The museum had its usual display table at the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Day on Tuesday February 18th held at Jean Pigot Place, City Hall. This year’s theme was “Heritage Champions: Crafting a Legacy of Preservation and Innovation”. The highlight for those museum members present, not to mention her family, was when Treasurer Barb Stewart went up to the podium to receive the Louise and Eric Moore Award for Outstanding Volunteerism. This recognizes the amazing work Barb has done for workers’ history and heritage in Ottawa, acknowledging, as the award declares, “her dedication to preserving Ottawa’s cultural landscapes and iconic heritage sites.”
Fundraising committee members Trustee Linda McLaren and Treasurer Barb Stewart have been busy the first half of 2025 attending several events. These include our regular union events of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) Presidents’ Conference in March with another one coming up in the fall. In addition, we were invited to the Union of National Defense Employees (UNDE) Presidents’ Conference for the first time, and it was great to get our name and products seen by new people.
In April President David Dean and Board member Bob Hatfield presented our inaugural Workers’ History Museum Labour History Award to Muchmor Public School’s Cassie King and Sandisto Johnston for their project L’esclavage au Canada at the Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair. Held at the Canadian War Museum, Barb, our Curator and Collections Manager Leslie Hutchinson and Board member Aimie Wright attended the Fair with an exhibit table. Particularly popular with attendees was our Wong Brothers comic telling the story of one of the first Chinese families to settle and work in Ottawa.
We are continuing to hold our Trivia Nights at the Colonnade Restaurant with one in April and our second in June. Regularly attended by 50-60 members and friends, these are great fundraising events with lots of fun and laughter as we wrack our brains for the answers. If you haven’t yet been, our next one is in October. Our thanks goes out to the staff at the Colonnade and our quizmaster, Gord.
In late May, Barb went to the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) National Women’s Conference in Montreal with over 120 women in attendance. She reconnected with several friends as well as meeting many new union women.
At our meeting in June, the Board heard excellent presentations by our summer students Aidan Power and Mariam Abdulbaki about their work uncovering the history of some of the labour history buttons in our collection. They will continue to work under the guidance and mentorship of Leslie over the summer.
June was also busy for both Barb and Linda who attended the PSAC National Capital Region Annual General Meeting for two days at the Hilton Lac Leamy. Thanks to all who came and chatted with us as this is one of our regular events and to Aidan who was able to attend to see how the museum connects with union members.