Trailblazing: Women in Canada since 1867 presented by Acuitas Therapeutics will be on exhibition at Science World, starting on June 16, 2023.
This exhibition explores how women have transformed Canadian politics, work, and everyday life. The exhibition 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 the “everyday” woman.
Currently in Canada, there is no national women’s history museum or long-term exhibition devoted to this topic.
Highlighted throughout the exhibition are Canadian women who have been “trailblazers” in bringing about social and political change.
Visitors will learn about the accomplishments of hundreds of remarkable women.
From Hide Hyodo Shimizu, a teacher who organized a school system in British Columbia’s Japanese internment camps during the Second World War to Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2007 and Inuk who advocates for the environmental, cultural and human rights of Inuit of the Arctic.
All their stories will inspire.
What visitors can expect to see at the exhibition:
A violence against women memorial theatre, a 360-degree outward projection onto 16 figures representing women from different backgrounds. When projecting, the figures become animated with content focusing on a variety of themes relating to Violence Against Women*.
Hands-on “women’s work” interactives, where visitors will explore various types of work available to women from the 1930’s to 1960’s, including six hands-on interactives: ironing, a switchboard, nursing, World War II fuse assembly, typewriting and fish canning. Each interactive has a video showing the activity being performed.
A hands-on hockey game that features famous Canadian female players from a variety of time periods, that operates like the common NHL game sold in stores. From Lady Stanley, who played in the first recorded female hockey game in 1889, to Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to play in an NHL game, Trailblazing also explores the history of women’s hockey in Canada. Visitors will view items worn by Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser, on loan from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Did you know?
Between 1892 and 1969, it was illegal in Canada to advertise, sell, or distribute contraceptives. In 1936, social worker Dorothea Palmer was arrested and charged for distributing birth control information. Her trial captured the nation’s attention, and sparked debate about a woman’s right to contraception.
In 1978, the Fleck workers’ strike occurred. Women workers at the Fleck Manufacturing plant had endured horrible working conditions and sexual harassment. This strike set a precedent and challenged the labour movement to address the needs of women workers.
Trailblazing contains stories of real women with themes of gender, sexuality, racism, discrimination and sexual and domestic violence.
Due to its sensitive nature, they encourage visitors to take care before exploring the gallery.
Tickets are available at scienceworld.ca and at the door.