News

  • Reimagining the Historic Welland Canals

    The Centre for Canadian Studies invites you to attend a guest lecture by Kimberly Monk, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Welland Canals.

    This November, the Niagara Region commemorates the start of construction on the First Welland Canal, which through its successice enlargements, has connected trade and navigation between Lakes Ontario and Erie for almost 200 years. The three historic Welland Canals opened in 1829, 1845 and 1881, transforming the region’s physical and cultural landscape, and laying the foundations for the Fourth Welland Canal, in 1931, and modern Niagara.

    Since 2018, a team of Brock academics, students, and community volunteers have been documenting the canal’s industrial legacy through historical and archaeological investigations. However, increasing urban development, the effects of flooding, and a lack of protection and governance, have placed canal heritage at risk. As we begin bicentennial celebrations, prioritizing a strategic partnership to support the Welland Canal Cultural Heritage Landscape is a crucial step towards securing time-sensitive funding for a conservation management plan and tourism strategy. A multi-level, multi-sector collaboration will ensure the historic canals and associated archaeological sites are preserved for future generations.

    Join us at Brock University (RFP 214), Thursday October 24th 
    6:30-8:30pm

    Categories: Brock University Historical Society, Faculty, Lectures/Symposiums, News, Outreach, Undergraduate

  • History Department Open House!

    The Department of History is hosting an Open House to welcome students into the department to meet Faculty, peers, learn more about program offerings and to enjoy some lunch together.

    Join us on Thursday, October 10th at 12:00 – 2:00 pm. 

    For more information, e-mail: mvanatte@brocu.ca

    Categories: Brock University Historical Society, News, Outreach, Undergraduate

  • History Students Honoured at Spring Convocation

    Convocation week did not disappoint! One of our undergraduate students, Miria Pelletier (BA History ’24 and BEd ’24) was honoured with the Spirit of Brock Medal for her work with the Brock University Historical Society and several public history projects, including the legacy of the Garden City Arena in St. Catharines as part of Brock’s Sport Oral History Archive. Bravo, Miria!

    A big round of congratulations goes out to our MA students, Cindy Allingham, Jingxiong (Bear) Lyu, and Alaric Mustoe. We are thrilled to see you complete this final step of your Master’s journey and wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

    Brock University Board of Trustees member Kevin Magee (BA ’14), left, presented Miria Pelletier (BA ’24, BEd ’24) with the Spirit of Brock medal Thursday, June 13 during the University’s 115th Convocation.

    Alaric Mustoe (MA ’24) receives his hood from Department Chair Olatunji Ojo.

    Bear Lyu (MA ’24) and Department Chair Olatunji Ojo at spring convocation.

    Cindy Allingham (MA ’24, far right) looks on her fellow graduand (Madelyn Huston, MA ’24, Classical Studies)

     

    Categories: Brock University Historical Society, Convocation, Graduate, Undergraduate

  • Travel Study Course Featured by the Isle of Man BBC

    The students in MARS/HIST 3F51 are now back on Canadian soil! Photos are posted over on the MARS website.

    The group’s adventures have generated quite a buzz. They were recently highlighted in the Isle of Man BBC, and a podcast was produced by Manx Radio.

    Congratulations, Professors Andrew McDonald and  Renee-Claude Breitenstein on making this the trip of a lifetime for our students!

     

    Categories: Courses, Faculty, Graduate, News, Student Research and Travel, Undergraduate

  • Brock History Alumnus inspires young historians

    Brock’s Department of History recently took part in the 2024 District School Board of Niagara Heritage Fair at The Exchange in Niagara Falls where local elementary students gathered to showcase their historical poster projects. Photo credit: The Brock News


    Former History student, Mike Snow (BA ’09, MA ’10, BEd ’11), was featured in the Brock News for his work on the District School Board of Niagara’s Heritage Fair. He recruited members from his former department, including his MA supervisor and incumbent Chair, Professor Tami Friedman, and History TA, Charmaine Knight, to help judge the elementary school projects.

    Great outreach!

    Brock Associate Professor of History Tami Friedman (left) and her former student Mike Snow (BA’09, MA’10, BEd’11) at the 2023 Niagara Heritage Fair at Queenston Heights.

