A Place to Belong
A Place to Belong: Battle of the Hatpins (Episode 2)
On a cold January day in 1916, dozens of francophone parents fought off police who were trying to prevent French-language instruction at the Guigues School in Ottawa. In the infamous Battle of the Hatpins, mothers brandished rolling pins, cast-iron pans and hatpins and refused to allow police on the grounds.
This episode was written and produced by Historica Canada.
Production support from Andrew Chung and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.
Thanks to Soukaina Boutiyeb and to our script consultant, historian Dr. Marcel Martel. Fact-checking by Sebastian Leck.
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
Cover image courtesy of the University of Ottawa, Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture (CRCCF).