Mandy Tu
DARE Project: A Visual History: Mapping the Study of Labour at York
Program(s) of Study: Work and Labour Studies
Project Supervisor: Katherine Nastovski
As a WKLS major, it is my hope that the project helps inform the importance of sustaining the program.
Project Description:
The project traces the history of the Work and Labour Studies (WKLS) program at York University, uncovering its evolution as a critical, interdisciplinary alternative to traditional industrial relations education. Through independent archival research at York’s Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections and interviews with key faculty members, I am articulating the program’s foundational values, milestones, and shifting context within broader transformations in the labour movement, social justice, and higher education in Canada. Using an inductive, narrative-driven approach, the project highlights resonances between the program’s early vision and its current form and reflects on its ongoing significance as a social sciences program. These insights will be shared through multimedia pieces, which will be featured at the WKLS 40th anniversary event this fall. In tandem, I am supporting Professor Nastovski in organizing the event, which will bring together current and former faculty, students, alumni, and university leadership to mark the occasion.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.