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Today in Canadian History

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Marc Affeld
June 30, 2025

June 30 – The Chinese Exclusion Act

Marc Affeld
June 30, 2025

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.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 29, 2025

June 29 – Thoroughbred Horse Racing in Canada

Marc Affeld
June 29, 2025

Queen Elizabeth II was in Toronto to attend the 99th annual Queen's Plate at Woodbine. To learn more we spoke with Louis Cauz, the Managing Director at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as well as the author of "The Plate: 150 Years of Royal Tradition from Don Juan to the 2009 Winner".

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 28, 2025

June 28 – Chinese Canadians and the Prairie West

Marc Affeld
June 28, 2025

Dr. Royden Loewen of the University of Winnipeg spoke to us about the stories of Yee Clun of Regina and Rosie's Restaurant in Calgary. Dr. Loewen is the co-author of "Immigrants in Prairie Cities".

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 27, 2025

June 27 – O Canada Officially Adopted

Marc Affeld
June 27, 2025

In 1980, the National Anthem Act was adopted by Parliament.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 24, 2025

June 24 – 1968 Saint-Jean Baptiste Day

Marc Affeld
June 24, 2025

Today is La Fête nationale du Québec. To learn more about the infamous 1968 Saint-Jean Baptiste Day we spoke with official Pierre Elliot Trudeau biographer and author of "Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Vol. 2: 1968-2000".

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 22, 2025

June 22 – Dief the Chief Becomes Prime Minister

Marc Affeld
June 22, 2025

We spoke with Dr. Michael Atkinson, the Executive Director of the Diefenbaker Canada Centre at the University of Saskatchewan to learn more about Diefenbaker's six years as PM. Diefenbaker served his second day as PM on this date back in 1957.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 21, 2025

June 21 – National Aboriginal Day – Treaty 8

Marc Affeld
June 21, 2025

Extended episode for National Aboriginal Day. Discussion on Treaty 8, signed back in 1899.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 20, 2025

June 20 – National Library of Canada Opens

Marc Affeld
June 20, 2025

Lester B. Pearson opened the Canadian institution in Ottawa in 1967.

Comment
Marc Affeld
June 17, 2025

June 17 – Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Marc Affeld
June 17, 2025

Lunenburg's first church service was held by settlers on this day back in 1753.

Comment
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.

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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)

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