Today in Canadian History

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.

Back in 1905, Saskatchewan and Alberta officially become provinces.

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

We discuss Camp X, the secret spy camp based on the shores of Lake Ontario during WWII.

The Battle of Hong Kong began on this day back in 1941. To learn more we spoke with historian and author of "The Damned: The Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong and the POW Experience, 1941-45" Nathan M. Greenfield.

We spoke to Janet Schwartz, the Museum Coordinator at Toronto's Mackenzie House to learn more about the Battle and the Upper Canada Rebellion.

The explosion was caused when two ships collided in the Halifax Harbour back in 1917.

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".

Author Robertson Davies passed away on this day in 1995 at the age of 82. To learn more we spoke with author of "Robertson Davies: an Appreciation" Elspeth Cameron.

Back in 1891, Canadian Dr. James Naismith worked on creating the game of basketball.

To learn more about the first Canadian General of of the Canadian Corps, we spoke with Dr. Tim Cook author of "The Madman and the Butcher: The Sensational Wars of Sam Hughes and General Arthur Currie."

We spoke with hockey historian Eric Zweig about the earliest days of the National Hockey League.

The federal government set aside land for park back in 1885. (Orig. aired in 2010)

To learn more about the railway that challenged the monopoly of the CPR, we spoke with Les Kozma, a Member of the Canadian Northern Society.

The British ship sinks in the Halifax harbour back in 1797.

Back in 1998, Canadian modern art icon Jack Shadbolt passed away at the age of 89

René Lévesque formed the Mouvement Souveraineté-Association on this date back in 1967. To learn more about Lévesque we spoke with Megan Durnford, author of "René Lévesque: The Fascinating Life of a Separatist Icon."

To learn more about the introduction of Standard Time and the Canadian who proposed it, Sandford Fleming we spoke with author and Officer of the Order of Canada, Clark Blaise.

We spoke with Dr. William Wicken, an associate professor at York University as well as author of "Mi'kmaq Treaties on Trial: History, Land and Donald Marshall Junior" to learn more about the historic Supreme Court case "R. v. Marshall."

Back in 1880, Edward "Ned" Hanlan defeated E.A. Trichett of Australia for the world singles rowing championship.

Back in 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior.

The first documented game of football was played at the University of Toronto on this day back in 1861. To learn more about the history of football in Canada I spoke with Curator of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Meghan Sturgeon.

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

Back in 1939, CBC first broadcasts the NRC (then Dominion Observatory) official time signal.

We spoke with Dick Bourgeois-Doyle, author of George J. Klein: the great inventor about this amazing Canadian's life and approximately 1500 inventions.

This political prisoner arrived in Canada after being imprisoned for 42 years.

Back in 1999, Alberta government announced that it would compensate 242 people who had been sterilized under the Sexual Sterilization Act.

Dr. Royden Loewen of the University of Winnipeg explains to us the difference between the waves of immigrants coming to Canada from Hungary.

We spoke with University of Calgary Professor Dr. Patrick Brennan about Canada during the Great Depression.

William Hall is awarded the Victoria Cross in 1859.

The National Council of Women of Canada is Founded in 1893.

The original author of the Hardy Boys mystery series is born back in 1902.

To learn more about Riel we spoke with Director of the Saint-Boniface Museum in Winnipeg, Philippe Mailhot.

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.

The St. Alban's Raid took place on this day back in 1864.

On this day back in 1929, women became "persons". Guest host, Jennie Palmer.

We spoke with Brad Lee, the curator of The Ties That Bind, an online historical research project that works to recognize the contributions of the Chinese Canadian community to the building of Canada.

The passenger ferry was sunk off the coast of Nova Scotia back in 1942.

Back in 1910, an Imperial Order in Council transferred the Naval Station at Halifax to the Canadian Government.

We spoke with Tim Cook, historian with the Canadian War Museum and author of The Madman and the Butcher: The Sensational Wars of Sam Hughes and General Arthur Currie.

The first ever policies regarding multiculturalism were announced on this date back in 1971.

Back in 1969, 46 nervous and excited performers stepped onstage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Back in 1925, station opens in Aklavik, NWT as part of the North West Territories and Yukon Radio System.

Back in 1982, Laurie Skreslet became the first Canadian to reach the top of Mount Everest. Canadian Pat Morrow followed only days later.

Glenn Gould passed away on this day back in 1982. He was 50.

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

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

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

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

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