Due to COVID-19 concerns the lecture will be delivered virtually.

The presentation will focus on the history of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association from its formation in 1972 under the name The Thunder Bay Council of Ethnic Organizations to the present immigrant service agency located at 17 Court St. N. in the old Court Street fire hall.

The agency has a grassroots history in the community and has grown and evolved over time.  Folklore Festival has been a part of the agencies’ activities since day one and began with the celebration of multiculturalism in the early 1970’s.  With the Trudeau multiculturalism policy direction of October, 1971 and the increasing dialogue on culture and celebration, the organization began as a collective to foster multiculturalism and diversity.

The history of immigration to Thunder Bay, a history of the organization and building, discussion of diversity and welcoming and a look at emerging groups and cultural/linguistic communities in the city will be touched on.  How has Canada moved from an early approach of a “food, folks and fun” celebration of multiculturalism to the later focus on equal opportunity and integration.

Cathy Woodbeck is the Executive Director of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, having led the organization for the past 25 years.  She is a former Vice-President of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and member of the National Settlement Council.  A graduate of Lakehead University (MA 1993), and lifelong resident of the region she has been active in her community including serving on municipal council for Conmee Township.  With her extensive experience in the Immigrant Settlement and Language Sector, she has represented the North in various working groups and provincial and national committees and councils.  She participated in the development of the anti-racism project “Developing Diversity in Policing” with the Thunder Bay Police Service and has been an active member of diversity and anti-racism community initiatives.  Cathy provides mentorship and training to agencies and organizations on issues of Immigration, Building Welcoming Communities and Working Effectively with Interpreters.  She often represents the North at Federal and Provincial discussions on settlement of newcomers across the North, language acquisition, small center strategies for building welcoming communities and issues of institutional change with respect to diversity.

This presentation is part of the 2020-21 Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society's Lecture Series sponsored by the Department of History. Since 1908, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society has been regularly holding talks on a wide range of topics on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Thunder Bay Historical Museum (425 Donald Street East) from September to April. All presentations are free and open to the public.

In the spring of 1870, two reporters set off from Toronto to cover one of the biggest stories in Canadian history:  Colonel Garnet Wolseley’s 1870 Expedition to Red River.  Over the course of six months, the Daily Telegraph‘s Robert Cunningham and the Globe’s Molyneux St. John brought readers along as they paddled and portaged alongside the expedition’s 1100 troops and 400 voyageurs and guides from the shores of Lake Superior through the wilderness of northern Ontario to heart of the rebellion at Fort Garry.

But that’s not the whole story.  Buried well below the fold was the fact St. John’s wife – the international burlesque star Kate Ranoe – accompanied him and the expedition all the way to Red River.  And not just as an adventurer: owing to an accident early on, Ranoe ended up ghost-writing many of St. John’s stories.

In this presentation, Ted Glenn tells the remarkable story of two reporters and one extraordinary woman as they journey to Red River with Colonel Garnet Wolseley and his Expeditionary Force.

This presentation is part of the 2020-21 Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Lecture Series sponsored by the Department of History.  Since 1908, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society has been regularly holding talks on a wide range of topics on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Thunder Bay Museum (425 Donald Street East) from September to April. All presentations are free and open to the public.

Peter is a historian and writer living in Thunder Bay. He has written extensively on the history of this region in books and articles (Papers and Records). Several of his radio documentaries have been produced by the CBC (Mystery at Onion Lake: Charlie is My Darling). He has written for film and theatre (Act of Creation for Magnus Theatre, The Fatal Flower for Flashframe/Shebandowan Films).  At present he is at work on a history of the amalgamation of the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William and the municipalities of Neebing and Shuniah.  He is married to Donna Gilhooly, has a son, two grandchildren, a dog and a cat.

This presentation is part of the 2020-21 Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Lecture Series sponsored by the Department of History.  Since 1908, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society has been regularly holding talks on a wide range of topics on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Thunder Bay Museum (425 Donald Street East) from September to April. All presentations are free and open to the public. There is a zoom link to attend virtually on the Thunder Bay Historical Museum website announcement .

Due to the Covid-19 regulations all in person attendees will be expected to come wearing a mask for the lecture. If wearing a mask for the duration is a problem we ask you to attend online.

Riley Yesno will discuss "Indigenous Women in Canada and MMIWG (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls)."

Riley Yesno is a queer Anishinaabe woman from Eabametoong First Nation in Northern Ontario. Her expertise in Indigenous politics, climate justice, and gender studies has established her as a regular commentator with the CBC, contributor to major media outlets including the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star, and professional public speaker.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars

Dr. David Ratz will explore “The Military Contribution of Northwestern Ontario to the First World War.”

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars

Alumna Jenna Kirker will discuss "“Ferocious Women:’ Gender, Ethnicity, and Race Surrounding the 1909 Freight Handler’s Strike."

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars

Join us for Hump Day History as our Executive Director, Mr. Scott Bradley talks about hazardous artifacts that can be found in museum collections the world over. Explosives, toxins, radiation, poisons, and even hats are some of the very real threats museum professionals face everyday. Mr. Bradley will share some details on what to look for to stay safe as well as some stories of some close calls from his career.

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars

Did the largest land mammal of the North American continent meet its demise at the hands of rifle wielding tourists hanging from railway passenger cars? The rise and fall of the bison may be more complicated that most realize.

Find out more in Dr. Nathan Hatton's presentation "Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam[ed]: The Disappearance of the American Bison."

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars

Alumnus Nicholas Duplessis will explore “The Lakehead Response to the Cuban Missile Crisis."

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

Thunder Bay Museum Curator, Michael deJong, will highlight aspects of the museum’s textile collection.

Hump Day History is intended to get you over the mid-week hurdle with a little bit about our region’s past. Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for the months of April, May, and June the Thunder Bay Museum and Lakehead University's Department of History will be bringing you live broadcasts from local historians, as well as behind the scenes look at the museum’s collections.

These free live and interactive webinars will be moderated by Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Professor of History at Lakehead University, and Scott Bradley, the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Executive Director.

To find out more, go to http://thunderbaymuseum.com/webinars