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.

Folks will want to read Kim TallBear's (UofA) substack on the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds (TAAF) statement regarding Circe Sturm’s claims to be of Cherokee and Mississippi Choctaw descent. Sturm made a significant contribution to the concept of 'race shifting' kimtallbear.substack...

In today's NYT, an opinion piece with a little History of Medicine, including quotations from historians Howard Markel and Natalia Mehlman Petrzela. So much more to be said about this topic and the place of history in the politics of 2025.

There is an Interesting opinion piece in today's NYT by Michelle Goldberg on the US situation. J.D. Vance, the VP, told the the National Conservatism Conference in 2021 that "Universities are the Enemy." In Canada, post-secondary education is facing many issues and some settings are struggling.

ICYMI, Part 2 of Patrick Lacroix's Making Acadianness in Northern Maine was posted to the @acadiensis.bsky.social blog today. acadiensis.wordpress.com

In yesterday's NY Times, a really interesting article on whether or not people were healthier in the past. Lots of medical historians give perspective. It is always good to see my #MedHist colleagues bring their significant research to bear on imp public policy discussions.

I'm reading the back catalogue of the American conservative publication Human Events for a project. Ran across this gem from 1974 on liberal bias in the media

Never forget.

Really happy to see God supporting Bluesky, since the other place is a hellscape.

It is 9:50 am in #halifax on the first working day back for many. Not much longer on the East Coast for these CEOs to ‘earn’ what the average Cdn worker EARNS in a year. Nothing justifies this level of inequality.

RIP Jimmy Carter. A remarkable human being even if he was not a remarkable president.

ICYMI, the new issue of @acadiensis.bsky.social features an interview with two-time Polaris award winner Jeremy Dutcher. You can read the extended abstract from the forthcoming piece, which was translated into Wəlastəkwey by Elder Henrietta Black acadiensis.wordpress.com/2024/12/10/s...

I submitted my marks yesterday, so back to some writing. A wee excerpt from the intro to my next book that discusses CUPW, back-to-work legislation, and how J-C Parrot's defiance landed him in jail.

CUPW successfully challenged their employer's intimidation tactics.The Canada Industrial Relations Board mediated a settlement that rescinded layoff notices issued on the first day of the strike. CUPW is once again standing for the rights of all workers.

Boris and Svetlaya were orphaned Amur tiger cubs. They were released from captivity at 18 mos. Boris walked more than 100 miles to reunite with Svetlaya and, 6 mos later, they had a litter of cubs. Journeys and destinations. From yesterday's NYT.

A day to reflect on violence against women and remember the young women who were murdered at École Polytechnique.

I was happy to attend an event on campus for the first time in a long time. It was SMUFU’s 50th birthday. Great to see my colleague Peter MacInnis (CAUT President) and David Robinson at the event. Thanks to Cathy Conrad Suso for her leadership. #SolidarityForever

I am not inflexible when it comes to the needs of students. There are many different learning styles, most of my students have to work, etc. But there is a segment of the student population that insists on special consideration, even when it is not warranted. Chickens and roosts.

There is a story on the Halifax reddit about Highmart Convenience exploiting people on the promise of a job, and not paying them for work that they did. Unpaid training is illegal in NS under the labour standards code. #TheMoreYouKnow #ClassFirstPolitics

I'm watching Global News and listening to charities criticize striking CUPW workers. It infuriates me. None of the charities in the story will ever get a dime of my money. #Solidarity #ClassFirstPolitics

The Irish election is (again) a three-way split between parties with rich histories. Exit polls show Sinn Féin with a slim advantage. Counting starts today.

Do any of my contacts have a history of medicine, social history, or 20th century North America starter pack of historians? Would like to rebuild my networks. Thx

I am really excited to be presenting some early findings today from my new SSHRC-funded research project on occupational health & safety in Canada and the US post-1950 to a gathering of PhD students in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

As part of my professional development today, I was using AI to generate summaries of historical articles. The findings were impressive (and troubling). Now I am going to have to re-think how I get my students to read, assignments, etc. Advice is welcome.

#Histmed, are you out there?! AAHM is now on Bluesky 💙 We will no longer use our Twitter account, so follow along here for announcements, updates on our centennial meeting, and an ✨occasional✨ plea for donations.

Marc #Bloch va entrer au #Panthéon. Un professeur d'histoire, un résistant, un penseur décisif et visionnaire du dialogue entre l'histoire et les sciences sociales. www.liberation.fr/sciences/his...

I have known John Reid for 40yrs. He has been my most important mentor, colleague, and friend during that time. So happy to see him honoured by the University of New Brunswick blogs.unb.ca/newsroom/202... @acadiensis.bsky.social

My favourite comment from reviewers is when they tell an author to further contextualize something without providing specific advice or addressing how it would help the paper.

Here is how bad things are at my University. 91.1% of faculty members voted in favour of a non-confidence motion in the President and the Chair of the Board of Governors. It is time to take out the garbage, and start to rebuild the badly damaged reputation of Saint Mary's.

I was very happy to stand with Gary Burrill, Danny Cavanagh, Sandra Mullen and other labour reps at yesterday’s rally in support of the MSVU Faculty Association. This is what solidarity looks like.

Very sad to hear of the death of radio legend Rick Howe. I did 10 years with him (2007-17), on both his evening show and his morning time slot. We had a great rapport and I enjoyed my interviews with him immensely. Condolences to his family, his partner Yvonne, and his friends.

And fear the time when the strikes stop While the great owners live -- for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken. -- John Steinbeck

Deadline for abstract submissions for the 2024 annual meeting of the Can Association for the History of Nursing is January 15, 2024. Abstracts can be sent to me before then.