Mark McGowan

Specialist in the religious, social, and communications history of Canada and Ireland. Author of the award-winning books Catholics at the Gathering Place: Historical Essays on the Archdiocese of Toronto (1992) and The Waning of the Green: Catholics, the Irish and Identity in Toronto, 1887-1922 (McGill-Queen’s 1999); Michael Power: The Struggle to Build the Catholic Church on the Canadian Frontier (McGill-Queen’s, 2005); he has recently completed a revisionist work on the Irish Famine migration to Canada (for the CHA Canadian Ethnic Groups Series) and a short award-winning book for the Ireland Park Foundation: Death or Canada: The Irish Famine Migration to Toronto, 1847 and Toronto. He is currently researching the evolution of religious broadcasting in Canada and writing a book on Canada’s Irish Catholics during the Great War. A recipient of four University Teaching Awards, he served as  Principal of St. Michael’s College from 2002 to 2011, and as Acting Vice-Provost, Students, for the University of Toronto for part of 2013.

Edited Publications:

• Canadian Catholic Historical Association Historical Studies 81 Occasional Paper: Irish Catholic Halifax from the Napoleonic Wars to the Great War

Awards

• 2019   Paul Bator Memorial Prize, for best article in Canadian Catholic Historical Studies, vols. 82 to 84
• 2018   Honorary Award, from Principals & Vice-Principal Council, Distinguished Service to Catholic Education, Toronto Catholic District School Board
• 2017   Award of Merit, Toronto Catholic District School Board
• 2016   Dean’s Award of Excellence
• 2013   Research Community Partnerships Grant, SSHRC
•    Distinguished Catholic Alumni Award, Ottawa Catholic School Board
• 2010   Teacher of the Year, Awarded by St. Michael’s College Student Union'
• 2009 - 2010   Award of Merit, Heritage Toronto, for Death or Canada: The Irish Famine Migration to Toronto, 1847
• 2006   Winner, Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for book Michael Power, Best book on a Toronto theme for 2005
• 2006   Appointed Senior Fellow, Massey College
• 2005   Paul Bator Memorial Award, Best Article Published in Canadian Catholic Historical Association, Historical Studies (2004-5)