Connie Shea receives Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
Connie Shea, a teacher at St. Malachy’s Memorial High School, just brought home the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching. But she’s quick to say it wasn’t a solo effort—it was her students’ passion for uncovering untold local stories that earned the national spotlight.
Through the Hidden Histories project, her students dove into Saint John’s past, uncovering stories that deserve more than a footnote in history books. They researched, created postcards, and shared the stories of unsung heroes from First Nations, Black, 2SLGBTQIA, and women’s history. The goal? To make history more inclusive and show how the people of New Brunswick have shaped the world.
When she’s not inspiring the next generation of historians, Connie keeps a ‘cool people who did cool things’ list of New Brunswickers. Including a few favourites of hers like Edward Mitchell Bannister, the St. Andrews-born artist turned abolitionist whose work once hung in the Smithsonian, and Lena O’Ree, a civil rights trailblazer who broke barriers in 1950s Saint John. And yes, we think Connie’s probably earned a spot on that list too, though she might not admit it.
When asked what the award means to her, Connie shared that it validates the importance of bringing marginalized voices to the forefront. However, she isn’t stopping there. Hidden Histories 2 is already in the works, with her students exploring the stories of Black Canadians from the Maritimes. Stay tuned for more details on this project soon - it’s local history worth celebrating!