Jordan Lynnes

From Memory to Responsibility explores students’ self-directed research and connections to local social impact initiatives. Students are given the space to assert agency over their learning, acquire research skills, and determine the connections between Canadian history and contemporary issues.

Students explore why the past matters, how it shapes our shared present, and what that means for our responsibilities as community members today. In the research phase, students examine primary and secondary sources, evaluate bias and perspective, and communicate their findings in research papers. Next, they design and implement a community service initiative that applies their historical understanding to a real-world need. Whether doing restorative work at a historical site or launching a local advocacy campaign, this project shows how academic research can honour local communities' stories.

Lynnes’ project addresses a key issue with teaching history: finding meaningful ways to support student engagement. By pairing research with community-based initiatives, students learn the real-world implications of historical narratives while becoming more passionate, active members of their communities.