Canadian History Ehx

An Iconic Work: The Log Driver's Waltz

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Log Driver's Waltz is a classic National Film Board vignette, created to fill programming gaps on the CBC, has become a part of Canadian culture. ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Northern Sunrise

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From the burial place of 12-foot Davis, to the historical buildings, museums and Indigenous history, Northern Sunrise County has a deep and fascinatin...

The Man Called Intrepid: Sir William Stephenson

05 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

William Stephenson was a Canadian spy and First World War veteran who helped create the CIA & turn the tide of the Second World War. He was also frien...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Dauphin

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dauphin is a former HBC fort site and the home to Canada's most decorated soldier. It was also where guaranteed basic income was analyzed in an experi...

Small Town Histories: The History of 100 Mile House

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

100 Mile House is a former stopping house along a fur trading trail, this community has seen a deadly unsolved plane crash, as well as a British Royal...

A Landmark Canadian Comedy: SCTV

29 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For my latest nostalgia episode, I'm looking at SCTV! One of the best comedy shows ever made, through six seasons the cast of SCTV created iconic char...

Small Town Histories: The History of Canora

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Canora is a Ukrainian community that has many beautiful churches, a still-in-use railway station and three museums, including the famous Toy and Autog...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Athabasca

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An important place for the Indigenous, Athabasca was also a major stopping point for gold seekers on their way to the Yukon. Athabasca would go throug...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Valemount

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A supposed bigfoot sighting, one of the deadliest train crashes in Canadian history that changed Canadian history, and Mount Robson rising above the l...

Meeting A King: Chief Joe Capilano

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In 1906, Chief Joe Capilano travelled with a group of Indigenous to meet directly with King Edward VII over the issue of land claims and he would insp...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Vernon

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The City of Vernon got its start during a gold rush, and today is a thriving place with a great history. From its historical buildings and ranches, to...

The History Of Innisfail

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Home to some excellent museums, Innisfail has a deep history that dates back to its days as a stopping house along the Calgary-Edmonton Trail, as well...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Trail

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Home of a legendary hockey team, as well as some fascinating stories. The community played a critical role in the Manhattan Project, has a Victoria Cr...

Bonhomme Welcomes You: The Quebec Winter Carnival

15 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Started in 1894, and held annually since 1955, the Quebec Winter Carnival has become the largest winter festival in the Western Hemisphere. It has als...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Willow Creek

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From an Indigenous UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the arrival of the NWMP, to its role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the MD of Willow...

More Than A Song: The Edmund Fitzgerald

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Launched in 1958, the Edmund Fitzgerald was called the Queen of the Lakes for its immense size. It would pass into legend on Nov. 10, 1975 when it san...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Taber

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taber, Alberta is a community features a long history that includes some interesting stories. From its role in Japanese Internment during the Second W...

The First Royal Visit: The 1939 Royal Tour

01 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One of the biggest events in Canadian history was the arrival of the first reigning monarch to set foot on Canadian soil, King George VI with his wife...

Small Town Histories: The History Of White City

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

White City was formed in a field outside Regina in the 1950s thanks to the arrival of the Trans-Canada Highway. It quickly grew and was the home of Da...

Small Town Histories: The History of Chase

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From the Secwepemc people who lived in the area for millennia, to the famous Salmon Runs, to one of the biggest saw mills in British Columbia for its ...

Merry Christmas!

25 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No new episode today because it is Christmas, but we will be back next week with small town histories and a look at the 1939 Royal Tour, one of the bi...

Small Town Histories: The History of Okotoks

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Located just south of Calgary, Okotoks has a fascinating history. From the immense rock dropped by a glacier nearby, to its many historical buildings....

A Legend Of The Air: The Avro Arrow

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Avro Arrow was a revolutionary aircraft that was faster than any other aircraft in the world. Before it could go into full production, and after $...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Oliver

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The official Wine Capital of Canada (seriously, the Queen proclaimed it!), this community has a history dating back over 100 years but it owes its exi...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Wetaskiwin

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Founded at the site where an Indigenous peace was formed, Wetaskiwin became an important stopping point along the railroad, and features many museums ...

