First Alberta Eugenics Awareness Week, October 2011

October 17, 2011. The work of the Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) funded Living Archives project includes a dedication to community involvement, and engagement in the development of resources in the history of eugenics.

As part of this mandate, the work of the Living Archives project created an annual Eugenics Awareness Week. This week features events designed to engage reflection and discussion surrounding eugenics in Western Canada. The inaugural week was held in October, 2011.

The 2011 Awareness Week included an art exhibit entitled ‘The Collective Memory Project: Responses to Eugenics in Alberta’ which featured “more than 20 contemporary works ranging from acrylics, digital prints and collages to pencil sketches, transfers, and archival photos” by “12 visual artists from across the country."(Wikipedia, 2014a). Also during the 2011 awareness week was included a public screening and discussion of The Sterilization of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014b), a documentary based on the personal experience of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014c). Other events held during the week include lectures, discussion groups, dramatic performances, research presentations, and public talks (Wikipedia, 2014a).

During the first Alberta Eugenics Awareness Week, a Mayoral Proclamation was also issued by Mayor Stephen Mandel of Edmonton, AB. This Proclamation declared October 23rd "Remembering the History of Eugenics in Alberta Day".

During the 2012 Awareness Week, events included panel discussions about eugenics and marginalized groups, a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the repeal of the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta (Wikipedia, 2014d), and a performance of the play "Invisible Child" based on the life of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014c). Events were also held in subsequent years.

-Sheila Gibbons

First Alberta Eugenics Awareness Week, October 2011

October 17, 2011. The work of the Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) funded Living Archives project includes a dedication to community involvement, and engagement in the development of resources in the history of eugenics.

As part of this mandate, the work of the Living Archives project created an annual Eugenics Awareness Week. This week features events designed to engage reflection and discussion surrounding eugenics in Western Canada. The inaugural week was held in October, 2011.

The 2011 Awareness Week included an art exhibit entitled ‘The Collective Memory Project: Responses to Eugenics in Alberta’ which featured “more than 20 contemporary works ranging from acrylics, digital prints and collages to pencil sketches, transfers, and archival photos” by “12 visual artists from across the country."(Wikipedia, 2014a). Also during the 2011 awareness week was included a public screening and discussion of The Sterilization of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014b), a documentary based on the personal experience of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014c). Other events held during the week include lectures, discussion groups, dramatic performances, research presentations, and public talks (Wikipedia, 2014a).

During the first Alberta Eugenics Awareness Week, a Mayoral Proclamation was also issued by Mayor Stephen Mandel of Edmonton, AB. This Proclamation declared October 23rd "Remembering the History of Eugenics in Alberta Day".

During the 2012 Awareness Week, events included panel discussions about eugenics and marginalized groups, a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the repeal of the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta (Wikipedia, 2014d), and a performance of the play "Invisible Child" based on the life of Leilani Muir (Wikipedia, 2014c). Events were also held in subsequent years.

-Sheila Gibbons