As students, especially international students with a spouse and small children, graduate from university and embark on new beginnings, this story may resonate and show the power of resourcefulness, community, and adaptability. It was the mid-1960s, nearing the height of the US’s troop deployment in the Vietnam War, when Malaysian […]
Author: Archival and Special Collections
‘The Gay Cookbook’ makes a meal of camp and serves it up with a side of LGBTQ+ activism
Author Lou Rand Hogan garnishes internationally-inspired recipes with witty commentary in this fascinating look at mid-century queer domesticity Gillian Manford | Archives Clerk “…in that magic hour ‘tween day and dark, after effacing the ravages of the day’s toil, and before the night’s serious cruising, ya gotta take on some […]
A white-man’s school?: Early Black students and staff at the U of G
During the early 20th century, the institutions that would later form the U of G accepted Black students when others wouldn’t—but they also accepted racist language and stereotypes Graham Burt | Archives Associate Content warning: Please be advised that the following article examines racial stereotypes and contains racist language. […]
A historical recollection of Toronto’s affordable housing project
Recent Toronto planning report echoes the mid-twentieth century craze for affordable multi-unit housing Ryan Kirkby | Archives Associate e’ve all read the headlines: affordable housing in big cities like Vancouver and Toronto is a thing of the past. Millennials and Generation Z are the chief casualties of this crisis—most of […]
Tobogganing: More than just a fun winter sport
What one American’s love affair with tobogganing can teach us about the historical and social significance of the sport Graham Burt | Archives Associate “A winter in Canada! I think I should rather spend it there than anywhere else on the face of this broad earth.” “What! And freeze to […]
Making outdoor spaces “a little richer”
Take note from landscape gardener Humphry Repton, who loved rich plant life Lara Carleton | Archives Clerk hroughout the pandemic, many have taken solace in spending more time outdoors, especially in their own backyards. Some backyard enthusiasts have personalized herb and vegetable gardens, while others have beautified their own […]
George Tanaka: Activist and landscape architect
George Tanaka led a life of landscape design and advocacy work for the rights of Japanese Canadians Kathryn Harvey | Archivist I held the pages down on the steering wheel and scanned the sheets as the edges flittered in the gusts. There it was in black and white—our short hard […]
Learn about Scottish tourism through historical ephemera
Experiences of hunting, sport, and railway travel come to life through little scraps of paper Ashley Shifflett McBrayne | Library Associate ave you ever thought about what it’d be like to travel to Scotland? Well, you’re in luck —McLaughlin Library’s Archival & Special Collections has an excellent collection on Scottish […]
Mammy: Unpacking anti-Blackness in Canadian food advertising history
A spotlight on the history of the ‘mammy’ caricature as she appears in a Canadian advertising cookbook Laila El Mugammar | Journalist & Activist lack Heritage Month is an opportune time to spotlight archival material that contains evidence of a long history of anti-Blackness. Specifically, Canadian advertising cookbooks in the […]
Winter-themed trade cards: What are they advertising?
A look at the history of an advertising technique used before the 20th century Lara Carleton | Archives Clerk oday, most advertisements light up our screens through television commercials and images on social media, peak our interest through quick segments on the radio, or catch our eyes on billboards and […]
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.