Cool Canadian History

In the late 18th century tension in Ireland boiled over into a full scale uprising. This uprising was put down yet some Irish republicans fled to Newfoundland where they found a social, economic and political climate ripe for agitation. While the island was spared some of the more violent conflicts between Catholics and Protestants like that seen in Ireland, the tension between the two faiths continued to be a problematic reality in the British colony. In 1800 this tension boiled over in an attempted uprising centred around the key port city of St. John's.  Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A deep dive into the iconic Canadian rock band The Guess Who Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A big name change is coming! Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The historic and dynamic city of Gravenhurst is explored in this episode written by fellow podcaster Craig Baird from "Canadian History Ehx" Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The headlines screamed "Canadian detective foils Fenian bomb plot against the Prince!" When the third in line for the British throne arrived in Halifax in 1883 the entire country was excited for the young prince's tour of the equally young country. Yet, a dramatic turn of events would see Halifax detective Nic Power foil an assassination attempt on the prince's life. Or at least, that's what he and the media would have you believe. In this episode we explore the story of the infamous "bomb plot" and try to understand how Nic Power was able to convince the entire British empire for the entirety of his life that he had indeed saved a member of the royal family. Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lord Stanley's cup, aka "The Holy Grail," is one of the most sought after trophies in professional sports and arguably the hardest one to win. But the trophy doesn't just represent the ultimate achievement in a professional sport, in many ways it is a symbol and representation of a Canadian identity constantly in flux. In this episode David talks with author Jordan Goldstein about the history of the Stanley Cup and its complex relationship to the way Canadians understand themselves and their nation. Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was in search of furs, and the riches from the fur trade, which drove so many Europeans deeper and deeper into the North American continent. Much of the modern day prairies, western Ontario, interior of British Columbia, northern Quebec were first mapped by European explorers who while seeking fame as explorers were also seeking new untapped regions of fur bearing animals. But the fur trade was not a one-way street. European explorers and traders relied heavily on the help from First Nations allies. In fact, without this help the European presence in the fur trade would have been almost non existent. One aspect of this Indigenous-European relationship that has often been overlooked is the role that women played. From being diplomats and interpreters to literally making the difference between life and death, women were key players in this lucrative and historically significant economic activity. Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nine years before Rosa Parks galvanised the American civil rights movement by refusing to sit at the back of a bus, Viola Desmond sparked the mobilisation of a Nova Scotian community when she refused to be moved from a 'whites only' section in the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Her actions inspired generations of Black Canadians in not only Nova Scotia but across the entire country who fought and won the right to be seen as equals in an unequal Canadian society. While at the time Viola's struggles were nearly forgotten today she is considered a person of historical significance and is the first Canadian woman to ever appear on a Canadian dollar bill. Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In June 1942 the Japanese submarine I 26 attacked a rather unusual target on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Not since the last Fenian Raid in 1871 had Canadian territory been directly attacked by a foreign enemy. While certainly not a pivotal moment in Canada's war it was nonetheless an surprising and harrowing moment for those involved and for a brief period brought the war home to a tiny piece of land in the Pacific Northwest. Get add free content at Patreon! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1649, ravaged by war, the Wendat made the bold decision to move thousands of people to the island of Gahoendoe. This massive migration of the majority of Wendat was meant to keep the nation alive, yet it nearly destroyed them.

Recently Netflix released a film called “Forgotten Battle,” one of the most expensive Dutch films ever made. The film explores the lives of several characters in and around the difficult battle for the Scheldt Estuary in 1944. What the film barely touches upon, however, is that this battle was fought primarily by Canadians of First … Continue reading S7E6 – Forgotten Battle: The Battle for the Scheldt – a conversation with Mark Zuehlke →

Thousands of Canadian merchant mariners lost their lives during the Second World War as part of the valuable supply chain bringing important war material from North America to Great Britain. Despite the high casualty rates, dangerous working conditions, and vital importance of the job, it took years before Canadian merchant mariners were properly recognised for … Continue reading S7E5 – The Forgotten Fourth Arm – The Merchant Navy's Fight for Recognition →

Within only a couple of years of the "birth" of American rap music Toronto became the centre for the early Canadian rap and hip hop scene. This episode explores some of the early trends in Canadian rap music as artists struggled to gain mainstream acceptance in a music industry hesitant to accept this new and powerful musical genre.

