- Flying Around in Aviary: Dec 5
What’s flying around in Aviary this week? We are gliding into winter with Season 2 of the Ski Like a Girl podcast, now dropping weekly. If you are looking for something inspiring to listen to while you work, this series is a great choice.
Ski Like a Girl uncovers the stories of women who have shaped Nordic skiing in Canada, stories that too often go untold. Through oral history interviews, archival research, and academic insight, the podcast highlights the experiences of women and girls involved in cross-country skiing, biathlon, touring, ski jumping, and more.
The podcast is part of a research project led by PearlAnn Reichwein and her team, with contributions from Lyndsay Conrad, who also authored this week’s ski-themed ERA feature. It blends scholarship and storytelling to bring the history of women in skiing to life.
If you are ready for a thoughtful and trailblazing listen, check out Ski Like a Girl in Aviary and follow along as new episodes arrive throughout the season.
- Nuggets of Knowledge in ERA: Dec 5
Another week means it’s time to uncover a new Nugget of Knowledge in ERA! This time, we’re sliding into the history of student life with a study that takes us back to the early days of skiing at the U of A with The Varsity Ski Club: Recreation, Participation, and Leadership in Extracurricular Education at the University of Alberta, 1932–1938 by Lyndsay Conrad.
This thesis explores how the student-run Varsity Ski Club helped turn the river valley into a winter playground. In the 1930s, members planned Sunday Ski Hikes, built their own cabin, and carved out a strong sense of community, while also gaining leadership and organizational skills that were part of a well-rounded education. It also sheds light on how men and women navigated the gender expectations of the era, showing how the club helped shape confident leaders both on and off the slopes. This is a great read if you’re looking to snow more about U of A’s early outdoor culture.
- Flying Around in Aviary: Nov 28
What’s flying around in Aviary this week? In honour of Canada History Week, we’re heading closer to home and highlighting the Edmonton City as Museum Project (ECAMP) Podcast Archive. If you want a break from reading and would rather listen to stories that bring local history to life, this archive is the perfect place to start.
ECAMP explores the people, places, moments, and memories that make Edmonton our city. Each episode dives into a different part of the city’s past, with insights from local historians, professors, community members, and enthusiasts.
Looking for something to listen to while you work today? Tune into an episode and uncover the histories hidden in our neighbourhoods. Whether you are curious about urban development, cultural communities, or Edmonton’s lesser-known stories, ECAMP offers a thoughtful and engaging way to celebrate Canadian history.
- Nuggets of Knowledge in ERA: Nov 28
Another week means it’s time to uncover a new Nugget of Knowledge in ERA! The last full week of November (November 23–29, 2025) is Canadian History Week, and what’s more Canada than hockey history?
This week’s feature, Manhood, Rivalry, and the Creation of a Canadian “Hockey World”: Media Coverage of Early Stanley Cup Hockey Challenges, 1894-1907 by Stacy Lorenz, takes you back to the early days of the Stanley Cup, when newspapers and telegraph updates shaped how Canadians experienced the game. The thesis digs into how early media turned hockey into a national obsession, built regional rivalries, and even shaped ideas about toughness, masculinity, and community pride.
If you love hockey or Canadian history, this one is well worth a read.
- Flying Around in Aviary: Nov 21
What’s flying around in Aviary this week? In the spirit of celebrating our Fall 2025 grads, we’re turning your attention to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies collection in Aviary. If you would rather listen to a classical recital, a lecture, or another audiovisual companion to a graduate project instead of reading a full dissertation, this collection is a great place to start.
Looking for something to listen to while you work today? Check out Anton Achondoa’s “Juxtapositions” recital or Micah Pawluk’s “On an Overgrown Path: Music of Nature, Nostalgia, and Loss” recital.
Our graduates have created a rich variety of recordings and performances that bring their research to life. Take a few minutes to explore the collection and discover something that inspires you.