History Department

We strive to:

• Foster Critical Thinking: Move beyond the memorization of dates and names to "think like a historian." We challenge students to analyze arguments, conceptualize complex events, and distinguish between fact, opinion, and interpretation.
• Develop Media Literacy & Digital Ethics: Equip students to navigate the information age with integrity. This includes teaching academic honesty and responsible technology use, specifically focusing on the ethical and appropriate use of AI technology as a tool for learning rather than a replacement for original thought.
• Connect History to "Me" (Personal Identity): Ensure learning is personally relevant by exploring how historical events shape individual identities and history. We encourage students to see their own stories reflected in the broader Canadian and global narrative.
• Empower Student Voice: Encourage students to take ownership and responsibility of their education through strong work habits, collaborative learning, inquiry, and debate.
• Develop Global Citizens: Cultivate empathy and an understanding of diverse worldviews to promote social justice.

Skills Development

Our programs are designed to build essential skills that serve students in all life pathways including basic citizenship, entrepreneurship and  various post-secondary careers  such as journalism, education, political sciences, business, law, museum studies and all the social sciences). 

Key competencies include:

• Source Evaluation & Information Literacy: We emphasize the ability to critically evaluate sources of information. Students learn to identify academic, reputable, and fact-based sources versus opinion or misinformation.
• Experts vs. Influencers: A core focus is distinguishing between peer-reviewed research and unverified content, helping students understand the critical difference between subject-matter experts who publish knowledge versus social media influencers who create for profit.
• Communication: Refining skills in persuasive essay writing, public speaking, and formal debate.
• Analysis: Interpreting evidence and forming reasoned arguments based on historical data.
• Inquiry & Research: Conducting in-depth research using the Historical Thinking Concepts framework developed by Dr. Peter Seixas. The six concepts are:
  1. Historical Significance: Events, people, or developments are significant if they resulted in change, had deep consequences for many people over a long period of time, or reveal enduring issues.
  2. Evidence: History is an interpretation based on inferences made from primary sources (documents, artifacts, etc.). Students learn to evaluate sources by considering the author's purpose, background, values, and the context of the historical setting.
  3. Continuity and Change: Analyzing both the things that remained the same and those that transformed over time.
  4. Cause and Consequence: Historical events are driven by multiple causes (actions of people and the conditions in which they operated) and result in multiple consequences, some of which may be unintended.
  5. Historical Perspectives:  Understanding the social, cultural, intellectual, and emotional settings that shaped people's lives and actions in the past. Done through the lens of cultural relativism and objectivity by not imposing contemporary standards on the past.

  6. The Ethical Dimension: This addresses the problem of judging past actions and injustices, and how a fair assessment of historical implications can inform our responsibilities in the present and how we investigate  real-world issues.

     Activities and Clubs

     We believe experiential education is vital to bringing history to life. Our department offers various opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with the real world needs of the community. This is primarily done through our main club, the Westmount History Committee. This student driven, teacher guided club takes on various tasks over the school year that concern the subject of History and involves “history” minded students who are involved in:

     -Organizing the Remembrance Week observances and Nov 11 assembly

     -Organizing monthly/weekly awareness campaigns such as Black History Month or Holocaust Awareness Week

     -Organizing the CIVIX  “Student Vote” during national/provincial/municipal election cycles

     -Bringing in guest speakers 

     -Organizing social justice fundraisers such as the “Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal”