Today in Canadian History

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Each episode of Today in Canadian History contains an interview with a Canadian professor, journalist, author, or “everyday” historian and focuses on a unique event or moment that took place on that day in Canadian history. Today in Canadian History presents Canada’s past in a unique and accessible…

Marc Affeld and Joe Burima


    • Dec 31, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 8m AVG DURATION
    • 231 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Today in Canadian History

    Highlight – The Disappearance of Tom Thomson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 7:45


    Roy MacGregor, author of "Canoe Lake" discusses the disappearance of the now-famous Canadian painter back in 1917.

    Highlight – The October Crisis Ends

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 10:34


    British Trade Commissioner James Cross was released by members of the FLQ on this date back in 1970. We spoke with Professor William Tetley, a member of the Quebec Provincial Cabinet at the time of the crisis as well as author of "The October Crisis, 1970: An Insider's View".

    Highlight – No. 2 Construction Battalion

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 9:21


    The creation of the first all-Black Canadian battalion in WWI.

    Highlight – The Great Winnipeg Gold Robbery of 1966

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 10:24


    Kenneth "The Gentleman Bandit" Leishman stole nearly $400 000 worth of Gold bullion from the Winnipeg International Airport on this date back in 1966. To learn more we spoke with historian Christian Cassidy of West End Dumplings & This Was Manitoba.

    Highlight – The Mad Trapper is Killed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 14:23


    After a manhunt that lasted over one month, the man known only as "The Mad Trapper" is killed in Canada's North.

    Highlight – Viola Desmond is physically removed from theatre

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 13:38


    In 1946, Viola Desmond was forcibly removed from a theatre in New Glasgow, NS for refusing to move from whites-only section.

    Highlight – Tommy Douglas was born

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 5:02


    Happy Tommy Douglas Day! Tommy Douglas was born on this day in 1904. To learn more about Tommy Douglas, we spoke with C. Stuart Houston, an historian and author of "Tommy's Team : the People Behind the Douglas Years". Dr. Houston is a professor emeritus of the university of Saskatchewan, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

    Highlight – “The Greenpeace” Sets Sail in 1971

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 8:45


    Historian, ecologist and co-founder of Greenpeace International, Rex Weyler discusses the early days of Greenpeace.

    Highlight – Saskatchewan and Alberta become provinces

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 5:30


    Back in 1905, Saskatchewan and Alberta officially become provinces.

    Highlight - British Troops Prepare to Burn Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 6:27


    In 1814 British Troops descend upon Washington DC, prepared to capture the American capital. We spoke with historian and author Mark Zuehlke about the Burning of Washington and the War of 1812.

    Highlight – Major Gustave Biéler is Arrested by the Gestapo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 10:48


    We spoke with Major Gustave Biéler's daughter Jacqueline Bieler, on the anniversary of his 1944 arrest while aiding the French Resistance in WWII.

    Highlight – Macdonald and The Double Shuffle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 14:20


    Back in 1858 in the Province of Canada, the Cartier/Macdonald ministry pull the "The Double Shuffle", avoiding a by-election and staying in power.

    Highlight – The Komagata Maru Leaves Vancouver

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 7:19


    On July 23, 1914 a steamship filled with passengers from India, The Komagata Maru, was turned away from Canadian shores. We spoke with Dr. Hugh Johnston on the incident and its legacy.

    canadian vancouver komagata maru
    Jan. 31 – The Real James Bond, Sir William Stephenson Passes Away (Copy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 6:40


    Ian Fleming once claimed Sir William Stephenson to be the inspiration for James Bond. Stephenson passed away on this day back in 1989. To learn more we spoke with Gary Solar, President of the Intrepid Society.

    June 30 – The Chinese Exclusion Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 9:02


    The Chinese Immigration Act was passed on this day back in 1923. To learn more we spoke with Britt Braaten, the Curator and Manager of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario.

    September 30 – Arctic explorer John Rae is born

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 12:16


    John Rae is born in Scotland on this day back in 1813.

    September 17 – Fire on the SS Noronic kills over 115 people

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 5:26


    Back in 1949, a fire on the ship kills over 115 people. The ship was docked on the shore of Lake Ontario.

    September 14 – Dorothea Palmer arrested for distributing information on birth control

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 13:01


    Back in 1936, Dorothea Palmer, was arrested in Ontario. Her eventual trial became a landmark case in the Canadian birth control movement.

    May 31 – Ernest Manning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 9:10


    Ernest Manning was appointed Premier of Alberta on this date back in 1943.

    September 28 – Pierre Elliot Trudeau Passes Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2020 10:04


    Historian and author John English discusses the legacy of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

    December 3 – The October Crisis Ends.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2020 10:34


    British Trade Commissioner James Cross was released by members of the FLQ on this date back in 1970. We spoke with Professor William Tetley, a member of the Quebec Provincial Cabinet at the time of the crisis as well as author of "The October Crisis, 1970: An Insider's View".

    October 1 – Artist Paul Kane returns to Toronto

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 8:44


    The famous Canadian painter returns to Toronto after more than two years in the West.

    September 29 – The Aloutte 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 7:32


    We spoke with astronaut Robert Thirsk: the Canadian who has spent the most time in space.

    September 27 – Stanley Park opened in Vancouver

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 9:58


    Park opened to public for the first time back in 1888.

    September 24 – Canada Lifts Sanctions Against South Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 6:52


    We spoke with Dr. Linda Freeman, a professor at the University of Carleton.

    September 22 – Building named after Clara Brett Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 9:59


    Back in 1989, the Ontario provincial government (temporarily) names a building after Clara Brett Martin, the first woman lawyer in the British Empire.

    September 21 – The Toonie is Unveiled to the Public

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 6:41


    Brent Townsend is the the artist who designed the polar bear on the reverse of the Canadian two dollar coin.

    September 20 – First signing of Treaty 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2020 10:45


    Treaty 5 is signed for the first time at Berens River, Manitoba back in 1875.

    September 16 – Construction begins on the Canso Causeway

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 7:24


    Construction begins on this day back in 1952, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to Nova Scotia.

    September 15 – “The Greenpeace” Sets Sail in 1971

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 8:45


    Historian, ecologist and co-founder of Greenpeace International, Rex Weyler discusses the early days of Greenpeace.

    September 13 – Laura Ingersoll is born

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 13:36


    Laura Ingersoll, later known as Laura Secord, is born on this day back in 1775. She warned British forces of an American attack in 1813.

    September 10 -1939 Canada Declares War on Germany

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 5:04


    We spoke with associate professor Pat Brennan about how WWII built Canada as a nation.

    September 9 – Alexander Graham Bell creation breaks marine speed record

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2020 9:30


    In Nova Scotia back in 1919, a hydrofoil craft co-created by Alexander Graham Bell hits 114 kms an hour, breaking the record for speed on water.

    September 8 – The Children of the Klondike

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 6:18


    We spoke with historian and author Frances Backhouse about the birth of Dawson Klondike Schultz on Sept. 8, 1897 and the "Children of the Klondike"

    September 7 – CBC Television Begins First Broadcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 7:28


    We spoke with FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting spokesperson Ian Morrison about the launch of CBC Television.

    September 6 – Launch of The Canadian Encyclopedia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2020 8:53


    Back in 1985, The Canadian Encyclopedia is released in Edmonton, Alberta.

    September 2 – Celebrating the Discovery of the Wreckage of RMS Titanic

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 8:21


    Members of a joint French-American expedition celebrate the discovery of the wreckage of Titanic, which they had found on Sept. 1, 1985

    September 1 – Saskatchewan and Alberta become provinces (special edition!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 5:30


    Back in 1905, Saskatchewan and Alberta officially become provinces.

    August 30 – Vicki Keith becomes the first person to swim across all 5 Great Lakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 11:56


    Back in 1988, Canadian Vicki Keith stepped onto the shore of Lake Ontario and became the first person to swim across all five of the Great Lakes.

    August 31 – (First French Episode!) Opening of the Ouimetoscope Cinema.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2020 12:10


    In 1907, Leo-Ernest Ouimet opens the largest theater in North America exclusively dedicated to showing movies.

    August 27 – The beginning of the first Canadian roadtrip by car

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 7:00


    Back in 1912, Thomas Wilby and Jack Haney began their trip across Canada in a 1912 REO Special.

    August 26 – Joseph Burr Tyrrell and the Canadian Dinosaur Rush

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2020 7:35


    Joseph Burr Tyrrell passed away on this date in 1957. We spoke with the Royal Tyrrell Museum's Don Brinkman about Tyrrell and the beginning of the Canadian Dinosaur Rush.

    August 25 – Donald Marshall Sr. Passes Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 7:46


    Back in 1991, the grand chief of the Mikmaq passed away. He was a tireless advocate for aboriginal rights and justice issues.

    August 24 – Execution of Canadian Soldiers During WWI

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 7:20


    Back in 1916, Canadian soldier Benjamin DeFehr spent his last night in custody. Come dawn, he was shot and killed by a firing squad. He was 1 of 25 Canadian soldiers executed during WWI.

    August 23 – British Troops Prepare to Burn Washington

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 6:27


    In 1814 British Troops descend upon Washington DC, prepared to capture the American capital. We spoke with historian and author Mark Zuehlke about the Burning of Washington and the War of 1812.

    September 23 – Mack Sennett releases first film

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 6:32


    Back in 1912 in New York, Quebec-born Mack Sennett releases his first Keystone Comedy film.

    August 20 – Eaton’s Goes Bankrupt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020 6:09


    On this day back in 1999, it was announced that after nearly 130 years, the Eaton's department store was filing for bankruptcy protection.

    August 19 – The Dieppe Raid of 1942

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2020 7:38


    Canada suffered over 3000 casualties on the shores of Dieppe, France on this day in 1942.

    August 17 – First successful sailing of the Northwest Passage

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 9:45


    In 1988, Canadians Jeff MacInnis and Mike Beedell successfully sail through the passage on their boat, Perception. They are the first individuals to successfully sail the passage by wind power.

    August 16 – Gold Deposits are Discovered in 1896, Sparking the Klondike Gold Rush

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 8:42


    We spoke with Charlotte Gray, a Chair of Canada's History Society as well as author of Gold Diggers: Striking it rich in the Klondike about Dawson City, Yukon at the height of the rush.

    August 13 – Jacques Cartier Discovers the St. Lawrence River

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 6:53


    We spoke with author and Professor at the University of Guelph, Alan Gordon, about Cartier and his 1535 "discovery".

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