Adoption: Experiences of Surrendering Mothers and Adult Adoptees

Event Date: 
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
FB 2005 and FB 2023 (CASES Building) and Zoom
Event Fee: 
This is a free event.
Event Contact Name: 
Elaine, Administrative Assistant, Department of Gender and Women's Studies
Event Contact E-mail: 
WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca

In the decades following World War II, almost 600,000 infants were born to unmarried women in Canada and recorded as “illegitimate births.” Over 66% were surrendered for adoption.  

Screening of The Dark Matter Hippo of Grief: An Adoption Story by Donna Szőke (17 min) and Elsewhere: A Trilogy by Lynda Hall (23 min, with English & French closed captions). 

Q & A with Dr. Valerie Andrews, critical adoption scholar and adoption reform activist, facilitated by Dr. Lori Chambers, professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department
of Gender and Women’s Studies at Lakehead University.

 

*Register by 7pm EST, October 14th, 2025 for in-person or virtual attendance. To register for the in-person attendance, please email Elaine at WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca. To register for the virtual attendance, please scan the QR code on the poster.

Link to the Pdf poster.


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International Day of Peace Event by Gender and Women’s Studies, Social Justice Studies and Mendlife Canada!

Event Date: 
Friday, September 19, 2025 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
Thunder Bay: FB 2023 (in the CASES building); Orillia: OA3041; Zoom (Registration Required)
Event Fee: 
No cost, event is free
Event Contact Name: 
Mohit Dudeja
Event Contact E-mail: 
mdudeja@lakeheadu.ca

Join Lakehead University and Mendlife Canada for a hybrid International Day of Peace event on September 19th, 2025 (1–4 PM), featuring student-led performances, spoken-word presentations, and a documentary exploring gender, climate justice, and peace. Participate on campus in Thunder Bay or Orillia, or online via Zoom.
 
 
Celebrate the International Day of Peace with Lakehead University
The Department of Gender & Women’s Studies, in collaboration with the Social Justice Studies Program and Mendlife Canada (a local nonprofit), invites the Lakehead University community to a hybrid International Day of Peace event on September 19, 2025, from 1:00PM to 4:00 PM. The event will be held at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses, as well as via Zoom. This engaging program will feature a documentary from the Gender & Climate Activism course, led by Mohit Dudeja (Contract Lecturer) during the Summer of 2025, alongside presentations from students across the Faculty of Education, Social Justice Studies, Gender
& Women’s Studies, and the Department of English.
 
Highlights of the event include:
  • A Drag Performance on Queer Joy
  • A presentation on female Holocaust victims’ atrocity photographs, exploring memory, gendered experiences of war, and questions of peace, nonviolence, and ethics of representation
  • A spoken-word performance of “Perform”, reflecting on societal pressures on women to suppress authenticity
  • A spoken-word presentation on climate justice as a human right, emphasizing global inequalities, legal frameworks, and the links between climate action, health, and human rights
  • A short film “Choose Peace”, exploring how digital media can promote peace, empathy, and unity
  • Event Locations:

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Upcoming GWS 2025-2026 courses

Event Date: 
Monday, September 1, 2025 - 8:30am EDT
Event Location: 
Various delivery (in-person with some online courses on Zoom)
Event Fee: 
Please contact Student Central for course fees.
Event Contact Name: 
Elaine, GWS Administrative Assistant
Event Contact Phone: 
(807) 343-8010 ext.8625
Event Contact E-mail: 
WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca

WOME 3132 WA (Foundations of Feminist Research)

  • An introduction to feminist research methodology, and the methods employed by feminist researchers. What distinguishes feminist research from other methodologies is its attention to gender as a focus for analysis. Students will learn the basic steps of the research process, how to conceptualize a research project and what considerations need to be made to ensure research is feminist, ethical and responsive to gendered social problems. Students will learn to identify the markers of feminist research and a feminist framework with which to evaluate secondary sources. Provides students with research skills and equip them for engaging in research as part of an honours or graduate degree or when working with governments and non-governmental organizations.
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-11:30am (in-person)
  • Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Chisholm

 

 WOME 3215 FA (Gender, Bodies, and Technology)

  • An intersectional examination of the technological production of gendered bodies in contexts such as classrooms, workplaces, and the internet. We will explore feminist understandings of technology, embodiment, and representation. Topics may include production and control of bodies based on sex, gender, race, class, and ability; embodiment, ability and the built environment; medicalization, bio-politics, and reproductive justice; surveillance, containment, and militarization.
  • Tuesdays, 7pm-10pm (in-person)
  • Instructor: Mohit Dudeja

 

WOME 3030 FDE*
(Housewives, Radicals and Gender-Blenders: Theorizing Equality)

  • An introductory examination of the questions, tensions and debates within contemporary feminist theory from the late 20th Century to the present. This course considers multiple feminisms' arguments, strategies and politics to understand how contemporary theoretical positions account for material inequalities and lived experiences of marginalization, and how they work towards social justice in gender.
  • Mondays, 7pm-10pm (online on Zoom)
  • Instructor: Dr. Lori Chambers
    *Please note that this is a required core course

 

WOME-4012 FA/FAO** (Gender, Human Rights & Social Justice)

  • The objective of this course is for students to develop a critical analysis of human rights law and Charter litigation. To what degree, and for whom, have these legal tools been successful in creating equity. Using a wide variety of sources, including legislation and legislative debates, case law, jurisprudence, and secondary literature, this course will explore the multiplicity of issues considered/protected under Human Rights Codes and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Particular attention will be paid to the western, individualist origins of human rights regimes and the problems this presents for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Please note that most subjects are not only or directly about gender. It is expected that we consider gender through an intersectional lens. You are not required to have previous knowledge of the law.
  • Mondays, 2:30pm-5:30pm (in-person)
  • Instructor: Dr. Lori Chambers
    **If you have not completed the required WOME-4010 yet please take the course substitution, WOME-4012 FA.

For the Pdf poster, please click here.


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FEMINISMS AT THE LAKEHEAD 2025

Event Date: 
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 8:30am to 4:15pm EDT
Event Location: 
Faculty Lounge Lakehead University (Thunder Bay campus) / UC 1029G / directly under the Residence Cafeteria
Event Contact Name: 
Rosemary Kimani-Dupuis
Event Contact E-mail: 
rkimani@lakeheadu.ca

The Department of Gender and Women's Studies in collaboration with Lakehead University's Gender Equity Centre presents the annual Feminisms at the Lakehead!

 

Keynote Speakers

Visiting Speaker: Suman Mondal
Queer activist at McMaster University whose work revolves around the social, political, and legal implications of LGBTQIA+ Indians in progressive regions of India. Recipient of the Lambda Scholarship Foundation Award & the prestigious Hooker Fellowship.

Regional/Local Speaker: Dr. Eleanor Gittens
Professor, human rights activist, & Co-editor of the Canadian Framework for Collaborative Police Response on Sexual Violence

National Speaker: Dr. El Jones
Poet, journalist, author, and abolitionist activist; Author of Live from the Afrikan Resistance!, and Abolitionist Intimacies; Co-host of the radio show Black Power Hour.

  • Drumming, Dance & Craftivisms
  • Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for Coffee, Tea and Muffins
  • Presentations from 9 a.m. — 4:15 p.m.
  • Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian food options will be available
  • All are welcome! We’ll send you a Zoom link upon registration

 

Registration Required

To register or if you have questions
Email: rkimani@lakeheadu.ca

For the Pdf poster, please click here.

 

 


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Cancelled - GWS Lunch & Learn (Pathways to Termination: Clinical care and access to abortion in Canada)

Event Date: 
Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
n/a (event cancelled as of March 19, 2025)
Event Fee: 
There is no cost (this event is free)
Event Contact Name: 
Élaine, GWS Administrative Assistant
Event Contact E-mail: 
WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca

--Event Cancelled due to unexpected circumstances. We apologize for the short notice (19 March 2025)---

 

  • Pathways to Termination: Clinical care and access to abortion in Canada
  • Date: March 20th, 2025 (Thursday)
  • Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
  • Speaker: Dr. Jen Chisholm
  • Location: AT 3004
  • Cookies and Hot Drinks (coffee and tea) will be free for attendees.
  • Termination of pregnancy for medical reasons is an essential health care service. Care pathways for patients vary across Canada, especially regarding the circumstances under which termination is offered and details regarding provision. This talk will explore research conducted within 10 Maternal-Fetal-Medicine centres in Canada and recommendations for increasing access, transparency and continuity of care, particularly for second and third trimester termination.

To access the Pdf poster, please click here.


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GWS 2025 Spring/Summer Courses!

Event Date: 
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 9:00am EDT to Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - 4:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
Online (both courses are Web)
Event Fee: 
Please contact Student Central for affiliated fees. They can be reached at 1-800-465-3959.

