The Lens

When we think about women’s rights in Canada today, it is easy to assume they have always existed. In reality, less than a century ago, women were not legally recognized as “persons.” That changed through the efforts of the Famous Five—Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards—who led the landmark Persons Case.

Affordability isn’t just about tuition—it’s about clear, predictable financial policies. Student feedback shows challenges often come from how costs are communicated and structured.

Improving transparency, reducing hidden costs (like textbooks and experiential fees), and introducing more flexible scholarship retention can make a meaningful difference—without major institutional change.

As universities increasingly shift from intellectual spaces to career pipelines, marketability has taken priority over academic exploration. Analyzing the growing commercialization of higher education, this piece examines how the pressure for economic return influences program funding, shapes student choices, and replaces a culture of curiosity with a focus on financial growth.

Researchers at Weldon Library are currently working to recover the histories of formerly enslaved peoples who settled in London during the mid-nineteenth century. The Black Londoners Project (BLP) honours the agency and lives of those who contributed to the local community in the face of systemic oppression, mapping out the businesses and homes foundational to London’s urban development.