Just saw in today’s Globe & Mail that Hugh Winsor passed away. I was editing a footnote earlier this week that referenced one of his columns. It’s one of the weird aspects of writing history of recent periods that people you interview or whose writings you cite often pass away during the project.

There's something so repugnant and insulting when such a generic letter, filled with bland platitudes, is sent to an association of historians who know full well who is to blame for these cutbacks. Many of us specialize in the histories of government, politics, and the state, for goodness sakes!

Delightful letter saying it is not the government's fault these programs were cut, because the institutions are arm's length. Forgetting of course that the government just slashed their budgets.

Attended the University of Guelph production of Into the Woods last night. I really enjoyed it and was impressed by the talent of the cast! Excited to see the musical theatre programming developing here. A few tix left for the final performance tonight. www.eventbrite.ca/e/u-of-g-int...

Not everyone needs to, nor wants to, use LLMs in academic research, and Taylorizing the scholarly enterprise does nothing positive for the pursuit of a better understanding of society and the world.

We're hiring! University of Guelph is looking for a Head, Collections & Content. The role reports to me and manages a team of about 20. careers.uoguelph.ca/job/Guelph-H...

How did I not know about this epic, tragically ludicrous, charity celebrity single released for the 1991 Gulf War? I am now going to have to inflict this on my future students. I’m picturing the planning: “You know who we need? The cast of LA Law. And Céline Dion.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voices_...

Almost 90 people being cut. Canadian historian Adam Chapnick, a professor of defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada: “I don’t know how you justify this decision if you have any sort of commitment to history."

A not true but very very true observation on public opinion in the modern era

I spoke to a member of the Globe’s editorial team a little over a week ago about the levels of English-French bilingualism among English-spkg Canadians. Some of my comments and suggestions seem to have informed the last few paragraphs. But I think the provinces need to step up - not just Ottawa.

One of the things I value my newspapers.com subscription for is that I can diversify my footnotes to historical newspapers and not just have an abundance of the Toronto Star & the Globe & Mail, the two Canadian databases my university library subscribes to with earlier 20th century content.

I very much hope that other universities will follow this lead. My department @uguelphhist.bsky.social left X over a year ago, and the College of Arts @uofguelpharts.bsky.social did so back in January. It's time for the rest of the University of Guelph (@uofguelph.bsky.social) to follow suit!

My lectures in my Canadian history survey course this week are about post-WW2 foreign policy and international engagements: the UN, NATO & the Warsaw Pact, the Korean War, Suez, NORAD, the Cuban Missile Crisis. It all feels a little more "on point" than in previous years.

Back in the kitchen after a bit of a hiatus, so now I have raspberry-chocolate macarons (and baby “snackerons”) to help get me through the week - and maybe some colleagues too! The raspberry flavour needs more punch - I’ll add more freeze-dried raspberry powder next time.

Well, he could go to the War Museum and see some exhibits regarding anti-fascist members of the Canadian military...

100%. #ResearchEthics matter but a lot of the process, and often the feedback, is unnecessary, especially around oral history.

Two - count 'em - two jobs at UPEI - one in History (specifically aimed at Atlantic Canada) and one in English (which could be Atlantic Canadian!). www.upei.ca/hr/competiti... www.upei.ca/hr/competiti...

I have been writing for years about how provincial governments have been determined to make higher education cheaper not better. We're now at the stage where provinces are making a straight choice between "worse" and "more expensive" and guess what they're choosing?

Anyways, the real outrage here anyway shouldn't be that the government wans to spend less money on post-secondary education, it's that it wants to take money out in a way that prevents institutions from offsetting any losses through tuition. NB WANTS TO MAKE PSE WORSE. That's the only headline.

Some of these proposals look rather devastating for the NB post-secondary sector. And some look like the Ontario playbook from 2018.

job Canadian History - Assistant Professor, 2-year term Wilfrid Laurier University Electronic submission of applications will be accepted until March 19, 2026, 11:59 PM. csn-rec.ca/job-postings... @cndhistassoc.bsky.social

Please enjoy my cartoon for Thursday's Toronto Star

Folks who have had the delightful task of having to secure permissions for use of images in a Canadian academic book will appreciate my delight that I've now secured all the ones that I wanted for my biography of Joe Clark! I have some gems, going right back to his early childhood.

