Lynne Marks

Lynne Marks is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria, specializing in Modern Canadian History, Women's and Gender History, and North American Religion. Her research examines secularism, feminism, and social welfare through historical lenses, particularly in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

She earned her BA from the University of Toronto (1982) and MA/PhD from York University (1992).

• BA: University of Toronto (1982)
• MA/PhD: York University (1992)

Professor Marks explores intersections of gender, religion, and secularism in Canadian society, notably through her award-winning book Infidels and the Damn Churches on British Columbia's secular patterns. Current research investigates Canadian second wave feminism's relationship with religion/secularism among marginalized women, regional religiosity in the Pacific Northwest, and historical anti-semitism in Victoria.

Her publications reveal consistent focus on lived religion, secular identity formation, and gendered social movements across Canadian history, with increasing attention to intersectional analyses of race, class, and immigration since 2014.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Canadian Historical Association Clio Award (2017)
• UVic REACH Award for Graduate Supervision (2017)
• Provost’s Award for Activism and Advocacy (2015)
• Marion Dewar Prize (2012)
• Switzer-Cooperstock Prize (2010)
• Floyd S. Chalmers Award (1996)

As a dedicated mentor, she has supervised 9 PhD students (completed and in progress) and 16 MA theses since 2010. Her research is funded by multiple SSHRC grants including projects on feminism-religion-motherhood connections, the Cascadia project on regional secularism, and the Defying Hatred project on historical anti-semitism. She currently serves as President of UVic's Faculty Association.

Professor Marks operates within collaborative research networks focused on Canadian social history, actively contributing to interdisciplinary teams examining secularism, feminism, and religious identity through SSHRC-funded initiatives.