Follow Craig Baird as he explores the good, the bad and the weird of Canada's history from the pre-colonial era to 25 years ago. Whatever you want to know about Canadian history, this is your one-stop shop.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 37:44
Maurice Richard was known as The Rocket for not only his speed on the ice, but the fire he brought to every game. More than a hockey player, he became a cultural icon and hero to…
Sep 22, 2026 · 36:10
Even today, Terry Sawchuk is cited as the greatest goaltender in NHL history. His records stood for decades, and much of his career was a triumph. Within those heights were deep…
Sep 15, 2026 · 36:25
He was so good that people just called him Mr. Hockey. His longevity in professional hockey was incredible and he inspired generations of hockey players. One of the nicest men…
Sep 11, 2026 · 19:09
For decades, off and on, New France was forced to use a unique style of currency when coins were in short supply. The money, made from playing cards, served an important purpose…
Sep 8, 2026 · 40:59
Jacques Plante wasn't the first NHL goalie to don a mask, but his decision to do so changed hockey forever. A legend of the game, he is still considered one of the greatest and…
Sep 1, 2026 · 34:39
He was so good that the Montreal Canadiens bought an entire league to force him to go professional. Called the classiest player in NHL history, he was a legend who won 10 Stanley…
Aug 25, 2026 · 50:53
Before The Daily Show and other satirical news shows, there was This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Since 1993, it has picked up buckets of awards, launched comedic careers and poked fun…
Aug 18, 2026 · 38:11
For several years in the 1990s, Road to Avonlea was one of the most popular shows in Canada. It helped launch the career of Sarah Polley, and remains beloved by many to this day.…
Aug 11, 2026 · 30:59
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey may be a hit movie in 2026, but for me The Odyssey I loved was one made by CBC in the early 1990s. It was a show that was far ahead of its time,…
Aug 4, 2026 · 32:26
Growing up in the 1980s, Fraggle Rock was one of my favourite shows. It became iconic, and is now remembered with nostalgia by many. What a lot of people don't realize, is that…
Jul 28, 2026 · 43:38
It was arguably the biggest event in Canadian history to that point when in 1939, the Royal Couple arrived in Canada for a 30 day tour of the country. It was something millions…
Jul 21, 2026 · 33:09
It was the centrepiece of Canada's Centennial and while many doubted Canada and Montreal could pull it off, it turned into the most successful World's Fair of the 20th Century.…
Jul 14, 2026 · 26:51
There were many landmark events in Canada's Centennial Year, but one of the most exciting was the Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant. For months, 10 teams from eight provinces and…
Jul 11, 2026 · 27:19
Without Edna Diefenbaker, John Diefenbaker would have never been prime minister. Yet, he sweeps his first wife to the dustbin of history, and barely acknowledged her in his three…
Jul 7, 2026 · 34:02
In 1986, Vancouver opened its doors to the world for Expo 86. The second World's Fair in Canadian history, there were many comparisons to Expo 67. The event was a massive…
Jun 30, 2026 · 44:29
When I think of a time that I want to travel back to, 1967 is near the top of the list. It was the year when Canada truly came out to celebrate itself for once. The Centennial…
Jun 23, 2026 · 35:27
Archie Belaney (Grey Owl) spent his final years pushing a message of conservation. While impersonating a First Nations man, he helped save the beaver from extinction. That path…
Jun 16, 2026 · 28:42
Edith Monture lived for nearly 106 years. In that time, she led a fascinating life and was a trailblazer for many Indigenous women. From her activism for voting rights, to her…
Jun 9, 2026 · 41:51
Jay Silverheels from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario became famous as Tonto on The Lone Ranger. He used his influence to push against the often racist portrayals of the…
Jun 2, 2026 · 23:12
Abraham Ulrikab could speak three languages, played the violin, was a natural leader and could read and write. Despite this, he was expected to act like a stereotype as part of a…
May 26, 2026 · 38:37
James Doohan became famous as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on Star Trek, but before he did that he was a Canadian war hero who stormed Juno Beach on D-Day. His portrayal of Scotty…
May 22, 2026 · 45:16
Since the dawn of time, humanity has been at war. Conflict in one form or another has been part of our existence since we first walked the earth. In this first episode of a…
May 19, 2026 · 42:20
Raymond Burr found fame on television as Perry Mason, but his career was so much more than that. He was Ironside, he tangled with Godzilla, he was pursued by Jimmy Stewart.…
