CNEH 2019 Wraps Up in Thunder Bay

The Canadian Network for Economic History (CNEH) successfully concluded its 2019 Meetings sponsored by Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and held at the historic Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel. The three-day event from September 27th to 29th, 2019 included three days of sessions, two keynote speakers and also provided keynote Professor Ann Carlos from the University of Colorado-Boulder as the speaker for the Lakehead Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies September 26th Science Speakers Event.  The event was met with sunny crisp autumn weather that highlighted the scenic Sleeping Giant out in the harbour.

The conference theme was the economic history of Indigenous communities, and interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies in Canada and the conference attracted Canadian and international scholars. The Mary MacKinnon Memorial Lecture was given by Donna Feir (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and University of Victoria) and was titled “Economic History and Reconciliation”.  The Saturday evening keynote by Ann Carlos (University of Colorado-Boulder) was on “Globalization and the Fur Trade.”  Elder Gerry Martin from Mattagami First Nation shared his insight and wisdom with opening and closing remarks.  A theme that emerged from all speakers as well as the specific sessions dealing with Indigenous and European interaction, Indigenous health and well-being was that more effort must be made to bring the Indigenous perspective into our research and teaching on Canadian and North American economic history. 

Generous financial support was provided by the Canadian Economics Association, the Alan Green Memorial Fund, Lakehead University's departments of history and economics, the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies at Lakehead and the Lakehead University Office of the Vice Provost of Aboriginal Initiatives.  Special thanks to administrative assistants Jennifer McKee (Lakehead) and Sharon Sullivan (Queen's) for their hard work in putting everything together.

Plans are for the next CNEH to be held in Vancouver in the Spring of 2021.  From the mid-coast to the west coast.  See you there!

CNEH 2019: Canadian Economic History Meetings In Thunder Bay for the First Time

The Canadian Network for Economic History - originally the Conference on the Application of Quantitative Methods to Canadian Economic History - has been meeting since 1965.  I gave my first paper at the 1990 meetings on research based on my thesis and have made most of the meetings since.  There have been 34 meetings since 1965 and the 35th meeting is being sponsored by Lakehead University and the sessions are being held at the scenic and historic Prince Arthur Hotel in Thunder Bay, Ontario this coming week from Friday September 27th to Sunday September 29th.  The meetings over the years have been held from coast to coast and this will be the first time the meetings are being held in Thunder Bay.

The conference theme is the economic history of Indigenous communities, and interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies in Canada. The CNEH is pleased to announce that Ann Carlos (University of Colorado at Boulder) will give the keynote address and Donna Feir (University of Victoria and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis) will give the Mary MacKinnon Memorial Lecture.



The  conference is receiving generous financial support from  the Alan G. Green Memorial Fund, the Canadian Economics Association, and the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies(FSES), the Department of Economics and the Department of History at Lakehead University.  As well, the Anthropology Department and the FSES is also sponsoring the visit of Ann Carlos who along with delivering the Keynote Address will also be providing a public lecture on the fur trade as part of the Science and Environmental Studies Faculty Speaker Series on Thursday September 26th.

We are looking forward to a great conference.  The program is below.  If anyone would like to join use, registration is still open at this link.