How far back does Jewish history in Canada go? For students in CDN208, the answer goes very far back. The course traces Jewish experiences in Canada from the early colonial period to the present day, focusing on the many diverse communities and their experiences as part of Canadian history.
“We think critically about how Jewish people have built diverse communities across Canada and how those communities reflect the incredible range of Jewish histories, cultures, and geographies,” says instructor Sterling Stutz, a PhD candidate in Public Health and Jewish Studies. "We examine life in farm communes and general stores on the Prairies, Saskatoon’s old Yiddish theatre, Jewish–Ukrainian relationships in Winnipeg, Jewish participation in the labour movement, and even Jewish involvement in the Yukon Gold Rush to name a few topics."
Alongside classroom-based learning, CDN208 includes many hands-on experiences, such as walking tours and working with archival materials. "One thing that makes this course unique is that I’m not formally trained as a historian—though after four times teaching it, I may be slowly becoming one!" Says Stutz. "My research focuses on how antisemitism impacts the health and wellbeing of Jewish communities in Toronto today. So, while I approach this material through a historical lens, I also draw from public health, sociology, and cultural studies to explore how the past shapes present experiences of belonging, exclusion, and identity."
A big part of the course is exploring how Jewish life and identity are interwoven with Canadian history. It's about the larger experiences shared by Jewish Canadians over the centuries of their presence here. "My goal isn’t for students to memorize dates or isolated facts, but to engage with the meaning behind these histories—to understand the broader patterns, tensions, and transformations that have shaped Jewish experiences in Canada." Also adding, "I also love how students bring their own relationships and motivations to the material. There are Jewish students who take the course to learn more about their own histories and family stories, and non-Jewish students who want to better understand the histories and experiences of Jewish communities in Canada."
As part of the course, Stutz organizes a walking tour of the Kensington Market area of Toronto that explores Jewish history, sights, and culture. If you wanted to tag along, you have a chance to do so virtually on our Instagram page!
Ultimately, CDN208 invites students to see Canadian history through a richer, more interconnected lens. By tracing the diverse stories of Jewish communities, from early settlers and prairie farmers to modern urban life, the course explores how questions of identity and belonging continue to shape the experience of Canadian Jews with the state. As students uncover the layered histories, they gain not only a deeper understanding of Jewish life in Canada but also new ways of thinking about what it means to build community in a diverse nation.