May 12, 2026 · 36:31
Fay Wray is most famous for playing Ann Darrow in King Kong, but her life is far more than that. She dealt with many personal tragedies, but never gave up on herself or her…
May 8, 2026 · 37:19
Throughout his career, Chris Hadfield had many firsts. The first Canadian to spacewalk, operate the Canadarm, serve as Mission Specialist and command the International Space…
May 5, 2026 · 43:44
During the Silent Film Era, the movie industry in Hollywood was built by Canadians. From "America's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford, to directors Mack Sennett and Al Christie, to icons…
Apr 28, 2026 · 46:22
In 2004, a poll was held to determine The Greatest Canadian. It was won by Tommy Douglas, the Father of Medicare in Canada and someone who had a massive impact on Canadian…
Apr 21, 2026 · 24:49
Laura Secord's life was upended by war. Her husband was wounded, and her home was taken over. One night, she heard a secret and decided to change Canadian history with what she…
Apr 14, 2026 · 37:49
Frederick Banting originally wanted to be an artist, but when this failed he turned to medicine. Art's loss was humanity's gain when he discovered insulin and saved millions of…
Apr 7, 2026 · 29:02
Sir Sandford Fleming is most famous for developing time zones and standardized time, but he was so much more. He created our first stamp, built our railways and event connected…
Apr 3, 2026 · 36:33
Francis Rattenbury was a brilliant architect who helped define the skyline of Victoria, BC. He was also an arrogant man whose treatment of his wife during an affair led to him…
Mar 31, 2026 · 29:38
Coal mining was always dangerous, but the worst day in Canada's coal mining history came on a June day in 1914. That day saw almost 200 men never return home to their families in…
Mar 24, 2026 · 24:36
After drilling 143 dry wells, Imperial Oil decided to attempt one more drill in Alberta to find oil. The location they chose changed Alberta's, and Canada's, history forever.…
Mar 17, 2026 · 27:27
Born into slavery, John Ware came to the Alberta area on a cattle drive and never left. Over the next few decades, he became an Alberta ranching legend, still remembered fondly…
Mar 13, 2026 · 48:31
Ken Read was one of the greatest Canadian skiers in history. As one of The Crazy Canucks, he helped Canada serve notice to the ski world that we had arrived on the scene. With…
Mar 10, 2026 · 26:03
Turtle Mountain was called The Mountain That Moves by the First Nations of the Crowsnest Pass. On April 29, 1903, the mountain moved and buried the town of Frank under 44 million…
Mar 3, 2026 · 29:40
Following the Cypress Hill Massacre, the North West Mounted Police made their famous journey west to the Canadian Prairies. It was a poorly planned event that nearly ended the…
Feb 24, 2026 · 40:27
Canadian Men's Alpine Skiing can be divided into two eras: Before The Crazy Canucks and After The Crazy Canucks. In the 1970s and early-1980s, they dominated on the slopes with…
Feb 17, 2026 · 32:21
Percy Williams was so unknown that when he won gold in Amsterdam, there was a delay in the ceremony because no Canadian flag was on hand. His two gold in 1928 are legendary, but…
Feb 10, 2026 · 38:52
The Winnipeg Falcons formed because of discrimination against the Icelandic community in Winnipeg. The players served Canada in the First World War, with two giving their lives,…
Feb 7, 2026 · 27:21
For the past two decades, he has helped show Canadians how to survive in the wild anywhere in the world. As Survivorman, he has also showed us how to appreciate the outdoors and…
Feb 3, 2026 · 55:50
After years of trying, Canada finally won the Winter Olympics with Calgary's successful bid for the 1988 Games. While many doubted the city could pull it off, the 1988 Games…
Jan 27, 2026 · 21:39
Through the 19th Century, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador had suffered through multiple "great fires". None were as destructive as the 1892 fire that levelled most of the…
Jan 20, 2026 · 28:59
Around 1,000 years ago, new arrivals reached the shores of Newfoundland. They were the Norse, and on the island they established at least one settlement and met the Indigenous…
Jan 13, 2026 · 31:16
When Europeans arrived in Newfoundland, beginning with John Cabot in 1497, the Beothuk saw their land taken, the animals they depended on hunted and harvested, and new diseases…
Jan 6, 2026 · 40:37
Wilfred Grenfell spent four decades in Newfoundland and Labrador. During that time, he became a legendary figure. Famous for his books, he helped countless people through the…
Dec 30, 2025 · 26:19
In January 1998, freezing rain began to fall along the St. Lawrence River but instead of the system moving on, it hung around. It created one of the most costly natural disasters…
Dec 27, 2025 · 27:42
This episode comes courtesy of Canadian Time Machine, produced by our friends at The Walrus Lab. Host Angela Misri takes you back to key anniversaries in Canadian history and…