A Great Leader: Joseph Brant

11 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Brant was a skilled military leader and he spent much of his life trying to protect Indigenous land, & gain land for his people. Sadly, he was ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Smithers

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Located in the interior of British Columbia, Smithers is a town with a very interesting history. This town started as a railway divisional point & gre...

Small Town Histories: The History of Humboldt

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humboldt was an important site during the 1885 Red River Resistance, serving as the only telegraph link with Ottawa during the conflict. It also has m...

Bring Equality to Canada: Women's Suffrage

04 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, from the 1880s to the 1910s, women campaigned for the right to vote. While they would start to succeed in the 1910s, it was still a long ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Glenboro

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the oldest Icelandic communities in Canada, Glenboro has a large camel to honour the only Manitoba desert, a very old Icelandic church, was the...

A Dark Day For Canada: The Halifax Explosion

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On Dec. 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. One of those ships was loaded with explosives, which ignited, producing the largest manmade ex...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Sylvan Lake

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This Alberta resort town started out as Snake Lake and became known for its waterslides and regattas, held each year. A former Kraft Hockeyville, Sylv...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Quesnel

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Founded during the gold rush days of British Columbia, Quesnel has a history that is celebrated throughout the community in parks, museums and more. F...

A Dark Time: Canada's Great Depression

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the United States gets most of the notice of The Great Depression, Canada was severely impacted. From Saskatchewan where dust storms and grassho...

The History of Fairview

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fairview was a community that began as another community before it moved location. Today, it has a thriving history, a stunning bridge and a deep hist...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Duchess

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The home of the legendary cowboy John Ware, Duchess has many historical sites nearby to it to explore including the Duke of Sutherland Historical Site...

Activist, Poet, Actor, Icon: Chief Dan George

13 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Through his life, Chief Dan George would be a chief of his people, a poet, an activist and musicians. It was as an actor he found the most success tho...

Canada's Worst Mining Disaster: The Hillcrest Mine Disaster

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On June 19, 1914, 237 men went down into the Hillcrest Mine at 7 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the entire area was shaken by a huge explosion from the mine. By t...

Small Town Histories: The History of Brandon

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Founded with the CPR railroad in 1882, many of the early buildings from Brandon's history still stand, despite a fire bug burning down a dozen in 1913...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Nanton

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Home to the Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Nanton has a great history dating back a century. Known as the Town of the Tap thanks to its spring water...

The Power of Duct Tape: The Red Green Show

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am looking at the Red Green Show, which ran for 15 years and produced 300 episodes. A Canadian cultural icon, Red Green was nearly gone forev...

Small Town Histories: The History of Fort Qu'Appelle

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The area of Fort Qu'Appelle has a deep history that is fascinating. From its three forts, to the signing of Treaty 4, to its importance in the North W...

Small Town Histories: The History Of High Level

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The northern Alberta town of High Level has a history that dates back thousands of years thanks to the Dene people, but the community itself dates to ...

Leading His People: Gabriel Dumont

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am looking at the life of Gabriel Dumont. A Metis leader, he would spend his life trying to preserve the culture and land of his people, whil...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Neepawa

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Neepawa, Manitoba was formed when 30 Ontario settlers decided they like the area and settled down. The community would slowly grow and many of its ori...

St. John's Darkest Day: The Great St. John's Fire

16 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A dropped pipe on a hay stack would lead to the worst disaster in St. John's history. With high winds, a month of no rain and poor decisions by the ci...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Fort Nelson

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am talking about the northern BC community of Fort Nelson. While its settled history is short, only dating to about the Second World War, its...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Thessalon

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The town with the unique name has quite the history behind it, including a political scandal around its post office in 1905, Biddy the Moose who enjoy...

No Drinks Allowed: PEI's Prohibition Years

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From 1901 to 1948, PEI had strict prohibition in place but that didn't stop many rumrunners from making small fortunes in the illicit trade of alcohol...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Nelson

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Started as a mining town, the community of Nelson, British Columbia would adapt and grow and today is known for its arts and culture. It was also the ...

