Raging Grannies pop-up exhibit

May 20, 2026

By Hannah Lohnes, Special Collections  and University Archives  work study student

“Let us be clear about the Grannies: Grannies are best equipped to make public all of the corrupt things that have been hidden. Grannying is the least understood yet most powerful weapon we have.” - Rose DeShaw, Kingston Raging Grannies

From April 10 until May 22, 2026, the Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library featured a new display detailing the history of the Raging Grannies, created with items from Special Collections and University Archives.

The Raging Grannies are an activist organization that started in Victoria, BC in 1987. Originally created to push back against U.S. navy warships and submarines around the city, they soon expanded their efforts to include other causes such as environmental protection, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and healthcare.

Of approximately “granny age,” these women have a goal to make the world a better place for their families for generations to come. Their methods? Peaceful protest, fun costumes, and loud songs. Dressing as stereotypical grandmas (including feather boas and large colourful hats), the grannies have created hundreds of parody songs, to the tune of classics such as These Boots are Made for Walking and London Bridge is Falling Down to help demonstrate their anger.

With over 60 groups across Canada, and even more around the world, these grannies might be getting older, but they are not slowing down!

I am delighted to have had the opportunity to curate my first mini-exhibit! As a student currently doing my undergraduate minor in museum studies, I am thankful for this hands-on experience. I was able to learn about each step of the process, from picking the topic, to choosing the items, to creating the labels, and finally setting it up (with some guidance from the wonderful Special Collections and University Archives team!). These skills are incredibly valuable to my studies, and I had so much fun working on this exhibit!