The 2026 Canada's History Forum

The projects highlighted 2SLGBTQ+ histories, northern and Indigenous histories grounded in traditional knowledge and classroom initiatives making local stories tangible for students. Educator Manouchka Otis reminded us that history is living and rooted in community — something her students experience first-hand through land-based learning with Elders and local Knowledge Keepers. Other recipients showed how partnerships with museums, archives and community members helped the public see themselves in the narrative. 

Across the forum, one question recurred: “What happens when people learn history in the place where it actually happened?” Through walking tours, interactive archives and community vegetable gardens, the answer became clear: History is most powerful when it’s experienced directly, in the setting where it unfolded, and when communities actively participate in telling it.