The Forgotten War: Canadians In The Spanish Civil War

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For two years from 1936 to 1938, over 1,500 Canadians would travel to Spain, often on their own, to fight against Fascists in Spain during the Spanish...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Oakbank

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, in a shorter episode, I am looking at the history of Oakbank, Manitoba. From some great historical buildings, to its deep Indigenous history, t...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Armstrong

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Known for its cheese, the community has a history that dates back to the Cariboo Gold Rush, and many buildings from the late-1800s still stand today i...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Rocky Mountain House

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of the oldest European settlements in the Canadian Prairies, its history dates to the 1700s, and today that fur trade history is celebrated in the...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Halton Hills

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This town, which is actually a geographical area made up of several towns, has a deep history that goes back over 200 years. Known for its many mills ...

Small Town Histories: The History of Tisdale

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The hometown of Brent Butt, it has the largest honey bee statue in the world, produces 10% of the honey in the province and is home to the largest gun...

Small Town Histories: The History of Barrhead

18 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This town, northwest of Edmonton, was an important stopping point on the Klondike Trail. Long before that, an Indigenous trail cut through the region,...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Picture Butte

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Located in southern Alberta, Picture Butte gets its name from a formation that has since disappeared, but the community remains. From its role in irr...

Fighting For Change: Mary Two-Axe Earley

11 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I am looking at the life of Indigenous activist Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought against gender discrimination in the Indian Act. I also speak ...

Around The World: The Man In Motion Tour

04 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For 26 months from 1985-1987, Rick Hansen journeyed in his wheelchair 40,075 kilometres through 34 countries on 4 continents. Along the way, he raised...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Devon

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The history of Devon begins with Leduc #1, the huge oil discovery that completely changed Alberta forever. With that discovery, the new community of D...

Friendly Nations: The Presidential Visits

29 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Beginning in 1923, it eventually became a right of passage for a US President to visit Canada early in their first term. While these visits were alway...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Brooks

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Founded as a small siding along the CPR, Brooks would grow to become an important community in southern Alberta. It would see hard times, including a...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Trochu

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This small community in central Alberta boasts a history that stretches back millions of years thanks to a fossil bed nearby. Later in its history, th...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Oyen

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Oyen is a small community on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border with a unique history. Home to a beautiful centennial clock, it got its start during the ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of St. Mary's

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A community with a history that goes back over 200 years, it was where Timothy Eaton got his first real taste of success and the community itself has ...

Elections: 1867, 1872 and 1874

15 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On my other podcast From John To Justin, I am releasing 36 straight days of podcast episodes about every election in Canadian history.  For the subse...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Blind River

14 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This community was born from the timber trade, and when all seemed loss, uranium saved it from extinction. On top of that, it was the place Lester B. ...

Small Town Histories: The History of The Pas

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the Pas, you have a famous explorer who once spent time in the area of the future community, to important fur trading forts, an old museum made by ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Lac Du Bonnet

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This Manitoba community has a history that includes the first airmail flight in the province, an air force consisting of pigeons, a legendary curler a...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Estevan

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Located in southern Saskatchewan, the history of Estevan includes a terrible and deadly riot, a visit by a Royal, coal mining, bootlegging and much mo...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Maple Creek

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This community in southwest Saskatchewan has a fascinating history. From the Cypress Hills Massacre and Fort Walsh, to its historic buildings and a un...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Kapuskasing

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This northern Ontario town has a recorded history that dates back to the 1770s with fur traders and from there it would prosper. From a pulp mill that...

Look Up...Way Up: The Friendly Giant

31 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Before Mr. Dressup and Sesame Street, there was The Friendly Giant. For 27 years from 1958 to 1985 until it was cancelled by the CBC, Bob Homme brough...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Selkirk

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm looking at the history of Selkirk, Manitoba, the Catfish Capital of the World. From the early fur trading forts, to Bullet Joe Simpson, to ...

Small Town Histories: The History of LaSalle

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This small Ontario community has a deep history going back to the early days of New France. From the iconic Le Griffon ship, to the Battle of Windsor,...

