WONDER at CNA 2025 - Support the World Premiere!

We are excited to be at CNA 2025 with you! Join us on April 15 at 5:00 pm (Rm 205/206) for Wonder: The Story of Harriet Brooks, Canada's First Woman in Nuclear. Sign up here to stay updated post-conference.

WONDER is a new stage play that brings the story of Canadian nuclear hero Harriet Brooks to life.

You can play a vital role in ensuring Harriet Brooks gets her turn in the spotlight by offering your support today. We are at a pivotal moment, preparing to premiere WONDER as a cutting edge professional theatre production. Every contribution is a meaningful step towards preserving Harriet’s legacy and inspiring Canada’s next generation of Women in STEM. Thank you for your donation!

Cast members perform a staged reading of Wonder, 2019

About the Project

"A woman has a right to the practise of her profession and cannot be condemned to abandon it merely because she marries."

-Harriet Brooks, 1906

These awe-inspiring words drove playwright Ellen Denny to tell her great-great-aunt’s story. Despite significant gains made by women in STEM, Harriet’s struggle against gender barriers still resonates.

Learn more about Wonder

Who is Harriet Brooks?

Harriet Brooks was the first Canadian woman to work in nuclear science. Working alongside Nobel physicists like Ernest Rutherford and Marie Curie, Harriet’s research “paved the way for the entire modern field of nuclear physics” (Canadian Encyclopedia). Yet, Harriet had to leave science due to the lack of advancement opportunities, and stigma against women working after marriage.

Meet the Creator

Ellen Denny is a Toronto-based playwright, actor and producer. Her plays are professionally produced in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and featured on CBC q and in The New York Times. A Dora Award-nominated actor, Ellen stars in stage productions across Canada, and has appeared on Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) and The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu). Ellen holds a BA Combined Honours Music & Theatre from Dalhousie University.

Make a Pledge

This GoFundMe campaign is just one stop on our fundraising journey to raise $100,000 to cover production costs. We are inviting corporate partners and individuals to pledge their support. A pledge of $5,000 is a meaningful step towards our goal. To submit your pledge, please click this form.

Charitable donations will be paid to the producing theatre (a registered charity) and will receive a tax receipt for the full amount. If a tax receipt is not necessary or of interest, we are happy to outline a sponsorship/marketing agreement in exchange for your investment.

Thank You to Our Supporters!