WOME-1100-SDE: Madonna to Madonna Online Course (Web) / May 1st to July 28th, 2025 / Instructor: Dr. H. Morgan
Course Description:
An interdisciplinary introduction, the course explores intersections of gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, age and other socially/historically shaped dimensions of identity. Discussions will include such topics as media, health, work, poverty, body and sexuality, violence, law and creativity, in local and global contexts.
Credit Weight: 1.0

 

WOME-4110-ADE/ SOCJ-5011-ADE: Gender & Climate Activism Online Course (Web) / July 2nd to August 13th, 2025 / Instructor: M. Dudeja
Course Description: This course examines the intersections of masculinity, gender-focused climate activism, and social justice, emphasizing decolonizing climate advocacy. Students will explore how different masculinities contribute to environmental issues and the role of feminist advocacy in climate action. Through readings, discussions, and hands-on projects, they will develop skills to analyze, strategize, and advocate for gender-responsive climate solutions. The course fosters collaboration and real-world application by emphasizing activism and advocacy for inclusive and equitable climate policies.
Credit Weigh: 0.5

 

For the Pdf poster, please click here.


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GWS Lunch & Learn presents Politics of Memory and Curating Culture

Event Date: 
Friday, February 28, 2025 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST
Event Location: 
Online (Zoom): https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/95568406653?pwd=CY4pozIgVxgAS94W6fXLLwQTDmrKLN.1#success
Event Fee: 
There is no cost for this event.

The Department of Gender and Women’s Studies’ Lunch & Learn presents…

Politics of Memory and Curating Culture: Women, Bodies & Land
 
Date: February 28th, 2025 (Friday)
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Speaker: Rosemary Kimani-Dupuis
Location: Zoom: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/95568406653?pwd=CY4pozIgVxgAS94W6fXLLwQTDmrK...
Meeting ID: 955 6840 6653
Passcode: 846394
 
Politics of memory is a significant discourse relevant for First Nations women of Australia, as it intertwines with their historical and ongoing struggles for cultural preservation, identity, and sovereignty. The politics of memory involves confronting these histories, while curating culture acknowledges the agency of First Nations women in reclaiming their narratives and protecting ancestral lands.
 

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GWS (early) Lunch and Learn in January 2025

Event Date: 
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 8:45am to 9:45am EST
Event Location: 
RC 1002 (Thunder Bay campus)

The Department of Gender and Women’s Studies’
Lunch & Learn presents…

Out in the World: Queer Journeys of International Students in
Canada's Small CitiesOut in the World: Queer Journeys of International Students in Canada's Small Cities

  • Date: January 29th, 2025 (Wednesday)

  • Time: 8:45am – 9:45am
  • Location: RC 1002
  • Speaker: Mohit Dudeja (They/She/He)
  • Cookies and Hot Drinks (coffee and tea) will be free for attendees.    

Mohit’s talk is a call for awareness, activism, and solidarity. They will present their ongoing doctoral studies on the experiences of queer international students in small Canadian cities, while also sharing some of their personal experiences as a queer international student in Thunder Bay, navigating intersecting identities such as being a person of color. Queer students often face distinct challenges at the intersections of identity, culture, and belonging, especially in places that may lack strong LGBTQ+ communities or resources. In their talk, Mohit will discuss how these experiences shape queer students’ sense of identity, well-being, and community involvement, drawing from their recently published article, Transglobal Queer Identities, and other insights from their ongoing doctoral work.


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GWS November Lunch & Learn (Rescheduled to January)

Event Date: 
Friday, November 22, 2024 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST
Event Location: 
Online (Zoom)
Event Contact Name: 
Elaine, GWS Admin Assistant
Event Contact Phone: 
1 807-343-8010ext. 8625
Event Contact E-mail: 
WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca

Mohit’s talk is a call for awareness, activism, and solidarity. They will present their ongoing doctoral studies on the experiences of queer international students in small Canadian cities, while also sharing some of their personal experiences as a queer international student in Thunder Bay, navigating intersecting identities such as being a person of color. Queer students often face distinct challenges at the intersections of identity, culture, and belonging, especially in places that may lack strong LGBTQ+ communities or resources. In their talk, Mohit will discuss how these experiences shape queer students’ sense of identity, well-being, and community involvement, drawing from their recently published article, Transglobal Queer Identities, and other insights from their ongoing doctoral work.

 

Zoom information:
https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/96650936534
Meeting ID: 966 5093 6534

Click here for the poster


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GWS October Lunch & Learn

Event Date: 
Thursday, October 31, 2024 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm EDT
Event Location: 
Zoom
Event Contact Name: 
Elaine, GWS Admin Assistant
Event Contact Phone: 
1 807-343-8010ext. 8625
Event Contact E-mail: 
WomensStudies@lakeheadu.ca

Erika Puiras will present her doctoral research on experiences of stigma and self-stigma in childfree women. Stigma toward women who make the conscious choice to not have children (i.e., being childfree) is abundant; this stigma can come from friends, family, employers, and even from healthcare providers. In her presentation, Erika will discuss how these experiences of stigma may be associated with various health and mental health outcomes, including the potential for self-stigma to develop. 

 

Zoom information: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/98351394260 (Meeting ID: 983 5139 4260)

 

Click here for the poster


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