Assistant Professor – History of Atlantic Canada. Deadline: March 13, 2026. #cdnhist cha-shc.ca/careers-and-...

I've been asked to chair (and time-keep) two sessions at the @cndhistassoc.bsky.social conference in June. I'm now wondering where I can rent a bear costume in Charlottetown...

Shaped entire generations

Good piece by Saskatchewan historian Bill Waiser in the Globe today on how SK handled separatists in the 1980s. Paywalled, but I believe in paying to support quality journalism. (I also support a publicly-funded CBC!) www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

We're pleased to welcome Dorothy Wright-Wallace, a respected historian and community leader in Chatham-Kent known for her decades of work preserving local Black history, as the inaugural Visiting Elder in the Black Canadian Studies program at the University of Guelph! Learn more: uoguel.ph/aaqq0

The movies we watched as kids really did prepare us for growing up because it was like was 20 years of brilliant fantastical adventures and now we are at the “beloved magical horse dying a horrible death in an evil swamp” phase of things and it’s so hard to watch

I was riding the TTC yesterday during a Toronto visit and saw all the new map signage. It made me sad to realize that there almost certainly would have been an Ontario Science Centre stop on the Eglinton Crosstown line, had Ford not closed it down.

Which academic Muppet are you? For now, as department chair, Kermit, trying to maintain my sanity and keep the show going amidst chaos!

Something I am often struck by in Toronto is that there is actually some very cool architecture - but you often have to look up, look waaaay up, to see it. This is my view from the 41st floor of One King West.

I think the big problem is that we’ve been taught that you’re supposed to somehow balance staying informed with being mentally stable right now, and I am here to tell you that’s wrong, you’re all supposed to be losing your goddamn minds right now, so good news everyone you’re doing great

Well Historians, it’s Groundhog Day. And an eager crowd gathers in London, Ontario and on Bluesky to find out the answer to that all-important question: Will @alanmaceachern.bsky.social have a thematic post for us today? Or will there be eight more weeks to the semester?

Let's Get This Integrated In Classrooms Immediately To Help The Students!™️

AI assist doing superb historical work....

❤️

Ugh this is gutting. Every Canadian's cool aunt. One of the best comedians from a country of comedians.

This is what I think goes on inside the Oval Office these days...

It’s such an odd feeling to see products you instinctively think of as eternal vanishing from the market. I spent so much time as a kid “making up” juice with a metal spatula and a big Rubbermaid jug. Now we only keep a stash of frozen OJ for when we get colds. www.cbc.ca/news/busines...

On Feb 12, Dr. McCorkindale and her students present their research findings on the uniforms and activities of Black militia members in Canada West, who aimed to prevent the 1841 extradition of freedom-seeker Nelson Hackett. All are welcome! MCKN 114, 1130am-1250pm. #cdnhist #blackhistorymonth2026

Perfectly put by @adamserwer.bsky.social: the saviours of Western civilization and the defenders of its better values are the Minnesotans on the streets, versus the regime they face — and everyone now knows it

Elbows up but kneecapping the heritage sector

Come work with us in Arts at the University of Guelph! Manager, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment Job Details | University of Guelph careers.uoguelph.ca/job/Guelph-M...

University of Guelph Campus CLOSED: Now until further notice due to Severe Weather. Updates and additional information, including availability of on-campus dining and details about the University's planned reopening, will be available on the University status page: www.uoguelph.ca/campus-status/.

Here's a fun way to deal with the old man's demented musings: Just add "but TACO" to the end of every tariff headline. Trump Always Chickens Out.

It's oddly comforting, as someone prone to anxiety, that I no longer really even register the latest threats that emanate from Trump. They're so frequent, so ridiculous, and so rarely durable. There's no durable trade deal to be made with him, so no point in appeasement. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

When contacted by GuelphToday, city officials declined to comment in detail. Instead, they updated a months-old posting on the municipal website acknowledging changes to the group’s 11-member makeup. www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/c...

One of the delightful things about teaching at UofG is all the little Guelph nuggets and connections that pop up. Usually it’s history-related stuff for me, given my field, but our lovely little city pops up all over the place! Even in the hottest TV shows!