What has it meant to be a woman in Canada throughout its 150-year history?
That’s a question that visitors to the Joseph Brant Museum in Burlington will soon be able to ponder.
Trailblazing: Women in Canada, a nationally travelling exhibit, created and toured by the Waterloo Region Museum, explores how women have transformed Canadian politics, work, and everyday life. The exhibit highlights the experiences of women – mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, and friends – from all walks of Canadian life.
Chris Selman, curator at the Joseph Brant museum, said the exhibit helps visitors learn more about influential women in Canadian history.
“These women are unique individuals, and they've made Canada into what it is now,” Selman said.
“There are people called into focus throughout the show who have touched on Canadian politics – the sexual revolution, sports, work, pretty much every aspect of Canadian life.”
The stories are designed to inspire viewers and prompt them to think about the changes they can make in their own lives. By learning about the lives of these trailblazing women, visitors are encouraged to be brave and take risks, to challenge the status quo, and to have the courage to pursue their dreams.
Who are the Trailblazing Canadian Women?
The exhibit features prominent Canadian women, including scientists, artists, activists, and entrepreneurs. Highlighted throughout the exhibit are Canadian women who have been "trailblazers" in bringing about social and political change.
Some of the women featured in the exhibit include Hide Hyodo Shimizu (a teacher who organized a school system in British Columbia’s Japanese internment camps during the Second World War) and Shelia Watt-Cloutier (Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2007).
Another interesting aspect of the show is the incorporation of an audio-visual bus, influenced by the 1974 Women's Liberation Bookmobile "Cora," and named after Canadian suffragette E. Cora Hind. The bookmobile aimed to bring literature on women's rights to underprivileged areas. In Trailblazers, the bus serves as a theatre showing a video of female-led protests throughout history and the country.
Selman said he hopes the exhibit also introduces visitors to a few stories that most Canadians haven’t encountered in history textbooks, yet.
“We all know the Stanley Cup and Lord Stanley, but maybe we don't know the story of his daughter Lady Stanley,” Selman said. “She really pushed his interest in the sport.”
Another unique element in Trailblazers is a hands-on hockey game which incorporates the stories of other notable figures: Olympian Hailey Wickenheiser, and Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to play in an NHL game.
“There's several different ways that Trailblazers will engage with audiences,” Selman said. “There are multimultimedia installations, there are original artifacts, there are hands-on interactives.”
“These are all used in combination to tell the stories of these women.”
The exhibit also examines work that still needs to be done in the 21st century with respect to women's rights, different experiences based on race, class and ethnicity, and the experiences of women every day.
That’s something that may resonate with people in Burlington, Selman said. In recent years, women have taken the helm of many prominent municipal and community leadership roles.
“I think kind of that's an interesting juxtaposition between the show, talking about women trailblazers, when so many leaders in Burlington are also women trailblazers.”
“It's kind of cool.”
Visitors also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to special events associated with the exhibition.
Attend a film screening (February 23, March 23, April 27, May 25) of “The Woman Who Loves Giraffes” (rated PG) to learn about Canadian biologist, Dr. Anne Innis Dagg. The film re-traces the steps of Dr. Dagg’s 1956 journey to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild, her ground-breaking research, and the insurmountable barriers she faced as a female scientist. Tickets are $12/person, and include admission to Joseph Brant Museum as well as light refreshments.
There’s also a Trivia Night for ages 19+ on March 3. Test your knowledge and learn about the experiences of women in Canadian history. Participants will have the opportunity to view the Trailblazing exhibition,” prior to competing in two rounds of trivia. Enjoy a sample beer flight from a local brewer, popcorn, pretzels and donuts. Ticket are $25/person and include Museum admission, register in teams of 4-6.
The Trailblazing: Women in Canada since 1867 exhibit was created and produced by the Waterloo Region Museum and was funded by the Region of Waterloo. The exhibit was also funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage / Museums Assistance Program. The exhibition tour is managed by Science North.
This exhibition is on view at Joseph Brant Museum, February 7 – May 27, 2023.
For more information and tickets to special events, please visit the Museums of Burlington web site.
