
Today in Canadian History
212 episodes — Page 2 of 5

March 7 – The Montreal Shamrocks
The Montreal Shamrocks won the Stanley Cup on this day back in 1900. To learn more we spoke with Dr. Matthew Barlow of John Abbott College.

March 4 – Actor John Candy Passed
Canadian comedian and actor John Candy passed away on this day back in 1994.

March 3 – First Official Indoor Game of Hockey
McGill University students participated in the first official game of indoor ice hockey on this day back in Montreal in 1875.

March 2 – Inuit Artist Jessie Oonark Passed
On this day back in 1985, artist Jessie Oonark passed away in Churchill.

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

Feb. 28 – Alex Janvier and the "Indian Group of Seven"
Acclaimed Canadian painter Alex Janvier was born on this date back in 1935. To learn more we spoke with the Manager of the Alex Janvier Art Gallery in Cold Lake, Alberta.

Jan. 27 – The Original Bluenose's Last Day
The original Bluenose spent it's last day sailing above water. The famous schooner went down off coast of Haiti in 1946.

Feb. 24 – Martha Louise Munger is Born
Martha Louise Munger, the second woman ever elected to Canadian Parliament, was born. We spoke with Frances Backhouse, author of "Women of the Klondike".

Feb. 22 – Remembering the War of 1812
The Battle of Ogdensburg occurred on this day back in 1813. To learn more about the legacy of the war of 1812, we spoke with Mark Zuehlke, Canadian Historian and author of "For Honor's Sake: The War of 1812 and the Brokering of an Uneasy Peace".

Feb. 18 – The Battle of Paardeburg
To learn more about the Second Boer War and the Battle of Paardeburg we spoke with Professor Emeritus at Mcgill University as well as author of "Canada's Little War: Fighting for the British Empire in Southern Africa 1899-1902" Dr. Carman Miller.

Feb. 17 – The Mad Trapper is Killed
After a manhunt that lasted over one month, the man known only as "The Mad Trapper" is killed in Canada's North.

Feb. 16 – Citizenship Special
We attended a citizenship ceremony on February 15th, 2011 to speak with Citizenship Judge Joan May Way and some new Canadians.

Feb. 15 – The Great Upheaval
To learn more about the expulsion of Acadians from Canada's maritime provinces, we spoke with the Senior Editor of Canada’s History Magazine, Nelle Oosterom.

Feb. 14 – The Asbestos Strike of 1949
Workers at a mine in Asbestos Que., walked off the job on this day back in 1949 triggering a violent four month strike. To learn more about the strike and its impact on the Quiet Revolution I spoke with Dr. Damien-Claude Bélanger of the Université d’Ottawa and author of "Prejudice and Pride: Canadian Intellectuals Confront the United States, 1891-1945".

Feb. 11 – Patrick James Whelan executed
Patrick James Whelan was executed on this day back in 1869 for the assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee.

Feb. 10 – War Brides Arrive in 1946
The first ship carrying almost 400 war brides from England arrived in Halifax on this day back in 1946. To learn more, we spoke with Melynda Jarratt author of "War Brides : The Stories of the Women Who Left Everything Behind to Follow the Men They Loved".

Feb. 23 – Matonabbee
Chipewyan leader Matonabbee set off with explorer Samuel Hearne to find the headwaters of the Coppermine River in 1770.

Feb. 9 – 1913 Meteor Procession
This rare event took Canadians by surprise back in 1913.

Feb. 8 – The Aroostook War
Posses of Canadian and American lumber workers clashed over the definition of the New Brunswick-Maine border at the outset of the Aroostook War. To learn more I spoke with Patrick Michaud of Fort Ingall.

Feb. 7 – First War Artists Commissioned
Canada became the first nation in the world to officially commission war artists on this day back in 1918. To learn more we spoke with Dr. Laura Brandon, a historian of war and art at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

Feb. 4 – Wreck of the Oil Tanker Arrow
The oil tanker Arrow went down off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Feb. 3 – Pierre Trudeau Tours Cuba
On a 12-day tour of Latin America in 1976, Prime Minister Trudeau met with Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro. To learn more we spoke with, Nino Ricci, author of "Extraordinary Canadians: Pierre Elliot Trudeau."

Feb. 2 – Wiarton Willie Festival
The Wiarton Willie Festival was founded back in 1956. One of the nation's most popular groundhogs.

