Stories behind the history

Canada's History Society

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Join renowned historians and witnesses to history for a deep dive into Canada's storied past, from Indigenous cultures and the fur trade to the world wars and much more. Because history lives in all of us. Produced by the award-winning team at Canada's History magazine. Theme music: Red River Jig by Alex Kusturok.

06/21/2024

The Distant Early Warning Line

The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line was a radar defence network in Canada’s Arctic. It was a Cold War engineering marvel, but it had terrible effects on the land and Inuit communities. With Arctic defence once again a topic of concern, Canada's History Society CEO Melony Ward interviews experts about the DEW Line and its impact.

30 min
05/06/2024

Heave Away! Why sea shanties bring the world together

From Black stevedores in the American Deep South, to Hawaiian Inuit dances, to folk singers on Canada's East Coast music scene -- discover the fascinating world of sea shanties in a special episode by Canada's History contributor Jonah Grignon. With music recorded live by the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. Music credits: Traditional shanties performed by the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective, used with permission of the artists "Heave Away," traditional, performed by Roger McGuinn, licensed from freemusicarchive.org "Hawaiian Ciribiribin" composed by Alberto Pestalozza, recorded in 1919 by Louise and Ferera, public domain https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/hawaiian-ciribiribin-1919/ "Medley of sea songs," traditional, recorded in 1913, public domain https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-133664/ "Medley of sea chanties," traditional, recorded in 1914, public domain https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-649564/

23 min
04/02/2024

Voices of Vimy

The victory at Vimy Ridge, France, remains Canada’s most storied attack of the First World War. Beginning on April 9, 1917, all four Canadian divisions advanced side-by-side for the first time in a single attack. But the victory came at a cost: During four days of fighting, Canada suffered more than ten thousand casualties. Today, war letters offer a window on that long-ago time. Here, in their own words, are the stories of the soldiers who fought, and the loved ones back home who cherished them. Music credits: Stories Behind the History theme music: "The Red River Jig" performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist. Opening Theme: “The Planets, Op. 32; Jupiter,” by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916 William Bell: “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” by Ivor Novello, lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford, 1914 B.R. Empey: “Symphony No. 3; A Pastoral Symphony,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1922 Maurice Bracewell: “The Planets, Op. 32; Saturn,” by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916 George Broome / Violet Moyer: “Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95; From the New World,” by Antonín Dvořák, 1893 Sydney Winterbottom: “Good Luck to the Boys of the Allies,” by Morris Manley, 1915 Sydney Winterbottom: “Scotland the Brave” – Traditional, Early twentieth century Frank J. Whiting: “Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36; Var. IX – Nimrod,” by Edward Elgar, 1898–1899 Frank J. Whiting: “The Last Post” – Military, seventeenth century End Credits: “The Lark Ascending,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1914 (Revised 1920)

14 min
03/28/2024

How did Newfoundland Join Canada? | Life after Confederation

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when it joined Canada. In Episode 3, Life after Confederation, our guests discuss the consequences of Newfoundland's big decision. Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin. Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired. Sound credits: "Ode to Newfoundland" – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg "The Red River Jig" performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist "The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com

23 min
03/22/2024

How did Newfoundland Join Canada? | The Confederation Debate

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when it joined Canada. In Episode 2, The Confederation Debate, we hear the voices of Confederation's most ardent supporter, Joseph Smallwood, and its most vocal advocate of independence under responsible government, Peter Cashin. And our guests weigh in on their memories of the debate that rocked Newfoundland. Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin. Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired. Sound credits: Ode to Newfoundland – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg "The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com Snare drums: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution non-commercial license from zagi2 on Freesound.org. https://freesound.org/people/zagi2/sounds/673466/ All archival audio from the National Convention: Public domain. Provided by The Rooms Provincial Archives Division. Second World War Prosperity (00:00:44 - 00:06:17) The Great Confederation Debate (00:06:17 - 00:17:16) The Votes Are Cast (00:17:16 - 00:24:19) A New Era for Newfoundland (00:24:19 - 00:25:29)

26 min
01/26/2024

How did Newfoundland Join Canada? | Life in a British Colony

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when it joined Canada. In Episode 1, Life in a British Colony, we explore life in Newfoundland in the 1930s and 1940s, the years leading up to the Confederation debate. Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin. Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired. Sound credits: Ode to Newfoundland – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg Rule Brittania (MP3 file) – public domain – Free Music Archive https://archive.org/details/RuleBritannia/rule_britannia.mp3 Wearing of the Green (Volume V-10) – John McCormack, Licensed under Creative Commons from musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/43921-john-mccormack-compilation/ Keep the Home Fires Burning – public domain – Library of Congress National Jukebox - https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-15093/ Wearing of the Green - public domain – Library of Congress National Jukebox - https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-121183/ "The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com

20 min
SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

TRAILER - How did Newfoundland Join Canada?

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In an upcoming series of episodes we travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to interview former Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former MP Richard Cashin about their memories of the Confederation debate, -- and to ask them if they think Newfoundlanders made the right choice when they joined Canada.

1 min
12/22/2023

Behind Barbed Wire: A German POW in Canada

Wilhelm Rahn was a 19-year-old German naval ensign when his U-boat was torpedoed by a British submarine off the coast of Corsica in 1943. Plucked from the water by the submarine's helmsman, he ended up in a POW camp in the backwoods of Canada. Join Rahn's grandson Sebastian Koester and historical researcher Bernard Wood for a discussion of life in a Second World War Canadian prisoner of war camp. Sound credits: Claude Debussy, “Dialogue du vent et de la mer,” performed by US Air Force band, licensed under creative commons: https://musopen.org/music/14381-la-mer/ Scream “Hilfe!” made by Phantastonia, licensed under creative commons attribution license: https://freesound.org/people/phantastonia/sounds/615018/ Scream, licensed under creative commons: https://freesound.org/people/RutgerMuller/sounds/104030/ Waves, North Sea, licensed under creative commons: https://freesound.org/people/inchadney/sounds/129454/ Theme music, “Red River Jig,” from the album Métis Fiddling for Dancing, performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist.

30 min

TRAILER

TRAILER - How did Newfoundland Join Canada?

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In an upcoming series of episodes we travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to interview former Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former MP Richard Cashin about their memories of the Confederation debate, -- and to ask them if they think Newfoundlanders made the right choice when they joined Canada.

S2, E1

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1 min

Join renowned historians and witnesses to history for a deep dive into Canada's storied past, from Indigenous cultures and the fur trade to the world wars and much more. Because history lives in all of us. Produced by the award-winning team at Canada's History magazine. Theme music: Red River Jig by Alex Kusturok.

Creator

Canada's History Society
Years Active

2023 - 2024
Episodes

15
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Canada's History Society
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Stories behind the history