    Categories: Faculty, Outreach

  • Volume 9 of the General Launch Party, History Awards

    A double-duty event on Tuesday, April 10th celebrated the launch of the latest edition of The General alongside this year’s History Student Awards. Congratulations to everyone!

    Read more about it in the Brock News.

    The General Contributors (L to R): Robyn Weishar, Jenna Boucher (front), Alex Vastano (back), Alyssa Haines, Kait Grech, Lily Wolkoff, Jasmine Buchaly, Joey Sanders, Andrew Laliberte, Bronte Slote.  

    The Department of History Award Winners (L to R): Ethan Moncion (Lillie A Traver Scholarship, Frank and Amy Wills Memorial Award), Andrew Laliberte (2022-2023 John and Barbara McEwan Prize in British History), Kait Grech (2023-2024 John and Barbara McEwan Prize in British History), Jasmine Buchaly (Department of History Second Year Book Prize), Nick Kester (Donald Goodspeed Book Prize), Colin Nielsen (Professor Frederick C Drake Scholarship), Nicholas Frado (Department of History Third Year Book Prize), Tylaan Kalemba (Department of History First Year Book Prize).

    Categories: Brock University Historical Society, Student Achievements, The General, Undergraduate

  • Professor Discusses Cultural Interpretations of Eclipse Events

    Chair and Associate Professor of History Olatunji Ojo is exploring the ways geographic location and cultural belief systems shape people’s perception of solar eclipses and celestial events over time. Photo credit: the Brock News

    The Brock News featured Professor Olatunji Ojo in the April 4th edition, in advance of the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th. Congratulations, Tunji!

    Read the full story here.

    Categories: Faculty, Outreach

  • Congratulations Dr. Eric Story!

    Brock History Postdoctoral Fellow, Eric Story, successfully defended his PhD dissertation on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Wilfrid Laurier University. Bravo, Dr. Story!

    Categories: Postdocs and Scholars

  • Humanities Graduate Student Symposium a Success

    The 2024 Humanities Graduate Student Symposium, “Narratives of Identity,” took place on February 10th in Pond Inlet.

    The full day of programming in Pond Inlet included presentations from MA and PhD students from all across the Faculty of Humanities. Congratulations Paige Groot (MA History candidate) and her organizing committee on a job well done!

    The full program is presented below.

    Panel 1: Mapping Memory

    Steven Hamelin (History), “Finding Richardson”

    Brendan Holk (English), “The Poppy and the Rhetoric of Service that Promotes Nationalism”

    Joshua Manitowabi (History), “Mapping Anishinaabe Kendaaswin: Land, Truth, and Treaties through Oral History”

    Panel 2: Voicing the Visual

    Liao Zihuan (HUMA), “Image Narrative of Identity: Louise Bourgeois’ Spider Images and Unconscious Desire”

    Miranda King (Classics), “The Small Finds from the Sanctuary of Venus at Pompeii”

    John Wilfred Bessai (Canadian Studies, Trent), “Exploring Identity Narratives through NFBC’s Digital Projects”

    Keynote Address

    Gregory Betts (English), “I Am That Am I: An Ontography of I”

    Panel 3: Countering Colonial Conversations

    Long Hoang Vu (HUMA), “Narrating Space: A Father-and-Son Duoethnographic Exploration of Vietnam’s Territory”

    Philip Akoje (SCLA), “Narrative of Identity through Masquerade Performance in Ibaji, North Central Nigeria”

    Alia Wazzan (HUMA), “Muslim Women’s Scholarship: Discursive Decolonization of Human/Women’s Rights”

    Panel 4: Negotiating Nature

    Julie Gemuend (HUMA), “Becoming World: Re-imaging the Material Self”

    Claire Thyne (English), “Probing Positions and Planets: Encountering the Alien in Vandana Singh’s ‘The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet'”

    Daniel Belanger (Classics), “Hepatitis Bee: The Influence of Roma Culture on their Understanding of Bee Disease”

    Categories: Conferences/Presentations, Graduate

  • New Postdoctoral Fellow: Eric Story

    Eric Story (PhD Candidate, Wilfrid Laurier) is starting his Postdoctoral Fellowship this winter with Dr. Maureen Lux. He will give a talk on January 25th (1pm, GLA 201) as a part of the winter Speakers Series.

    Welcome to the Department, Eric!

     


     

    Categories: News, Postdocs and Scholars