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Today in Canadian History

About the Series
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Marc Affeld
August 30, 2025

August 30 – Vicki Keith becomes the first person to swim across all 5 Great Lakes

Marc Affeld
August 30, 2025

Back in 1988, Canadian Vicki Keith stepped onto the shore of Lake Ontario and became the first person to swim across all five of the Great Lakes.

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Marc Affeld
August 27, 2025

August 27 – The beginning of the first Canadian roadtrip by car

Marc Affeld
August 27, 2025

Back in 1912, Thomas Wilby and Jack Haney began their trip across Canada in a 1912 REO Special.

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Marc Affeld
August 26, 2025

August 26 – Joseph Burr Tyrrell and the Canadian Dinosaur Rush

Marc Affeld
August 26, 2025

Joseph Burr Tyrrell passed away on this date in 1957. We spoke with the Royal Tyrrell Museum's Don Brinkman about Tyrrell and the beginning of the Canadian Dinosaur Rush.

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Marc Affeld
August 25, 2025

August 25 – Donald Marshall Sr. Passes Away

Marc Affeld
August 25, 2025

Back in 1991, the grand chief of the Mikmaq passed away. He was a tireless advocate for aboriginal rights and justice issues.

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Marc Affeld
August 24, 2025

August 24 – Execution of Canadian Soldiers During WWI

Marc Affeld
August 24, 2025

Back in 1916, Canadian soldier Benjamin DeFehr spent his last night in custody. Come dawn, he was shot and killed by a firing squad. He was 1 of 25 Canadian soldiers executed during WWI.

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Marc Affeld
August 23, 2025

August 23 – British Troops Prepare to Burn Washington

Marc Affeld
August 23, 2025

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.

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Marc Affeld
August 20, 2025

August 20 – Eaton’s Goes Bankrupt

Marc Affeld
August 20, 2025

On this day back in 1999, it was announced that after nearly 130 years, the Eaton's department store was filing for bankruptcy protection.

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Marc Affeld
August 19, 2025

August 19 – The Dieppe Raid of 1942

Marc Affeld
August 19, 2025

Canada suffered over 3000 casualties on the shores of Dieppe, France on this day in 1942.

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Marc Affeld
August 18, 2025

August 18 – The Dempster Highway opens in the Yukon

Marc Affeld
August 18, 2025

Officially opened in 1979, the 730 km highway was the first Canadian highway to cross the Arctic Circle, linking southern Canada and Arctic Canada.

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Marc Affeld
August 17, 2025

August 17 – First successful sailing of the Northwest Passage

Marc Affeld
August 17, 2025

In 1988, Canadians Jeff MacInnis and Mike Beedell successfully sail through the passage on their boat, Perception. They are the first individuals to successfully sail the passage by wind power.

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Marc Affeld
August 16, 2025

August 16 – Gold Deposits are Discovered in 1896, Sparking the Klondike Gold Rush

Marc Affeld
August 16, 2025

We spoke with Charlotte Gray, a Chair of Canada's History Society as well as author of Gold Diggers: Striking it rich in the Klondike about Dawson City, Yukon at the height of the rush.

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Marc Affeld
August 13, 2025

August 13 – Jacques Cartier "Discovers" the St. Lawrence River

Marc Affeld
August 13, 2025

We spoke with author and Professor at the University of Guelph, Alan Gordon, about Cartier and his 1535 "discovery".

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Marc Affeld
August 12, 2025

August 12 – Hockey Legend Hayley Wickenheiser is Born

Marc Affeld
August 12, 2025

In 1978, five time Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser is born.

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Marc Affeld
August 11, 2025

August 11 – Revolutionary Canadian artificial heart to be manufactured and marketed

Marc Affeld
August 11, 2025

Back in 1993, University of Ottawa Heart Institute researchers announce plans to manufacture and market the world's first permanent artificial heart. Known as the Electrohydraulic Ventricular Assist Device (EVAD), the artificial heart could be implanted entirely in the body and was the first of its kind. We spoke with Dr. Tofy Mussivand.

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Marc Affeld
August 10, 2025

August 10 – Canadian Bill of Rights Enacted in 1960

Marc Affeld
August 10, 2025

We spoke with Linda McKay-Panos, the Executive Director of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, about the Canadian Bill of Rights.

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Marc Affeld
August 9, 2025

August 9 – Wayne Gretzky is Traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings

Marc Affeld
August 9, 2025

Dr. David Mills discusses Wayne Gretzky's 1988 Trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.

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Marc Affeld
August 6, 2025

August 6 – Macdonald and The Double Shuffle

Marc Affeld
August 6, 2025

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.

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Marc Affeld
August 5, 2025

August 5 – Sir Humphrey Gilbert Claims Part of Newfoundland for Britain

Marc Affeld
August 5, 2025

We spoke with historian Josh Tavenor about Sir Humphrey Gilbert's 1583 claim of the land surrounding what is now St. John's, Newfoundland.

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Marc Affeld
August 4, 2025

August 4 – Fire breaks-out in the Library of Parliament

Marc Affeld
August 4, 2025

Back in 1952, fire damages Canada's Library of Parliament.

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Marc Affeld
August 3, 2025

August 3 – William Avery Bishop is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross

Marc Affeld
August 3, 2025

 

August 3 – William Avery Bishop is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross

World War I flying ace "Billy" Bishop is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service.

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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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