Wrapping up my research trip to Brown University. I have had a fantastic experience and want to extend my thanks to the staff of the John Hay Library. I was very happy to present some of my research today in a lively seminar. Thanks @brown.edu

Nobody should die on the job. The latest data indicate that more than 1000 workers died on the job last year. Today, on this National Day of Mourning, take a moment to reflect on why workers die ... and why that number has not gone down this decade. Too many lives, too much loss.

2,200 nursing home workers at 22 sites in NS are on strike. Some of the longest strikes in Canadian history have been in LTC -- and that means that low-paid workers have struggled mightily for fair wages and better living conditions and care for residents. I stand with CUPE-NS.

This is just wild. Naomi Wolf does not realize that the "dark side of the moon" is only dark from Earth. And she implies that English majors don't know anything about science (this is not my experience) ... or perhaps that they have never noticed the sun.

Actual post by DJT. Unhinged.

I was really hoping for more flat earth and moon landing was a hoax posts during Artemis 2. I need some new anti-science and conspiracy materials to teach my students

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is looking for a historian. Deadline for apps is 13 April, start date 1 June. Must be fluent in French and English. Position is in Geneva. Deets: careers.icrc.org/job/Geneva-%...

When the instructions say to keep a paper under 10,000 words.

Danny Samson writes about the closure of the Sutherland Steam Museum, and why it matters, on the the Acadiensis Blog. acadiensis.wordpress.com/2026/03/31/s...

Students in NS are on strike this week. While we can quibble about the details of their platform, their greater goal is affordable, high-quality post-secondary education. I am proud of my students who are participating and support all the students.

I am very excited to announce the forthcoming publication of my new book with University of Toronto Press in July 2026. Heartfelt thanks to friends, colleagues, archivists, librarians, & students who have been on the journey with me. Deets: utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.... @uoftpress.bsky.social

Der Spiegel is reporting ‪that Jurgen Habermas, German philosopher, academic influencer, and public intellectual has died at age 96

There are several very good responses on the Acadiensis Blog on the impact of the recent government budget decisions that affect museums, the arts sector, publishers, etc. The most recent one is by Claire Campbell, a noted scholar and member of the Acadiensis editorial team. acadiensis.wordpress.com

Great to see the full run of Cape Breton’s Magazine is online again at beaton.cbu.ca/capebretonsm.... Longtime editor Ron Caplan is a graduate of the Atlantic Canada Studies program at Saint Mary’s. That program is facing a major restructuring that threatens its survival.

I wonder what a review of Canadian universities would look like? I know my faculty still uses the platform. My last posts were late 2024 or early 2025 ... and I probably should have abandoned it earlier. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

Look what arrived today from my dear colleague! Thank you Corrine. I look forward to reading it.

TIL that Markwayne Mullin, the junior senator from OK and member of the Armed Services Committee, thinks that Ayatollah Khomeini -- who lead the Islamic Revolution in 1978 and 1979 but who died in 1989 -- is still in power. There is no end to the incompetence.

The performance of the Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage today was a disgrace. His response to every question was "I'll have to get back to you on that". He was unprepared and unprofessional.

Please circulate this through your networks since it is a bleak time for historians! There is a job ad out for specialist in Atlantic Canadian history ... Assistant Professor with a start date for July 2026. www.upei.ca/hr/competiti...

Great story on about Érica Plourde's remarkable university career at Université de Moncton. I had the pleasure of coaching against her when she was young and she was always a great talent. Félicitations pour cette brillante carrière, Érica!

I'm not predicting the outcome but if the US wins today's hockey game vs Canada, and gets its first gold medal in 46 years, will it be dubbed "Miracle on 196.85 ft of Ice"?

I am currently doing research on occupational health and safety in the 1970s and 1980s, and I ran across this cartoon pertaining to office automation. Struck me as very 2026!

