‘Through public education and research we foster informed engagement with Canada’s past’
The 208th birthday of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, on 11 January 2023, also marked the inception of the Canadian Institute for Historical Education (“CIHE”): https://cihe.ca/ This was not a coincidence. Over the past decade, Sir John’s reputation and legacy have been trashed. The attack has built on grievances made public with the release of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015. In this, and in subsequent discussions, Macdonald was accused of being a major proponent and instigator of the “cultural genocide” of Canada’s indigenous peoples. As a result, information on Macdonald was excised from Government of Canada websites, and statues were removed, toppled, or “boxed” in Kingston (Macdonald’s adopted hometown), Montreal, Charlottetown, Hamilton, Picton, Victoria and Toronto. Many streets, schools and buildings were renamed. In short, Macdonald became a pariah to many Canadians.
Sir John A. Macdonald (1815-1891)
Yet many of the statements made about Macdonald were incorrect, and his life and work were removed from their appropriate contexts. Most of the contested events and practices in the Indian Residential Schools’ system occurred well after his death in 1891, in fact. But Macdonald is the “founder” of Canada, and because Canada was now being designated by many as a ‘genocide state’, Macdonald was labelled a ‘genocidaire’.
Other historical figures such as Egerton Ryerson, Matthew Begbie, Henry Dundas, Hector-Louis Langevin, and Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin were also attacked for their involvement with the Residential Schools or slavery. Canadians were being told by many, including the then prime minister, Justin Trudeau, that they should be ashamed of their history.
Thus in 2023, the CIHE began its activities to reclaim the legacies of the accused, and to provide a more balanced interpretation of Canadian history. Our mission is to promote historical literacy through research, education, and engagement in the public square.
The initial activities of the CIHE were, therefore, reactive. We countered disinformation with facts. Over the past three years, colloquia have been held on Macdonald, Dundas and Ryerson. We have hosted speaker events including David Frum (“Settlers & Colonists”), Margaret MacMillan and Nigel Biggar (“Colonialism”), and Stephen Bown (“Manifest Destiny”). These talks, and other resources, are available on our website here: www.cihe.ca.
We realized that however successful these events, their overall impact on Canadian society was minimal. We were especially concerned that general knowledge, understanding and interest in our history is dismally poor. The CIHE had to design a programme to engage Canadians with their history, and a social media strategy was developed using Twitter/X, Threads, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.
The results have been gratifying. Over the past year, our content has attracted over 2.2 million views. Relative to industry benchmarks, our X community is “hyper” engaged with our content; Instagram and Facebook engagement exceeds norms; but we are lagging on TikTok. Over 2,100 new followers were added in November 2025 alone. We also initiated our ‘History Matters’ podcast in 2025 with thirteen episodes to date.
Egerton Ryerson (1803-1882), Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada 1844-76
Our historical battles over the past two years have been successful. The proposed renaming of Dundas Street by Toronto City Council was defeated. However, Yonge Dundas Square was renamed Sankofa Square. Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan tribe meaning “go back and get it”. The Akans, it turned out, were active middlemen in the African slave trade. The CIHE, along with the ‘Save Our History’ group, was successful in opposing efforts to remove the names of Henry Dundas, Egerton Ryerson and John A. Macdonald from Toronto schools.
