| Type: | Charitable Organization |
| Headquarters: | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Canada's National History Society | |
| Founding Location: | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Website: | http://www.canadashistory.ca |
| Founder: | Hudson Bay Company |
Canada's National History Society is a charitable organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Society was founded in 1994 by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) for the purpose of promoting greater popular interest in Canadian history principally through its publishing activities and outreach and recognition programs. The Society receives a core grant from the Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation annually, but operates as an independent entity. Its operating budget averages $2.7 million a year, and its largest share of revenues comes from its membership who in addition to subscribing to their magazines also contribute charitable donations. 66% of total annual revenues come from individual subscriptions and donations. From 2007 to 2009 it partnered with HBC to administer the HBC Local History Grants Program which provided modest support to small community-based history projects. Today the History Society continues to support local history organizations through the Canada's History Awards program as well as its website's news and travel services.
Its flagship product is Canada's History magazine (until 2010 known as The Beaver: Canada's History Magazine). Produced six times a year with a current paid subscriber/membership base of 44,000.[1] [2] In 2017 Canada's History released an archive of the back catalogue of The Beaver.[3]
In addition, the History Society launched Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids in 2003 which now published quarterly in English and in French as an insert to Quebec children's magazine Les Editions Les Debrouillards. Paid circulation for the English edition is just under 6,000.
To date, The History Society has published five books:
In addition to its publishing projects, the History Society produces Canada's History Awards, a national celebration of the country's top history honours including the Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History and the Pierre Berton Award for achievement in popular history. In 2008, the History Society established the National Forum on Canadian History as part of the annual Awards events as an opportunity to bring students, teachers, historians, museum specials, and history organizations together to discuss ways to improve formal and informal history education in Canada.
The Governor General's History Awards program were established in 1996 by Canada's National History Society. The awards include a number of separate awards programs:[4]
Established in 1994, the Pierre Berton Award is presented annually by the Society for distinguished achievement in presenting Canadian history in an informative and engaging manner. The award program is currently known as the Governor General's Award for Popular Media: the Pierre Berton Award.[5] Canadian writer and historian Pierre Berton was the first recipient and agreed to lend his name to future awards. The award honours those who have introduced Canadian characters and events of the past to the national and international public.
| Year[6] | Recipient Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thomas King | |
| 2021 | Murray Sinclair | |
| 2020 | Steven High | |
| 2019 | Sylvia D. Hamilton | |
| 2018 | Bill Waiser[7] | |
| 2017 | Daniel Francis | |
| 2016 | Merna Forster[8] | |
| 2015 | Lawrence Hill[9] | |
| 2014 | Mark Zuehlke | |
| 2013 | Tim Cook | |
| 2012 | Dictionary of Canadian Biography | |
| 2011 | J’ai la mémoire qui tourne | |
| 2010 | Desmond Morton | |
| 2009 | Paul Gross | |
| 2008 | Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History | |
| 2007 | Brian McKenna | |
| 2006 | Ken McGoogan | |
| 2005 | Will Ferguson | |
| 2004 | Jack Granatstein | |
| 2003 | Charlotte Gray | |
| 2002 | Canadian Society for Civil Engineering | |
| 2001 | ||
| 2000 | Peter C. Newman | |
| 1998 | Bob Johnstone Today in History | |
| 1997 | The CRB Foundation | |
| 1996 | Jacques Lacoursière | |
| 1995 | James H. Gray | |
| 1994 | Pierre Berton |
| Escutcheon: | Or two canoe paddles in saltire Azure overall a candle Gules its flame Argent surmounting a maple leaf Gules. |
| Supporters: | Two beavers Proper each gorged with a coronet erablé Argent and standing on a grassy mount Vert. |
| Motto: | Our Past Shapes Our Future |
| Notes: | Granted 20 March 2008.[10] |
| Crest: | A demi-bear affronty holding in its dexter paw an eagle feather Proper. |