About Us

 The Toronto Workers History Project (TWHP) is a large group of workers, unionists, professors, students, artists, teachers, librarians, educators, researchers, community activists, and retirees dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of working people in Toronto.

We are committed to bringing to light the experiences of working people and their contributions as individuals and collectively to the building of this city, in the home, in the paid workplace, and in the community.

Highlighting the vitality and creativity of working-class cultures in Toronto.

We are determined to include the full diversity of working-class experience, including women, indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and gays, lesbians, and trans people.

We embrace the histories of people from all parts of the world. We aim to make these stories available through a variety of media for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

We want to educate the people of Toronto and beyond, but also to inspire activists in social-justice and labour movements with the lessons from the past for the struggles to change the world today.

Land Acknowledgment

The Toronto Workers’ History Project (TWHP) acknowledges that Toronto is situated upon the traditional territories of the Wendat, Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.

The treaty that was signed for this particular parcel of land is collectively referred to as the Toronto Purchase and applies to lands east of Browns Line to Woodbine Avenue and north towards Newmarket. We acknowledge the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

The TWHP also acknowledges serious ongoing marginalization of and discrimination against Indigenous communities in Ontario and Canada, and pledge our collective efforts to remedy this colonial heritage.

Wampum Belt
Wampum was used by Indigenous people to record treaties and settle disputes (courtesy Canadian Museum of History/575-620).

Committees

The Toronto Workers’ History Project strikes committees/groups which do work reflected in the TWHP’s mission.

Archive Committee

David Kidd (Chair)

Book Club

David Kidd (Chair)

Communications Committee

Frank Saptel (Chair)

Executive Committee

Craig Heron (Chair)

Fundraising Committee

David Kidd (Chair)

v

Oral History Project

Andy Hanson (Chair)

Theatre Group

Aida Jordão (Chair)

TWHP By-Laws

TWHP is a registered non-profit and operates in accordance with its by-laws.

 

BY-LAWS of the TORONTO WORKERS’ HISTORY PROJECT

Article 1: Name

1.1 The name of this organization shall be the Toronto Workers’ History Project.

Article 2: Purpose

2.1 The purpose of this organization shall be to establish and maintain an educational association:

  1. To present and communicate educational programming on the history of working people in Toronto,
  2. To present cultural events concerning the history of working people in Toronto,
  3. To encourage and facilitate the preservation of records and artefacts related to the history of working people in Toronto,
  4. To encourage and facilitate research and writing on and representation of the history of working people in Toronto.

Article 3: Membership

3.1 Members in good standing shall be those who have paid the annual membership dues.

Article 4: Dues

4.1 Membership dues shall be payable once a year on January 1st.

4.2 Membership dues shall have three categories:

  1. Regular
  2. Student, unemployed, or retiree
  3. Institutional

4.3 Dues shall be set at the Annual General Meeting each year.

Article 5: Annual General Meeting

5.1 The Executive Committee shall call an Annual General Meeting at an appropriate time each year. At least two weeks’ notice shall be given for such a meeting.

5.2 The Annual General Meeting shall be responsible for:

  1. Electing the Executive Committee
  2. Setting membership dues
  3. Other business as required

5.3 All members in good standing are eligible to participate and vote in Annual General Meetings.

5.4 A quorum for an Annual General Meeting shall be ten (10) members in good standing.

5.5 Under special circumstances, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to call an additional meeting of the membership.

Article 6: Officers

6.1 The following shall be the organization’s officers:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer

6.2 Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

6.3 Any member in good standing may stand for an officer position.

6.4 The term of office for each officer shall be one year.

Article 7: Duties of Officers

7.1 The President shall preside over meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee, represent the organization at meetings outside the organization, and coordinate the work of the officers and committees to ensure that the purpose of the organization is served.

7.2 The Vice-President shall assist the President and carry out the President’s duties in his or her absence or inability to serve.

7.3 The Secretary shall maintain all records of the organization, take and prepare minutes, maintain the membership list, and send notices of meetings to members.

7.4 The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the organization, keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures, and pay out funds in accordance with the approval of the Executive Committee. He or she shall present a financial statement as requested by the Executive Committee and make a full report to the Annual General Meeting.

Article 8: Executive Committee

8.1 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the overall policy direction of the organization.

8.2 The Executive Committee shall consist of up to nine (9) members, namely:

  1. The Officers
  2. Up to five (5) additional members-at-large elected by the members attending the Annual General Meeting.

8.3. Members of the Executive Committee shall serve one-year terms.

8.4 A quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee shall be three (3) members.

8.5 The Executive Committee shall normally meet at least eight (8) times per year.

8.6 The Executive Committee shall make a report to each Annual General Meeting.

8.7 In the event of the resignation of a member of the Executive Committee before the Annual General Meeting, the remainder of the committee shall call for nominees from the membership and appoint a replacement to serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

8.8 A member of the Executive Committee may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the remaining members of the committee.

Article 9: Committees

9.1 The Executive Committee shall be empowered to establish standing and ad hoc committees as necessary.

9.2 Normally one member of the Executive shall serve on each committee.

Article 10: Amendments to By-Laws

10.1 By-laws may be amended at an Annual General Meeting by a two-thirds majority vote, provided notice of proposed amendments has been given by at least two (2) members in good standing at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting.

Executive Committee

TWHP is governed by an Executive Committee.

 

Massey Hall full for a ATU Local 113 strike vote

Craig Heron

President

Frank Saptel

Vice-President

Jeanine Appleton-Bott

Treasurer

Maryanna Lewyckyj

Secretary

Andy Hanson

Member-At-Large

David Kidd

Member-At-Large

Harry Smaller

Member-At-Large

Holly Kirkconnell

Member-At-Large

Robert Murdoch

Member-At-Large

About Us