The CIHE’s efforts to have statues resurrected were also rewarded in 2025. The Council of Wilmot Township voted to reinstall all the statues in their ‘Prime Ministers’ Path’ that were removed in 2021: https://www.wilmot.ca/news/posts/wilmot-council-concludes-prime-ministers-path-deliberations-with-renewed-inclusive-direction/ The Institute’s J. D. M. Stewart was recruited as a member of an independent committee to oversee the project and also develop educational content. Perhaps the most gratifying action over the past year was the unboxing of Macdonald’s prominent statue at Queen’s Park in Toronto, an event that signalled a renewed commitment to understanding our history rather than erasing it. The momentum for the reinstallation of Macdonald’s statues in cities across Canada has swung in our favour. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sir-john-a-macdonald-statue-uncovered-queens-park-1.7559190
We want to ensure that the renaming of places reflects a fair and balanced treatment of our past and that relevant facts and context inform these decisions. We work with historians to provide legislators and municipal officials with relevant historical evidence and analysis; commission new research where it seems necessary; and act as a catalyst for a more informed understanding amongst all Canadians. Our document, “Principles: Naming and Renaming”, is available on our website: https://cihe.ca/about-us/#principals
Henry Dundas, First Viscount Melville (1742-1811), British Home Secretary and Secretary for War. Counsel for Joseph Knight in the famous Scottish antislavery ‘Knights Case’ (Knight versus Wedderburn) in 1778. Proposer of ‘the gradual abolition’ of the slave trade in the British parliament in 1792
These accomplishments form the foundation for a new era for the CIHE, one where we shift from being seen primarily as a reactive voice to becoming a proactive national leader in historical education.
Our Resolutions for 2026 focus on the following:
1. Become a truly national organisation.
Our activities to date have been focused mainly on Ontario. We will expand our reach across provinces and territories, bringing together historians, educators, policy makers, and citizens who believe in the value of historical literacy. This reach has been achieved through a “Friends” model. Many of the initiatives require a local presence, especially as many Canadians resent being told what to do by those from Toronto (I am originally from Hamilton, Ontario, and have a large “chip on the shoulder” as a result). The local presence allows the CIHE to be aware of, and to address, issues that may need a rapid response in order to prevent knee-jerk reactions by activists and politicians. To support this network, the CIHE has assembled a Rapid Response Committee from academia to quickly counter erroneous claims made about historical figures and events.
Our template for expansion has been established with The Kingston Friends of the CIHE, and we are underway in establishing our Friends network in Halifax, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Our goal is to grow CIHE into a representative, coast-to-coast body that Canadians can rely on for credible, balanced leadership on historical issues.
2. Commission research on the state of historical education.
Data, rather than anecdotes, is needed to understand what students know, what they’re missing, and how we can help. In 2026, CIHE will undertake the first phase of a national research initiative to assess the level of historical knowledge across the country. In Canada, secondary school curricula are the responsibility of provincial governments. As a result, the CIHE will review and influence the teaching of history across the various jurisdictions.
3. Strengthen partnerships with academic institutions.
We will work closely with universities, colleges, and scholars to commission research on Canadian historical figures and events, explore curriculum improvements, deepen historical awareness, and support educators who are shaping the next generation of Canadians. This will include the establishment of scholarships supporting Canadian history students, and funding towards specific projects.
4. Increase public engagement around Canadian history.
From expanding our social media presence, to growing History Matters, to hosting more regional events, the CIHE will continue to create opportunities for Canadians to learn, question, and participate in the stories that define us. Mr. Trump’s 51st State threat may be a blessing in disguise. The sabre-rattling has many Canadians asking how and why we differ from our southern neighbours. Macdonald’s National Policy of the 1880s, by which Canadian industry was protected from US competition to ensure its survival, is suddenly in vogue. 2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, which created two countries, not just one. We believe that commemorations of the Revolution in the United States and Canada will generate further interest in our history.
5. Advocate not only for the preservation of history—but for its understanding.
We will continue to defend our shared heritage when necessary. But our primary mission going forward is to promote a richer, more nuanced understanding of Canadian history through research, education, and responsible public engagement. We believe that a strong understanding and interest in our history will rebuild pride in our nation, which has been fractured by regionalism over the past decade. Our aim is to ensure that Canadians can access, appreciate, and learn from their history—accurately, confidently, and together.
The CIHE looks to collaborate with other organizations within and outside of Canada to assist in research and advocacy. We especially look forward to working alongside History Reclaimed.
Best regards,
Donald F. Cranston
Chairman
The Canadian Institute for Historical Education