Dec 23, 2025 · 34:42
The 1990s were loaded with great holiday movies. From Home Alone to A Nightmare before Christmas there was something for everyone. In this episode of History of the 90s we look…
Dec 16, 2025 · 47:14
On Oct. 3, 1984, Christine Jessop disappeared from her home. Three months later, her body was found. While one innocent man was convicted of the crime, it was decades until the…
Dec 13, 2025 · 14:26
For three generations, Randy Spracklin's family has been building in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, their company, Newfound Builds, helps restore historical properties, and…
Dec 9, 2025 · 36:58
Tommy Prince fought in the Second World War and Korea. Highly decorated, he was a ghost in the night and a terror to the enemy. Despite all he gave for his country, the…
Dec 2, 2025 · 45:40
She was called Canada's Sweetheart for her grace on the ice. The only Canadian woman to win a figure skating gold in singles, she was celebrated coast-to-coast. Barbara Ann Scott…
Nov 25, 2025 · 28:56
From the 1970s to 1980s, Canada made the monumental effort to go from the Imperial System to the Metric System. It was met with praise and anger and didn't completely take. ORDER…
Nov 18, 2025 · 42:51
On Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared beneath the waves of Lake Superior in a terrible storm. The sinking took the lives of 29 men and was immortalized in song by…
Nov 11, 2025 · 30:52
In 1918, a German U-Boat emerged from the waters of the North Atlantic and fired a torpedo at HHMS Llandovery Castle. It became one of the worst atrocities of the First World…
Nov 4, 2025 · 28:25
In 1944, with conscription in place to send Canadian troops in Canada overseas, the largest mutiny in Canadian history began in Terrace, British Columbia. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY…
Oct 28, 2025 · 21:41
One of the best improvisers in Canada, she rose to national fame on Superstore as Dina Fox. A gifted musician, her first album "Call Me When You Get This" was released in…
Oct 25, 2025 · 36:02
Taj Khyber Rowland knows he’s not who people think he is but he can’t quite remember how his life went so off course. He decides to spool backwards, to his younger self. A…
Oct 21, 2025 · 35:40
From the mysterious death of a great painter, to the story of a legless man who appeared on a beach, Canada has many fascinating mysteries to explore. Today, we are going to dive…
Oct 14, 2025 · 27:54
To many Canadians, he is a beloved figure from childhood. The host of Fred Penner's Place, he has won multiple Junos, has the Order of Canada and has sold over one million…
Oct 7, 2025 · 33:44
Canada's second World's Fair was held almost two decades after its first. While Expo 86 wouldn't be watershed moment in Canadian history that Expo 67 was, it would completely…
Sep 30, 2025 · 33:26
It was said the best way to sum up the athletic prowess of Bobbie Rosenfeld was to say she was bad at swimming. Two Olympic medals, championships and Canada's greatest female…
Sep 23, 2025 · 19:29
Ron Sexsmith is one of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriters. From his early years playing the circuit in Toronto, to his acclaimed albums through the 1990s into today.…
Sep 16, 2025 · 29:26
When Fort Vermilion and Little Red River were in danger of a diphtheria outbreak, a lot of people came together to save lives, including one of Canada's most famous pilots. It is…
Sep 9, 2025 · 25:48
For two decades, Terry O'Reilly has been educating Canadians on the world of advertising and marketing. His radio show and podcast remains as popular today as it was back then,…
Sep 2, 2025 · 33:46
Bill Barilko is familiar to many Canadians thanks to The Tragically Hip. The story of his rise to fame as an NHL player and his mysterious disappearance has become part of our…
Aug 30, 2025 · 31:52
In July 1992 the Canadian government banned cod fishing along Newfoundland’s east coast in an effort to help restore cod stocks that had been depleted due to overfishing. The…
Aug 26, 2025 · 35:49
In November 1913, a storm system slammed The Great Lakes, sinking over a dozen ships and killing hundreds of people. It remains the worst natural disaster in Great Lakes history.…
Aug 19, 2025 · 39:41
On Aug. 6, 2025, I adopted a three-year-old St. Bernard-Pyrenees cross. I gave him the name of Berton in honour of my favourite historian. In honour of that, here is a rerelease…
Aug 12, 2025 · 22:51
Tom Sukanen was a lone man on the Saskatchewan Prairie. He had lost his family and only wanted to return home to Finland. To do that, he decided to build a ship on his landlocked…
Aug 5, 2025 · 24:36
For decades, Maud Lewis painted on every surface around her. Her tiny home became her magnum opus and she brightened the world around her with her wonderful art. ORDER MY FIRST…
Jul 29, 2025 · 42:08
