The Global Gathering Place site is intended to:

• contribute to the recording, positive portrayal, sharing, and teaching of Canadian multicultural history and ethnic diversity
• link past and present by demonstrating the relevance of history to current events in Canada
• show how local, family, ethnic, national, and global histories intertwine
• support educators in teaching constructive approaches to contemporary social issues, questions of identity, discrimination, racism, and active citizenship in a pluralistic society
• provide resources and strategies which will foster an inclusive learning environment for students with diverse backgrounds and personal histories
• invite the positive participation of students in creating collective histories

Using the WWW to Teach Cultural History

The Global Gathering Place project aims to use and develop the potential of a new, electronic paradigm of cultural heritage education. A website was the medium chosen for the GGP presentation because it can:

• ensure that the learning resources developed here and unique MHSO historical materials are widely and freely available
• allow the incorporation of all kinds of media (photos, original documents, video, audio)
• permit easy expansion, including collaborative additions from teachers and students
• aid and encourage educators and students alike to develop information literacy skills
• reach the general public and other learners and researchers as well as the formal school system
• provide guided access to other excellent Web resources in diversity education, Canadian history, and human rights