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Canada is Boring

Jesse Harley, Rhys Waters

Canada, boring? Nope, its a land of bizarre events and crazy people. Join Rhys (A new Canadian) as he attempts to convince Jesse (Your average disengaged Canadian) that it’s actually a fiery rollercoaster of a country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Toronto's Mystery Tunneller

    HÁ 5 H

    Toronto's Mystery Tunneller

    Rhys and Jesse dig into the bizarre true story of Toronto’s 2015 “mystery tunnel” near York University. What started as a three‑metre‑deep, hand‑dug hideout with plywood supports, a generator, rosary beads, and a poppy quickly spiraled into global speculation: terrorist bunker for the Pan Am Games? Gang weapons cache? Something far worse? For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  2. Toronto's Dead Raccoon Vigil

    20 DE ABR.

    Toronto's Dead Raccoon Vigil

    Rhys and Jesse return to with one of the most delightfully absurd Canadian stories ever told: the 2015 Yonge Street dead raccoon memorial. What begins as a sad little scene on a Toronto sidewalk turns into a full-blown public vigil—complete with Post-it notes, roses, sympathy cards, candles, a Jesus candle, a collection box, and even a parody Twitter account. It’s internet weirdness, and heartfelt stupidity all rolled into one episode. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  3. From Brexit to Alberta: How The Fringe Goes Mainstream

    13 DE ABR.

    From Brexit to Alberta: How The Fringe Goes Mainstream

    When Jesse falls ill, Rhys steps in for a rare solo episode to issue a warning from lived experience. Drawing on his time in Wales during the 2016 Brexit referendum, Rhys explains how a seemingly fringe, “loonies and fruitcakes” movement blindsided the UK establishment, and what that means for rising Alberta separatism today. He connects the dots between economic inequality, media-fueled resentment, online misinformation, and the search for a charismatic leader, arguing that dismissing separatists as a joke is exactly how they can win. Rhys makes the case that the only real antidote is better governance: tackling affordability, opportunity, healthcare, and education so that Canada stays an awesome place to live and separatism remains on the fringe. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  4. The Great Locust Apocalypse of 1874

    6 DE ABR.

    The Great Locust Apocalypse of 1874

    In this Patreon-only episode of Canada Is Boring, Rhys and Jesse dive into the truly biblical 1874–75 Rocky Mountain locust plague that turned the Prairies and parts of the US Midwest into a “living eclipse of the sun.” They tell the story of swarms estimated in the hundreds of billions to trillions of insects eating everything from crops and trees to wool, leather harnesses, and even the paint off wagons. We hear how desperate farmers tried burning locusts in straw, how carcasses polluted water and ruined livestock and eggs, and how aggressive plowing and an early frost helped drive the Rocky Mountain locust to extinction by the early 1900s. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
  5. The Sexiest Man in Winnipeg

    30 DE MAR.

    The Sexiest Man in Winnipeg

    In this episode of Canada Is Boring, Rhys and Jesse dive into the bizarre true story behind Amazon Prime’s The Sexiest Man in Winnipeg, following former Winnipeg TV news anchor Steve Vogelsang from 1990s local celebrity and “sexiest man” titleholder to financially ruined, depressed journalism instructor living in his truck and ultimately turning to a hilariously low‑yield bank robbery spree across Regina, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat. They unpack his “plan” to rob 25 banks for a few thousand dollars at a time using fake bombs and a glue gun, the legal quirks of what counts as armed robbery in Canada, how he was eventually caught after his truck broke down near the scene, his 6.5‑year prison term, and his attempt to rebrand himself as a men’s mental health advocate For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  6. The Hollowing of Tim Hortons (Part 2)

    23 DE MAR.

    The Hollowing of Tim Hortons (Part 2)

    In this part two of the Tim Hortons saga, Jesse Harley and Rhys Waters dig into how predatory private equity and corporate ownership have hollowed out one of Canada’s most beloved brands. Building on examples like Friendly’s and Toys “R” Us, they explain how firms use debt-loading, bankruptcy, and aggressive cost-cutting to squeeze short-term profit from companies, and how that model hit Tim Hortons after the Burger King/Restaurant Brands International takeover. They unpack franchisee lawsuits and alleged intimidation, the brand’s fall from a cozy community hub to a transactional, depressing pit stop, and how centralized supply chains, shrinkflation, staff cuts, and PR spin eroded both quality and reputation. The conversation widens to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, corporate lobbying, and how bad policy and labor exploitation help fuel public anger about immigration and housing pressure, before circling back to a simple call to action: skip the hollowed-out chains when you can, and support local independent coffee shops instead. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  7. The Hollowing of Tim Hortons (Part 1)

    16 DE MAR.

    The Hollowing of Tim Hortons (Part 1)

    Rhys and Jesse kick off a two‑part deep dive into how Tim Hortons went from a beloved Canadian community hub to something that feels strangely empty. They start with personal nostalgia: Jesse’s memories of the late‑90s Tim Hortons as a true “third place” where you’d just show up and see who was there, playing cards, smoking in the glassed‑off section, and chatting for hours. Rhys compares that to the role pubs used to play in the UK, and together they explore how those informal social spaces have eroded over time, feeding into a wider loneliness problem. From there, Rhys walks through the early history of Tim Hortons: NHL defenceman Tim Horton’s partnership with Jim Charade, the rise of franchising, the pivotal role of ex‑cop and Dairy Queen franchisee Ron Joyce, Horton’s death and struggles with alcoholism, and the complicated saga of his widow Lori’s buyout, lawsuits, and the question of what would have been the “right” thing to do for the family and the brand. The episode then traces Tim Hortons’ expansion through its merger with Wendy’s, its growth into Canada’s largest fast‑food chain, and the political optics of Prime Minister Stephen Harper celebrating its return to Canadian ownership. Finally, Rhys introduces 3G Capital, the Brazilian‑rooted investment firm that has built a global empire by acquiring brands like Burger King and Kraft Heinz, then aggressively cutting costs, closing plants, and boosting profit margins while hollowing out quality, staff security, and community connection. With Tim Hortons’ 2014 sale to 3G’s Restaurant Brands International, the stage is set for the “hollowing” of a nostalgic brand Canadians once saw as their national living room. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  8. Failed Theme Parks and Hostage Negotiations

    9 DE MAR.

    Failed Theme Parks and Hostage Negotiations

    In this episode of Canada Is Boring, Rhys shares the unbelievable true story of Eddie Haymour, a Lebanese-Canadian businessman who tried to build a Middle Eastern–themed mini theme park—complete with pyramids, mini golf, restaurants, and a giant camel—on tiny Rattlesnake Island in British Columbia. After years of obstruction, permit battles, and discriminatory treatment from provincial authorities, Eddie’s life collapses: his finances are ruined, his marriage ends, his house burns down, he’s confined to a psychiatric hospital, and the government seizes his island—later ruled illegal by the courts. Pushed to the brink, Eddie's next move was impossible to see coming. For premium content, socials, merch, to leave a voicemail or message us go to canadaisboring.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
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Canada, boring? Nope, its a land of bizarre events and crazy people. Join Rhys (A new Canadian) as he attempts to convince Jesse (Your average disengaged Canadian) that it’s actually a fiery rollercoaster of a country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Informações

  • Criado por
    Jesse Harley, Rhys Waters
  • Anos de atividade
    2020 - 2026
  • Episódios
    504
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Jesse Harley and Rhys Waters
  • Site do podcast
    Canada is Boring
  • Fornecedor
    Rhys Edits Inc

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