Africville was a community that for decades stood on the physical, social and racial margins of the city of Halifax. It represented Nova Scotia's legacy of Black migration into Canada but also spoke to the very real challenges people faced settling in a land that saw itself as a white province within a white nation. The story of Africville is one of struggle and resistance but also one of community and connection and despite its ending it now stands as a celebrated marker for one of the many groups that have contributed to a broader understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

For years, many Canadian immigrants arrived via ocean liner after a long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. While the first stop for some was Quebec or Montreal or St. John's. for nearly one million people that first stop was the shoreline of Halifax, specifically the immigration facility known as Pier 21. Pier 21 stands as a testament to a dynamic period of immigration to this country and has its own unique history during an incredible period of the nation's growth and change.

To kick off Season 7 we are going to explore the history of Canada's mission in Afghanistan from a broad perspective highlighting the four phases of Canada's war and looking at some of the challenges to Canadian efforts in the tumultuous country.

In this special episode David sits down for a fascinating and important conversation with Dr. Crystal Fraser, an historian at the University of Alberta and an expert in the history of residential schools in Canada. Dr. Fraser's 150 Acts of Reconciliation can be read at 150acts.weebly.com

In our Season 6 finale we look at one of the biggest blockbuster films of the early 20th century, which presented a twisted racial reimagining of a traumatic period in American history. Even though the film was controversial, almost everywhere it was shown it drew large audiences, and this was true even in Canada, where the film ran in most major cities to widespread public acclaim.

In 1964 a top secret diplomatic mission was carried out by Canadian J. Blair Seaborn on behalf of the United States to find some sort of settlement with the North Vietnamese government in Hanoi.

At the height of the Cold War, Canadian anxiety over Soviet espionage reached reached such a fervour that a top secret Security Panel was formed to remove security threats from within the civil service. A part of this security campaign was the targeting of gay men working in government, who were thought to be particularly vulnerable security threats. Funding was thus directed towards a series of tests and studies to discover a scientific method of detecting ones sexual orientation. The culmination of all of this was the infamous Fruit Machine.

The Georgian Bay Canal was a proposed canal project connecting Georgian Bay to Ottawa to Montreal and then to the Atlantic Ocean and the world. While there were many merits for its construction it was never built. This episode explores the interesting story of the dream of this canal during an unbridled period of infrastructure in a young Canada. Today's episode was written by author Ray Love.

In 1966 the people of Windsor, Ontario and then the country were shocked when a young man recently released from the Kingston Penitentiary went on what became Canada's first shooting spree. A horrific crime that was a key part of an unusual and head-scratching story.

Bill Miner's exploits in early 19th century British Columbia continue in this episode as he attempts to recover from a botched robbery of a CPR train and avoid the authorities who are hot on his trail.

In this two-parter we look at the life of the bandit Bill Miner, an iconic and unique figure of both the American and Canadian Wild West.

A small railroad town in Northern Ontario deals with one of its most traumatic days bringing the community together but leaving a mystery behind.

In this excerpt from the forthcoming book "Civilians at the Sharp End: First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in Northwest Europe, 1944-1945" CCH takes a look at the tumultuous relationship between the Belgian resistance and First Canadian Army in the period after Belgium's liberation. The book, published by McGill-Queen's Press and set for release on 18 February, is currently available for pre-order purchase on Amazon, grab yours today!

In 1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono, recently married and carrying out a 'peace tour' shack up in a Montreal hotel suite for a week long 'bed in' culminating in one of the most iconic protest songs in history. . . . . . . . NEW BOOK: "Civilians at the Sharp End: First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in Northwest Europe" is now available for pre-sale on Amazon - https://www.amazon.ca/Civilians-Sharp-End-Canadian-Northwest/dp/022800649X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=civilian+at+the+sharp+end&qid=1611590523&sr=8-1

During the inter-war period, two leaders of the legendary Six Nations Confederacy take their people's claims of sovereignty to the most public international forum of the day attempting to gain foreign support in their struggle agains the Canadian government.

Five Canadian activists challenge an archaic British law fundamentally changing the legal status of women in Canada

Dr. Tim Cook is interviewed about his newest book The Fight For History discussing the complicated and controversial process by which WW2 was nearly forgotten in the decades following the war only to be reclaimed by the end of the 20th century.

In 1956 the United Nations was in turmoil as an Anglo-French-Israeli alliance attacked and invaded Egypt. Global public opinion was strongly against this bold move and it seemed like there was no solution in sight. Until, Canadian diplomat Lester B. Pearson stepped in with a radical proposal, one that would set a template for UN Peacekeeping operations for the rest of the 20th century.

