Janice Newton, professor emeritus in York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), passed away Nov. 11 after a brief illness.
Newton joined York in 1988 upon completing her PhD in what is now the Department of Politics. She was an actively engaged citizen of the department and a key founding member, as well as the first interim Chair, of the School of Women’s Studies – now the School of Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies in LA&PS.
In the department, Newton took on several roles with enthusiasm, including undergraduate program director at a time of significant challenges due to Ontario’s double-cohort bulge as well as curricular changes in the undergraduate program. She was a keen and valued mentor for junior women faculty, and a strong advocate for expanding the presence of the feminist scholarly canon in the curriculum.
Newton made lasting contributions to women’s studies at York. When she was appointed Chair, three separate programs operated independently, each with distinct degree requirements, teaching philosophies, courses, coordinators and instructors. As coordinator of the Faculty’s Women’s Studies program, Newton brought energy and vision to integrating these elements. Her efforts led to the creation of the School of Women’s Studies in 1997, which united the undergraduate programs with the Graduate Program in Women’s Studies. She continued to support the school through significant administrative and teaching roles until her retirement in 2020.
Newton’s institutional contributions stemmed from her early research on feminist theory. Her doctoral dissertation and first book, The Feminist Challenge and the Canadian Left, 1900-1918 (1995), examined the role of feminists in the pre-war Canadian left. Drawing on archival materials and press columns, she analyzed debates within the Socialist Party of Canada and the Social Democratic Party over whether women’s liberation was a reform or a revolution. She concluded that a minority of socialist feminists advanced a radical, egalitarian vision that challenged prevailing views. Her later research explored representation and gender in Canadian political science, focusing on the structural effects of gendered training and hiring practices over time.
Later in her career, Newton concentrated on teaching, learning and student engagement, guided by her commitment to democratic pedagogy. Her work addressed critical pedagogy, active learning and listening studies, and she organized reading groups and experiential workshops on education for democracy. Her influence was reflected in the redesign of the first-year course "Introduction to Politics" as "Exploring the Democratic Experience." In recognition of her contributions to innovative pedagogy, she received the 3M National Excellence in Teaching Fellowship in 2005. She remained dedicated to mentoring and fostering intellectual curiosity throughout her career.