Fire On The Horizon: The Matheson Fire Of 1916

24 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It was the deadliest forest fire in Canadian history. Over the course of two days, a 64-kilometre long forest fire front blazed across Northern Ontari...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Drayton Valley

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What was a small hamlet of 50 people in 1952, soon became a bustling town of 2,000 one year later after a major oil deposit was found. Drayton Valley ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Fort Frances

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The first European settlement west of Lake Superior, it would have several important forts built in its location and its timber industry would fuel de...

A Literary Figure: George Copway

17 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Before Mowat, Atwood and Montgomery, an Anishinaabe man named Kah-Ge-Ga-Gah-Bowh, or George Copway, became Canada's first international literary celeb...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Williams Lake

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The home to the second-largest rodeo in Canada, Williams Lake's history as a community dates back to the Gold Rush, and as the homeland to the Indigen...

A Dark Day: The Cypress Hills Massacre

10 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It is an event nearly forgotten today in Canada, but on June 1, 1873, a group of American and Canadian wolfers descended on an Assiniboine camp, belie...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Melita

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This small Manitoba town, nestled in the Banana Belt, is the hometown of Peggy Fox, features a giant banana statue, was the site of a daring 1922 bank...

An Update And Call For Input

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After being knocked out by my second dose of the COVID vaccine for two days, my podcast schedule got a bit messed up. Using this as an opportunity to ...

Canada Hits 100: The Canadian Centennial

26 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It was a party 100 years in the making and from coast-to-coast, Canadians found unique and innovative ways to celebrate the country's 100th birthday. ...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Weyburn

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Located in southern Saskatchewan, Weyburn is not only the home to the Greatest Canadian, Tommy Douglas, but it is also a place with several great muse...

An Interview With Craig Cardiff

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today I am speaking with Craig Cardiff, the celebrated Canadian folk artist who has released several albums over the course of his 25-year career in C...

A Trailblazer: Jean Cuthand Goodwill

19 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Born on the reserve named for her ancestor Poundmaker, Jean Cuthand Goodwill would become one of the leading advocates for Indigenous health in Canada...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Medicine Hat

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I look at the community with the odd name, Medicine Hat. From its history as a gathering place for the Indigenous, to the stories of the rainma...

An Interview With Brian Castner

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I speak with Brian Castner about his new book Stampede, which follows the Klondike Gold Rush. It is a historically-accurate story about the peo...

A Dark Chapter: The Chinese Head Tax

12 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From 1885 to 1921, 82,000 Chinese immigrants came to Canada, all of whom paid a tax to do so. Upon arriving, they would be subjected to racism and dis...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Entwistle

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It is a small hamlet east of Edmonton, but it has a wonderful history that includes being a boomtown, a terrible fire and one of the most impressive a...

An Interview With Genevieve Graham

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I speak with author Genevieve Graham about her new book Letters Across The Sea, which is set during the Second World War. She has written sever...

Solving A Mystery: The Inuit and the Franklin Expedition

05 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The story of the Franklin Expedition is famous throughout Canada, but what about the Inuit who came across the expedition, interacted with the survivo...

Small Town Histories: The History of Chetwynd

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Unlike many communities I have featured, Chetwynd got its start much later in the 20th century, and didn't get the railway until 1958. It even had a d...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Winkler

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This southern Manitoba community's history features a tornado, a terrible flood, two bank robberies and more. From its days as a simple stop along the...

Off to Evergreen Forest: The Raccoons

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Beginning with four specials in the early 1980s, followed by five seasons of the classic show from 1985 to 1992, The Raccoons remains a beloved cartoo...

Small Town Histories: The History Of Prince Albert

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From Frankenstein's Monster to three prime ministers representing the town to the volunteers who fought in the 1885 North West Resistance to an Englis...

An Interview With Kim Campbell

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I speak with Canada's 19th prime minister, Kim Campbell. Not only was she Canada's first female prime minister, but also the first female justi...

The People of the Bison: The Blackfoot

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I'm looking at the pre-colonial history and the culture of the Blackfoot people, who occupied 28 million acres of land from the Rockies to Sask...