Joshua Bowman
I was a student of Professor Noel’s 2017 HIS 326 class (History of Women in Canada) this year, and I can honestly say she is one of the most genuinely compassionate and interesting professors I have ever had the honour of meeting.
She began the course by asking the class, “Which history do you find to be the most interesting,” to which I said “Indigenous peoples, and that of marginalized classes in Canada.” In the tutorials that followed, she would always be sure to mention my name alongside a passage of the reading we were discussing, providing a platform for me to genuinely voice my opinion. Her compassion spoke volumes, and she really debunked the rhetoric of professors who view their students as mere numbers. On the final paper, she including a personal message alongside my mark: Good luck Joshua, I look forward to seeing you as a politician someday working for Indigenous peoples and marginalized classes in Canada. Professor Noel made lectures enjoyable, and history worth knowing.
I wish Professor Noel all the best in her retirement; she has changed my university experience for the better, and I am forever grateful to her for that.
Best Regards,
Joshua Bowman
Rachele Marchand
For my last class to complete my history major at the Mississauga Campus of U of T. I took HIS326: The History of Canada and Women. I don’t know if that is the correct course name, but semantics.
Since this was a full credit course and the last class I needed for my history major. I was at the point of not really caring about my final mark or being the best student I could be until I walked into the first lecture with Professor Noel. Since it was a full year course in one semester and I had the pleasure of seeing Professor Noel twice a week at tutorial and at weekly lectures.
I have taken a lot of history courses, but no professors did what Professor Noel did, she had a clear passion for her subject matter and was determined to pass it on to her students and made sure that we all understood that these events and articles and ideas that were written on or occurred years ago is still relevant to this day.
I loved how she ran her tutorials, she encouraged debate, made sure that all voices were heard and all points of view were presented and debated. She was able to deal with difficult and controversial subject matter with ease and made sure that everyone knew that their opinions matter.
Professor Noel also was aware that I was writing my first book and on two intramural sports during the semester and always asked me how things were going and wanted to know how the teams were doing. The personal interest she took in me inspired me to do my absolute best in the class in order to not disappoint her.
I loved the way that she set up the course, allowing students to explore sub topics within the history of women with Canada so that they find something that interests and allows them to enjoy and explore topics that they love. I found a topic that I was passionate about Women in Sport and Professor Noel was kind enough to refer to me to more literature so I can continue studying after graduation.
In conclusion, U of T is losing an amazing member of staff with the retirement of Jan Noel even though I’m sure she will continue, publish and research, the future students of U of T will miss out on an amazing professor that taught me more about Canadian history and gender issues than any other. I wish I could have taken more classes with her, but feel honored that she was my last history professor and one that I will never forget.
Thank you,
Rachele Marchand
Fatima A.
I graduated in 2013 and took the independent reading course with Professor Noel in my fourth year (2013). I interned with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario. Here is my recollection:
Professor Janet Noel is an incredible teacher. She was very open to alternative creative ways of completing our assignments for the independent reading course I took with her. I made a documentary in her class about the experience of Pakistani women who migrated to Canada at different times in the past few decades. Professor Noel was encouraging throughout the process and the door to her office was always open for a chat about updates on our projects and how we were coping with other classes. Being in her class allowed me to discover a new hobby and passion – documentary filmmaking which I continue till today.
Thanks,
Fatima A.
Robert Bothwell
Jan was my student in a summer school class (History 261) back around 1972. She was, needless to say, the best in the class.
Catherine Rubincam
Congratulations to Jan on her many contributions to the Department: her excellent research and teaching, and her wonderful service to both the History and the WGS programmes, and to the whole Department
Roger Beck
Have a wonderful retirement, Jan! I have (starting last century) and I can heartily recommend the retired life as eminently worth living!
All the best,
Roger