Wait until they find out about how some people get their honorary degrees

All my Irish-Canadian (and American) friends will be interested to know that a new batch of records has become available. This includes birth records (1864 to 1925), marriage records (1845 to 1950) and death records (1864-1975). Tremendous resource for historians & genealogists www.irishgenealogy.ie

My favourite story from today is that Bad Bunny consulted with Prof. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, an expert in Latin American and Caribbean history at UW-Madison, to prepare his half-time show. I popped for the cultural references, but especially the EBT sign.

I won't share the image but major media reporting that Trump shared disgusting, racist images of Michelle and Barack Obama on his Truth Social account.

Another Monday. Another snowstorm. Another possible labour disruption at my employer. Certainly feels like Groundhog Day.

My office reflects my minimalist nature.

You can thank me later but if you like classic videos, there is now I Want My MTV ... a website that is nothing but music videos from the classic station. Cold day almost everywhere ... check it out. wantmymtv.vercel.app

Canada has been in it for some time. But it is going to get rockier for the short term.

93.2% of faculty participants in the strike mandate vote at Saint Mary's University favoured job action. This represents 88.1% of the membership (since in NS, union members who do not vote are counted as "no" votes and a tiny handful voted against the strike).

New passport arrived. Six business days after I went to Service Canada. Delivered by Canada Post. In these troubled times, I do not take the gift of Canadian citizenship lightly.

Another term another strike vote at my employer. Last term it was our part time colleagues. Now it’s full time faculty and librarians. Strike vote is underway.

Enjoying my time at the Osler Library for the History of Medicine at McGill.

CUPE 3912 colleagues remain on strike and my students have expressed their concerns to me in my classes. My employer just sent an email referring us to an administration website for "the latest update" -- it was last updated on 22 October (more than a week ago).

Happy to announce the latest edition of Acadiensis is available: acadiensis.wordpress.com/.../acadiens... If you are working on topics of interest, shoot me an email.

Summer research update! Dr @ptwohig.bsky.social worked on his SSHRC-funded project examining how unions, women’s orgs and environmental groups reshaped occupational health. He was a visiting prof at NYU and did research at @harvard.edu's Schlesinger Library & Archives and Northeastern University

One of my favourite archival discoveries over this past 12 weeks of research in New York and Boston is a letter from a nurse who worked at St. Rita Hospital, in Sydney, NS. I cannot show too much of it here (confidentially restrictions) but all will eventually be revealed.

Weird moment today when I came across a letter from my employer in the archival collections I”m using at Harvard.

Digital humanities fellowships in the history of medicine. histmed.org/aahm-gale-di...

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is looking for a student to serve as a Built Heritage Researcher this fall. Job details are available here: www.htns.ca/employment

There is no question that the humanities are in crisis, and have little support in many universities, governments, funding agencies, etc. But if you want to know why we need the humanities, read Dr. Jill Lepore's guest essay in the NY Times on the genealogy of Elon Musk's ideas.

I am so grateful to be the recipient of an McGill University Osler Library Travel grant, that will allow me to spend some time in Montréal doing research for my new project on occupational health.

I spend a lot of time thinking about my colleagues and students in the US, and what universities are facing. Another chilling article in the NY Times.

Super happy to see a microhistory that I co-authored with Saint Mary's graduate student Daniel Englehutt is on the Acadiensis blog. It examines safety culture at Halifax Water, 1945-55. acadiensis.wordpress...

I am thrilled to present some new research on the origins of workplace health initiatives tonight to the Dalhousie Society for the History of Medicine. That society, which meets virtually, has been active for more than 40 years. It has been critical in my own professional development.

Terrific opportunity! Postdoctoral Fellow @ University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the History of Modern (19th century-present) Medicine or Public Health mhb.wisc.edu/2025/02/25/p...

Has anyone coined the term "Trumpuppet" for people who, knowingly or unknowingly, advance the current American agenda in Canada or elsewhere?

Today in Nova Scotia, Nora Bernard will be honored. I have taught about her, and her tremendous impact, for nearly 20 years in my classes. My students meet Nora in three different lectures through the term. I often teach her story with tears in my eyes, and students listen intently.

I really hope nobody tells the President about Mexico Bay, on Lake Ontario. It might set off a frenzy.