Summer school used to be a time for students to catch up on content they missed, or to prep for the months ahead. This year, the Canadian Museum of History made summer learning fun, while connecting with new audiences through two exciting initiatives.
Curating and Learning From Our Lived Experiences is a brand-new pilot program aimed at Black students in grades 10 to 12. Developed and delivered in partnership with the University of Ottawa and community organizations, this one-week program guided local youth in documenting, archiving, and narrating their personal histories.
Students explored archival resources and Black history while reflecting on their experiences as Black students in the National Capital Region. Armed with new skills and insights, the students developed their own narrative capsules and imagined how their stories could be told in a museum setting.
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Black history is more than a month in February. This initiative not only gives Black students fresh confidence and expertise, but also encourages them to celebrate and preserve their personal stories as part of a broader historical narrative.
Reaching well beyond the National Capital Region, the Museum took its popular History Box program on the road this summer. Originally designed for classroom learning, the donor-supported program was expanded to the summer months through partnerships with nine public library systems, from St. John’s to Victoria, bringing Canada’s history to communities across the country.
The History Box program explores Canada through 25 curated objects that bring the richness and diversity of the Canadian experience to life. This summer, libraries used the boxes for storytimes, displays, reading programs, and adult learning. By making them available while school was out, the Museum helped hundreds of children and adults connect with Canada’s heritage. In September, History Box returned to the classroom, supporting teachers in some of the country’s most remote communities.
The History Box program has been generously supported by the Rossy Foundation, the Wilson Foundation, the Crabtree Foundation, the Carolyn Sifton Foundation, Power Corporation of Canada, the Good Foundation Inc., and individual donors across Canada.
To learn how you can support these and similar initiatives, please contact Linda Kincaid, Director, Major Gifts at linda.kincaid@historymuseum.ca.