Feb. 1 – The North West Mounted Police Becomes the RCMP.
On this day back in 1920 the The North West Mounted Police merged with the Dominion Police to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. To learn more about the history of the NWMP we spoke with Dawn Lauder, the Site Manager of the Fort Museum in Fort McLeod, Alberta.

Jan. 31 – The Real James Bond, Sir William Stephenson Passes Away
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.

Jan. 28 – Women Get the Vote
On January 28th Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote. This was in so small part due to the efforts of suffragette Nellie McClung. To learn more, we spoke with Bette Meuller of the Nellie McClung Society.

Jan. 26 – Dr. Wilder Penfield is Born
Neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield was born on this day back in 1891. To learn more we spoke with Dr. William Feindel who worked with Dr. Penfield at the Montreal Neurological Institute back in the 1950s.

Jan. 25 – Lucy Maud Montgomery in Ontario
Did you know that Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote most of her books while living in the town of Leaskdale, Ontario? To learn more we spoke to Barbara Pratt of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario.

Jan. 24 – Japanese Canadian Internment
Discussion with Prof. W. Peter Ward about the internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII.

Jan. 21 – The 1910 Spanish River Train Wreck
Over 40 people perished when train derailed west of Sudbury. In terms of fatalities, fourth worst in Canadian history.

Jan. 20 – Doukhobors Arrive in Halifax
Over 2000 Doukhobors arrived in Halifax on this date back in 1899. To learn more we spoke with Professor Julie Rak of the University of Alberta.

Jan. 19 – The Jets Leave Winnipeg
The NHL approved the sale of the Winnipeg Jets to investors in Phoenix on this date back in 1996. To learn more, we spoke with professor Jim Silver: author of "Thin Ice: Money, Politics, and the Demise of an NHL Franchise".

Jan. 18 – Canadian Content Rules Come into Effect
We spoke with FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting's Ian Morrison on the anniversary of the CRTC's new Canadian Content rules coming into effect back in 1971.

Jan. 17 – Jacques Plante and Facial Protection in Hockey
To learn more about the introduction of head and facial protection in hockey we spoke with Dr. Bob Pashby on anniversary of NHL goalie Jacques Plante.

Jan. 13 – Major Gustave Biéler is Arrested by the Gestapo
We spoke with Major Gustave Biéler's daughter Jacqueline Bieler, on the anniversary of his 1944 arrest while aiding the French Resistance in WWII.

Jan. 11 – John A. Macdonald is Born pt. 2 of 2
In part two, we discuss Sir John A. Macdonald: the man, with Richard J. Gwyn author of "John A, The Man Who Made Us".

Jan 10 – John A. Macdonald is Born pt. 1 of 2
In part one, we discuss the impact Sir John A. Macdonald had on shaping Canada with Richard J. Gwyn author of "John A, The Man Who Made Us".

Jan. 7 – Hank Snow Performs at the Grand Ole Opry
Canadian country music star Hank Snow performs at the Grand Ole Opry......and nobody likes him.

Jan. 6 – Brother André Bessette Passes Away
Later known as Saint André Bessette, Brother André of Montreal died on this day back in 1937.

Jan 4 – Canadian Artist Pegi Nicol MacLeod is Born
We spoke with I spoke with Dr. Laura Brandon, a historian of Art and War at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa as well as author of "Pegi by Herself: the life of Pegi Nicol MacLeod, Canadian artist".

Jan. 3 – “How the Scots Invented Canada”
Ken MacGoogan author of "How the Scots Invented Canada" spoke to us on the anniversary of the arrival of 300 immigrants from the Scottish Highlands on this day in 1802.

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

Happy New Year - British Troops Prepare to Burn Washington
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 – The Disappearance of Tom Thomson
Roy MacGregor, author of "Canoe Lake" discusses the disappearance of the now-famous Canadian painter back in 1917.

Highlight – Macdonald and The Double Shuffle
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
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.

Highlight – “The Greenpeace” Sets Sail in 1971
Historian, ecologist and co-founder of Greenpeace International, Rex Weyler discusses the early days of Greenpeace.

Highlight – No. 2 Construction Battalion
The creation of the first all-Black Canadian battalion in WWI.

Highlight – The October Crisis Ends
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 – Tommy Douglas was born
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.