A risky move to take beer south takes John Labatt Jr. into the maelstrom of American brewing.

In the late 1960s the television phenomenon that was Sesame Street came north of the 49th parallel. While extremely popular amongst Canadian youth significant debate flared up over the fact that it was American television programming in a time when Canada was going through an acute identity crisis. Something had to be done to turn this popular children's show into a program that showcased unique Canadian values and ideas.

One of the longest serving sailors in the history of the Royal Navy just happened to be born in Nova Scotia. Provo Wallis witnessed the transition from the age of sail to the age of steam while remaining in the navy for almost 100 years.

The history of food in Canada can be a complex subject and is as varied as the people that make up this country. This episode has chosen several "Canadian" foods to explore how food is related to both the history of the nation, its peoples, and how food can connect to ideas of Canadian identity.

A 1965 plane crash in the wilderness of British Columbia leads to an unsolved mystery that puzzles investigators even today.

From the early 1830s to the onset of the American Civil War in 1860 British North America became the primary destination for slaves escaping to freedom. To get there they had to undergo a harrowing journey and for most of those that successfully arrived they did so because of the work of the Underground Railroad.

Prior to America's official entry into the Vietnam war Canada spearheaded diplomatic efforts to find some sort of peaceful resolution, balancing a need to show support for America in the ongoing Cold War while also seeking to avoid escalation and a potential global nuclear war.

The Ursulines are a Catholic female religious order who played an important role in the early years of the French colony of New France. Despite hunger, war, disease and brutal environmental conditions the Ursulines persevered and became fixtures within Quebec society becoming educators and social activists within the growing colonial community.

In May of 1945 Canadian soldiers carried out a little-known food delivery operation deep into enemy held territory to help relieve the near-starving Dutch living under a brutal Nazi occupation regime.

During the 17th and 18th centuries the British had to deal with one of the most powerful Indigenous alliances in all of North America, the Wabanaki Confederacy. Forged in defending their territory against incursions from the Five Nations Iroquois, the Wabanaki maintained their influence over their traditional territory for decades in the face of a massive and expanding British Empire.

When the War of 1812 erupted in June 1812 the status of Black Canadians in Upper Canada was a confusing and complex blend of abolitionist dreams, slave holding intentions, and racial prejudice. In spite of this, a unit was raised to help in the defence of the colony and was one of the most reliable militia units in the entire Upper Canadian defence force, though struggled to get its proper recognition in the aftermath.

In 1991 controversy erupted over the epic Bryan Adams album "Waking up the Neighbours." The controversy surrounded the issue of whether the album qualified as 'Canadian,' despite the fact that Bryan Adams was and is Canadian. The controversy shook the Canadian music scene to its core and challenged ideas of Canadian content and the Canadian music industry as a whole.

Leo Major was a scrappy French Canadian kid who served in both northwest Europe and Korea. His story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Starting in February 1945 First Canadian Army took part in a series of operations that would bust open the door to Nazi Germany and signal the beginning of the end for Hitler's regime. This episode is written by friend-of-the-podcast Alex Fitzgerald-Black of the Juno Beach Centre and host of the popular Canadian WW2 podcast, Juno Beach and Beyond.

In the early 1930s the Arctic became the scene of a desperate manhunt for a violent trapper willing to go to any lengths to avoid the law. A trapper whom nobody knew...and whom nobody still knows.

Women have been a part of hockey for as long as this country has embraced it as a national identifier, yet only recently has their contribution to the game been recognized in the hockey hall of fame. This week’s episode talks about the history of women in the game and the Canadian women that have made it into the esteemed hall.

Friends of Cool Canadian History have just released their own Canadian history podcast focusing on the political and diplomatic history of this country. Check out the preview for this awesome podcast here!

Ada Annie Jordan was a young mother with a successful business, a growing family and a popular place within early 20th century Vancouver's emerging elite society. Yet, she threw almost all of it away when she moved her family to a remote bay on Vancouver Island and instead of living a life of relative luxury she became a legend.

In December of 1943 Canadian soldiers became bogged down in a vicious street battle for the small town of Ortona on Italy's east coast. A battle so ferocious and in such close quarters that it earned the nickname 'Little Stalingrad.'

In 1917 Canadian soldiers were engaged heavily on the western front yet volunteer numbers had fallen below that of the monthly casualty rates. Prime Minister Robert Borden thus carried out one of the most controversial political campaigns in Canadian history in order to win the 1917 federal election and ensure that conscription was passed.