Now, the professor emerita is being recognized for her contributions—thanks to a 1.2 million dollar endowment by her husband—and former uOttawa President and Vice-Chancellor—Gilles Patry. The Ruby Heap Fund in Women’s History will go toward establishing a professorship of the same name. The university will also invest an additional $750,000 toward the initiative.
A legacy of leadership in women’s history
“The Fund is designed to recognize the work that Ruby has done over the years at the university,” explains Patry. “The academic world is very competitive for research funding. We wanted to make sure that young faculty members, when they’re just starting out at the university, are able to start on the right footing and have the resources they need to launch their academic careers.”
Heap retired from uOttawa in 2018. But over her 30-year career, she supervised dozens of master’s and Ph.D. students who have gone on to make significant contributions in Canada and around the world. For students who were lucky enough to train under Heap, she was more than just a professor or academic supervisor—she was an inspiration.
“She served as a role model for what being a historian can look like—and how different and dynamic it can be,” says Crystal Sissons, who studied under Heap from 2003 to 2008 during both her master’s and Ph.D.. “She helped me believe in myself and helped me to see opportunities where I didn't see them.”
Championing the next generation of scholars
Heap specialized in the history of women in higher education and the professions, with a focus on those in engineering and science. She co-founded the Canadian Archives of Women in STEM at the university to preserve and share stories of accomplished women in science. In 1999, she was the founding director of the Institute for Women’s Studies known today as the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies. In 2018, Heap was awarded the Ursula Franklin Award for Gender Studies from the Royal Society of Canada, recognizing her outstanding contributions in advancing gender studies in Canada.
“As a professor she trained the next generation of scholars in women’s history,” says Kevin Kee, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at uOttawa. “The Ruby Heap Fund in Women’s History, and the Ruby Heap Professor of Women’s History, will inspire and enable future generations of scholars to write the next chapter in women’s history.”
An enduring vision for researchers and students
The fund will provide an annual research stipend for a tenure-track faculty member. But a portion will also go toward providing funding to graduate students at the university—something that’s always been a priority for Heap, according to Patry.
“Not only did she train graduate students, she supported them financially. Ruby was well funded at SSHRC, and through those grants she supported many of the graduate students that worked with her,” he explains. “In the end, it's all about students. It's all about the people that you train.”
As one of the many students who benefited from both Heap’s tutelage and generosity, Sissons says the Ruby Heap Fund in Women’s History—and the resulting professorship—is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful professor.
“It's the perfect continuation of what she's been doing her entire career,” she says. “It continues to support other people, and future colleagues that will come along.”
