Series Description
In the modern media we often hear remarks about the unprecedented nature of many things: political disputes, government actions, violence, social changes, and more. Yet how far are these really new? Join Langara faculty as we explore some fascinating events, personalities, and writings from the past, which also allow us to reflect on how far what we see in the world today is truly without precedent.
Entry is free for Langara students.
All lectures will take place on the specified dates from 2:00–3:00 pm at:
Brock House
3875 Point Grey Road
Vancouver, B.C., V6R 1B3
October 2, 2026
with Niall Christie (History)
Shajar al-Durr: From Slave to Sultana of Egypt
In May 1250, a former slave woman named Shajar al-Durr (“spray of pearls”) was elevated to the position of sultana (ruler) of Egypt. Even before then she had already become an influential figure in the country, having married a previous sultan, helped him to run the state, and swiftly taken over its defence against crusaders when her husband died in 1249. Shajar al-Durr’s reign was brief, lasting less than three months, but she continued to be a pivotal figure in the sometimes literally cut-throat politics of Egypt until her death in 1257.
Although not the first woman to rule a Muslim state during the middle ages, she was the first of slave origins to do so, and thus her rise was unprecedented. In this presentation we will explore the origins, rise, demise, and later memory of this remarkable woman.
October 9, 2026
with David Borys (History)
Heroes on the Homefront: Canada’s Unprecedented Second World War Shift to Total War
During the Second World War, Canada’s home front was transformed at a staggering pace as the nation mobilized for total industrial war. Factories roared to life, cities expanded overnight, and millions of Canadians found their lives reshaped by the demands of a global conflict. The war unleashed sweeping political, economic, and social change: women entered workplaces in unprecedented numbers, a struggling Depression-era economy was reborn into an industrial powerhouse, and the foundations of Canada’s modern social welfare state began to take shape. Yet this transformation also exposed a darker side of wartime Canada, as the government curtailed civil liberties and targeted vulnerable communities in the name of national security. It was a period of ambition, sacrifice, innovation, and injustice — one that ultimately propelled Canada onto the world stage as a wealthy and influential post-war nation.
October 16, 2026
with Kina Cavicchioli (English)
Lewd Women: The First Actresses on the English Stage
On December 8, 1660, the London audience attending the new King’s Company performance of Shakespeare’s Othello witnessed something unprecedented: the roles of Desdemona and Emilia were played by women. Until that evening, all female roles in the English public theatre had been played by boys and men.
Why had there been no women on the English stage before 1660? Why were women suddenly permitted to perform? Who were these women – the first English actresses – and what impact did they have on the evolution of English drama?
Join me to explore these questions as we go behind the scenes at London’s Drury Lane theatre, still in use today, and meet some of the extraordinary women who trod those boards almost 400 years ago: Nell Gwyn, famous for sexy “breeches roles”; Anne Bracegirdle, the original heroine of William Congreve’s (still hilarious) comedies of manners; and Elizabeth Barry, the legendary tragedienne who could make any audience weep.
October 23, 2026
with Stephen Phillips (Political Science)
The Prime Minister versus the Governor General: the King-Byng Affair at 100
In 1926 Governor General Lord Byng denied the request of Prime Minister Mackenzie King for a dissolution of Parliament. This unprecedented exercise of the reserve powers of the Crown provoked a political furore that came to be known as the King-Byng Affair. To mark its centenary, this lecture will recount the unusual circumstances that produced the impasse, the remarkable way in which it was resolved, and the key claims that were raised—some legitimate, others spurious—about responsible government and even Canadian independence. That the King-Byng Affair continues to be debated today attests to its continuing relevance.
October 30, 2026
with Peter Prontzos (Political Science)
Is History Really Just One Damn Thing After Another?
Even though we are in a very unique moment in human history, there are very many patterns and behaviours that are not new - including the threat of war, technological change, and power-hungry psychopaths. In this talk, we will examine some of these on-going dangers, but also how new understanding and scientific advances provide a possible path to a global society that is both more humane and ecological.
