation, Metis, and Inuit individuals share their stories about what it is like to work for the Canadian federal civil service in a [...]
Introducing Paul Harrison and the WHM Image Collection
Paul Harrison is the WHM's photographer and image collection manager. He is equipped and available to take high-quality photographs, scan images, transparencies or documents, digitally manipulate images, and extract text from documents. He accumulates and catalogues images of WHM events taken by himself and others, which will constitute an archive [...]
Remembering Ottawa’s Electric Railway
Did you know that 100 years ago, Ottawa had a fleet of electric streetcars? The Ottawa Electric Railway Company's line to Britannia Park made it an inexpensive destination for the working people of Ottawa. The electric streetcars stopped running in 1959, but Streetcar 696 is now being lovingly restored at [...]
Simply the Best: A Talk With the Filmmakers
The Workers’ History Museum is proud to announce the Cal Best Project, exploring the life and legacy of this Black activist, union leader, and senior government official. The project includes a travelling exhibit, educational materials and a documentary, Simply the Best. I talked with Arthur Carkner, project coordinator, and Wasim [...]
The Canadian Labour International Film Festival 2013
When: 7pm, November 29th Where: 233 Gilmour Street (PSAC Headquarters) Cost: Free! The Workers’ History Museum is proud to host Ottawa’s Canadian Labour International Film Festival. This successful festival, now in its fifth year, has brought independent films about working people to cities throughout Canada. This year, we’re bringing these [...]
Mark Your Calendars: Family Leave & Multiple Birth Parents Event, November 7th
The Workers’ History Museum invites you to a screening of our video A Struggle to Remember: Fighting for Our Families, followed by a panel discussion with MP Sana Hassainia, Christian Martin (parent of twins), representing Multiple Births Canada, and filmmakers from the Workers’ History Museum. Kimberley Weatherall, Executive Director of [...]
“Workers All Pitch In”: Spotlight on Artist Josée Gervais
Children who came to the WHM’s table at Colonel By Day had their choice of sixteen illustrations of workers to colour. Josée Gervais, the artist behind this popular activity, donated the drawings that include firefighters, industrial workers, postal workers, florists and teachers. Currently she is working on a webcomic, Topsy [...]
Wednesday is Ask A Curator Day
Curious what it takes to create a working-class history museum in Ottawa? This is your opportunity to find out. On Wednesday, September 18, the Workers' History Museum joins hundreds of museums around the world for "Ask a Curator Day" on Twitter. To participate, just tweet your question with the #AskaCurator [...]