About the Series
Contact/Episode Ideas
Home
Podcast
iTunes

Today in Canadian History

About the Series
Contact/Episode Ideas
Home
Podcast
iTunes
Marc Affeld
June 16, 2025

June 16 – Saskatchewan Wakes up to a Socialist Government

Marc Affeld
June 16, 2025

The Saskatchewan branch of the CCF defeated the Liberals in an election on June 15, 1944, making Tommy Douglas Premier. To learn more we spoke with C. Stuart Houston, the author of "Tommy's Team: The People Behind the Douglas Years".

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 15, 2025

June 15 – Herman ‘Jackrabbit’ Smith-Johannsen

Marc Affeld
June 15, 2025

The ski pioneer was born on this day back in 1875 in Norway. We spoke with his grandson, Peter Austin.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 14, 2025

June 14 – Province of Canada’s First Parliament

Marc Affeld
June 14, 2025

Back in 1841, preparations were being made in Kingston for the first parliament, held June 15th.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 13, 2025

June 13 – The Last Fatal Duel

Marc Affeld
June 13, 2025

Upper Canada's last fatal duel happened on June 13, 1833 in Perth, Ontario. To learn more we spoke with John Fowler, the Chair of the Perth Historical Society.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 9, 2025

June 9 – The Politics of The Great Depression

Marc Affeld
June 9, 2025

RB Bennett and Mackenzie King sparred while the 1930 election loomed. We spoke with John Boyko, the Dean of History and Social Science at Lakefield School in Ontario, as well as author of "Bennett: The Rebel Who Challenged and Changed a Nation".

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 7, 2025

June 7 – The Beothuk

Marc Affeld
June 7, 2025

This day back in 1829 was widely considered to be the first day with no living survivors of the Beothuk. We spoke with Teresa Greene, of the Beothuk institute.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 6, 2025

June 8 – Mackenzie King Becomes Longest Serving PM

Marc Affeld
June 6, 2025

We spoke with Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer an Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of History at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, as well as co-editor of "Mackenzie King: Citizenship and Community."

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 6, 2025

June 6 – D-Day

Marc Affeld
June 6, 2025

We spoke with Dr. Desmond Morton on the anniversary of the Allies launching the invasion of Normandy back in 1944.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 3, 2025

June 3 – Newfoundland Referendum of 1948

Marc Affeld
June 3, 2025

For more than a decade the dominion of Newfoundland was governed by a non-elected Commission of Government. We spoke with Keith Collier, a freelance writer and historian who works at the Maritime History Archive at Memorial University of Newfoundland to learn more about the referendums that decided the future of Canada's newest province.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 2, 2025

June 2 – Stan Rogers Passes

Marc Affeld
June 2, 2025

Musician Stan Rogers passed away on this day back in 1983.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 1, 2025

June 1 – The Cypress HIlls Massacre

Marc Affeld
June 1, 2025

The Cypress Hills Massacre occurred on this date back in 1873. We spoke with Royce E. W. Pettyjohn of Fort Walsh & Cypress Hills Massacre National Historic Sites of Canada.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 31, 2025

May 31 – Ernest Manning

Marc Affeld
May 31, 2025

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

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 30, 2025

May 30 – Neal Beaumont is Born

Marc Affeld
May 30, 2025

Canadian football all-star and world record holder Neal Beaumont discusses what the CFL was like back in the 1960s as well as the play that got him in the record books.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 27, 2025

May 27 - Algonquin Park is Established

Marc Affeld
May 27, 2025

Algonquin Park became Canada's first provincial park back in 1893.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 26, 2025

May 26 – The Avrocar or “Flying Saucer”

Marc Affeld
May 26, 2025

Canadian aerospace manufacturer Avro was hard at work building a "Flying Saucer" for the US Airforce. To learn more we spoke Shirley Render, the executive director of the The Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. The museum is in possession of an Avrocar replica.

1 Comment
Marc Affeld
May 25, 2025

May 25 – Battle of Eccles Hill

Marc Affeld
May 25, 2025

Fenians attacked Quebec on this day back in 1870. To learn more we spoke with Alan Rowe, an instructor at Keyano College.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 24, 2025

May 24 – Tommy Chong is Born

Marc Affeld
May 24, 2025

Tommy Chong talks about his days as a young musician in Western Canada in the post-WWII era as well as what it was like being a young Canadian signed to Motown Records.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 19, 2025

May 19 – Parks Canada’s Anniversary.

Marc Affeld
May 19, 2025

This episode was originally produced to air on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Parks Canada.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 18, 2025

May 18 – Fire in Montreal

Marc Affeld
May 18, 2025

Fire struck Montreal back in 1765. We spoke with Tyler Wood, of Centre d'histoire de Montréal about fires in Montreal.

Comment
Marc Affeld
May 17, 2025

May 17 – The Vickers Vedette

Marc Affeld
May 17, 2025

On this day back in 1929, Colin Jack Caldwell became the first Canadian to save his life by parachute when he jumped out of a Vickers Vedette over Montreal on May 17th 1929. To learn more we spoke with Shirley Render, the executive director of the The Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg.

Comment
Older Posts
Back to Top
Today in Canadian History, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Land Acknowledgement: With gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, Joe and Marc acknowledge the ancestral home, culture, and oral teachings of the Treaty 7 signatories which includes the Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation, consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands, and the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation. Our show was produced in The City of Calgary, which is also homeland to the historic Northwest Métis and to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Métis Nation Battle River Territory, Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6. (source: Calgary Public Library)

Powered by Squarespace