Esteemed historian McKay speaking in North Bay

Nipissing University’s history department welcomes one of Canada’s preeminent historians, Dr. Ian McKay, to North Bay for two engaging discussions.
On Wednesday, January 25, Mckay will participate in a panel discussion with Nipissing University professor Dr. Larry Patriquin, titled Unite the Left North Bay? A Community Conversation. The discussion takes place at 8 p.m. at the WKP Kennedy Gallery (150 Main Street East).  The North Bay community is invited to share their knowledge and ideas.

McKay will also deliver the annual History Department’s keynote lecture on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 p.m. in room H106.  Titled, Warrior Nation: the Use and Abuse of History in Harper’s Canada, the lecture will critique the attempt by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government to position war as central to the Canadian experience. Doing so, he argues, requires a reworking of Canadian history and a fundamental reconceptualization of Canada itself.

McKay is a professor of History at Queen’s University. His recent book, Reasoning Otherwise: Leftists and the People's Enlightenment in Canada won the 2008 John A. Macdonald prize from the Canadian Historical Association for best book of the year.  His article The Liberal Order Framework: A Prospectus for a Reconnaissance of Canadian History is remaking how historians understand the Canadian past. McKay specializes in Canadian cultural history, working-class history, the history of Canadian socialism and the history of Nova Scotia.

These events are free of charge and all are welcome.