• Historical Thinking (5) : Analyze Cause and Consequence
    by Steven Schwinghamer, Historian (Updated January 28, 2022) The fourth element of historical literacy identified by the Historical Thinking Project ( www.historicalthinking.ca ) is the analysis of causes and consequences . Sorting out causes and consequences is one of the most common sources of …
  • Historical Thinking (2) : Establish Historical Significance
    Historical Thinking (2) : Establish Historical Significance …
  • Historical Thinking (2) : Establish Historical Significance
    by Steven Schwinghamer, Historian (Updated January 28, 2022) Establishing historical significance” is the first skill of historical literacy put forward by the Historical Thinking Project ( www.historicalthinking.ca ). Significance is a challenging concept: one of the things that a historian has to …
  • Historical Thinking (1) : Practicing History in the Museum
    Historical Thinking (1) : Practicing History in the Museum …
  • Historical Thinking (1) : Practicing History in the Museum
    by Steven Schwinghamer, Historian (Updated January 28, 2022) In summer 2012, we offered an “historian’s tour” of our temporary exhibition, Shaping Canada: Exploring Our Cultural Landscapes . Rather than being a detailed tour of the exhibition in itself, the tour used parts of the exhibit as …
  • No eggs or butter? Baking during difficult times is nothing new.
    During the Second World War and reconstruction period, the Canadian Government wanted to fulfill its commitments to England by providing a vast quantity of food supplies for troops and civilians. Therefore, from 1942 to 1947, a system that was completely new to Canadians: rationing was imposed. …
  • Reflections on Oral History Interviews from Prague Spring Refugees
    by Nicole Dalrymple (Updated July 19, 2021) Introduction As the Research Intern here at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, as well as a History and Masters of Library and Information Studies graduate, I have had plenty of opportunities to engage with historical information. …
  • Does Anyone Have Any Questions?
    As a Heritage Interpreter here at the Museum I have the opportunity to interact with the public on a daily basis. There are numerous reasons behind coming to Pier 21, but there is something universal I hope all visitors bring: questions. It might seem like a trivial thing, dear visitor, but your …
  • Call Your Grandparents
    Call Your Grandparents …
  • Call Your Grandparents
    One of the things I love most about working in the Scotiabank Family History Centre (SHFC) at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is that every interaction is wildly different. But as diverse as our genealogy research can be, one thing that comes up constantly is the regret that people …