Edmonton as a Human Rights City: Launch Time at the Archives
“The stories of activism remind us to resist ideologies and policies of excessive growth and consumerism, militarization, genocidal ethnic cleansing, racism, and all other forms of discrimination…We need to learn from the values of diverse cultures and civilizations.”
- Toh Swee Hin
As North America’s first Human Rights City as designated by the United Nations Development Programme, Edmonton has long been a hub for people working to educate, advance and protect human rights. This work has a long history that is rooted in the leadership of community activists who began their efforts in the 1960s and 70s on important issues such as Indigenous rights, women’s rights, environmentalism and anti-war peace action.
Despite the indelible impact of this work on the present-day city, this history had yet to be documented and celebrated—until now. With the launch of Edmonton as a Human Rights City: A Living Legacy of Activism, many of these stories have been recorded to inspire future generations of engaged citizens. And not only are stories of advocacy being preserved, but a forthcoming series of videos and lesson plans geared towards the classroom will have young learners reflecting on their roles as change agents in their own communities.
In recognition of this rather momentous achievement, the John Humphrey Centre, in partnership with the City of Edmonton Archives, the Edmonton Heritage Council, and Defining Moments Canada, held a soft launch of the Edmonton as a Human Rights City project on March 14 2025 at the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre. It was a full house, with many of the project’s elder activist interviewees bringing their powerful yet peaceful presences to the space. Participants were able to get sneak previews of the project’s digital portal, which will house lesson plans and other learning tools for educators. There was also a screening of several short videos highlighting key themes in Edmonton’s human rights advocacy history, featuring clips from the project’s longer-format interviews.
City of Edmonton community archivist Jia Jia Yong and Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi brought greetings on behalf of the city. Reflecting on the legacy of human rights work, longstanding activist Patti Hartnagel presented the journey of the Edmonton as a Human Rights City project, and Toh Swee Hin and Virginia Cawagas from Elders for Peace gave closing remarks emphasizing the importance of knowing our history and remembering our pasts to do better for our collective futures. And of course, it wouldn’t feel quite right to have an activist event in this town without a lively musical performance from the Raging Grannies!
“There were powerful moments that have stayed with me since the launch event. It was wonderful to see this project come to fruition — to know that a small piece of history, and the legacy of the people behind the human rights history of Edmonton, is enshrined within these videos. This project showcased the importance and timeliness of capturing history and memory, as many of these folks are in the later years of their lives, and so there was this urgency to preserve that oral history and memories for generations to come. As we watched the highlight video that showcased all of the interviewees reflecting on the importance of activism, I was moved by the applause that erupted around us as the video ended. Attendees seemed thrilled with the outcomes of the project and to see themselves and their friends given this recognition. To have had the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of these human rights leaders and see their impact memorialized was an incredible moment to experience with them.” - JHC team member
Edmonton as a Human Rights City: A Living Legacy of Activism is made possible through the support of the New Horizons for Seniors Program with the Government of Canada, the Alberta Heritage Awareness Grant, and the Edmonton Heritage Council. We also wish to send special thanks to the City of Edmonton Archives for their partnership on this project and their commitment to receive, preserve and provide access to records that tell the story of Edmonton and the People who call it home. Finally, we are grateful to Defining Moments Canada for being this project’s digital host and education partner.