Since 1939, the National Film Board has documented Canada, its people and its culture. It has won thousands of awards and become a legendary film studio in the process. ORDER MY…
Jul 15, 2025 · 30:35
The Doukhobors were welcomed to Canada as new arrivals but it did not take long before Canadians turned against them simply because they wanted to live their lives. ORDER MY…
Jul 8, 2025 · 22:24
During the 1700s, Thanadelthur was young woman who embarked on a mission of peace. Her journey led to peace between the Cree and Chipewyan, and changed Canadian history. ORDER MY…
Jul 1, 2025 · 36:30
The story of Canada's drag history includes the most successful theatre production in Canadian history, several individuals who fought for LGBTQ equality, and the story of…
Jun 24, 2025 · 45:46
It is Pride Month and throughout this month I have stories of Canada's LGBTQ history. Today, I am taking a journey through Canada's LGBTQ history and the men and women who worked…
Jun 17, 2025 · 38:10
It is Pride Month and throughout this month I have stories of Canada's LGBTQ history. Today, it is the story of Operation Soap. The largest mass arrest in Canadian history to…
Jun 10, 2025 · 28:35
It is Pride Month and throughout this month I have stories of Canada's LGBTQ history. Today, it is the story of Jim Egan. With his partner Jack Nesbit, they challenged the fact…
Jun 3, 2025 · 23:36
It is Pride Month and throughout this month I have stories of Canada's LGBTQ history. Today, it is the first major demonstration of LGBTQ rights in Canadian history, the We…
May 27, 2025 · 24:44
When the SS Noronic docked at Pier 9 in Toronto Harbour on Sept. 16, 1949, no one expected by the next day that 118 people would be dead and the ship would be a charred husk.…
May 20, 2025 · 28:36
From her start in an improv group at her high school with Seth Rogen and Nathan Fielder, to her time on MTV Canada and her continued success with her talk shows, social media and…
May 13, 2025 · 18:45
We know very little about his life, but the story of Anthony Henday is an important one. The first known European to sight the Canadian Rockies, his mission to the interior was…
May 6, 2025 · 34:43
He has been a fixture of our television screens for over two decades now and Mark Critch shows no signs of slowing down. From getting his start in Newfoundland theatre, to his…
Apr 29, 2025 · 30:28
During his life, he was called the strongest man who ever lived. With hair curls to resemble Samson and accomplished feats of strength that became legendary. A French-Canadian…
Apr 22, 2025 · 46:21
In the this episode of Canadian History Ehx Biography, I talk to the man who brought skating glory to Canada in the 1990s. Elvis Stojko won two Olympic silvers, three World…
Apr 15, 2025 · 24:45
What began as an estate for a rich family, slowly morphed into a multicultural community that has become more legend than neighbourhood. From its starring role on TV to its…
Apr 12, 2025 · 28:28
In 2017, the second-largest gold coin in the world, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, was stolen from a Berlin museum. It was quite the story and heist! ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY…
Apr 10, 2025 · 29:36
Debuting in 1992 and lasting until 1994, The Odyssey was a surreal CBC show that blended mythology, psychology and social commentary in a way not seen in teen shows at the time.…
Apr 8, 2025 · 49:43
In the first episode of Canadian History Ehx Biography, I look at the life of Ryan Reynolds and talk with him about his life and how Canada has helped shape him and his career.…
Apr 7, 2025 · 3:30
On April 8, 2025, I am launching a new bi-weekly series called Canadian History Ehx Biography. In every episode of my new series, you’ll hear directly from famous Canadians like…
Apr 1, 2025 · 26:10
For 125 years, the Mohawk of the Kahnawake Reserve have helped build the bridges and skyscrapers of North America. Nearly the entire skyline of New York City has the boot prints…
Mar 25, 2025 · 26:51
One of the most important explorers of his era, he was constantly in the shadow of David Thompson but he had quite the story to tell. And 150 years after his death, his…
Mar 18, 2025 · 23:41
In 2017, the second-largest gold coin in the world, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, was stolen from a Berlin museum. It was quite the story and heist! ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY…
Mar 11, 2025 · 38:44
Emily Carr, was in my opinion, the greatest artist Canada has ever produced. Devoted to art for most of her life, recognition came late for her. Her work is now celebrated and…
Mar 7, 2025 · 56:01
While curling was not invented in Canada, we have absolutely claimed it as our own. From our earliest curling clubs to the major tournaments of the Brier and Scotties, there is…
Mar 4, 2025 · 37:31
On Dec. 6, 1917, the collision of two ships in Halifax Harbour led to a 2.9 kiloton explosion that levelled Halifax, killed 2,000 and injured 9,000. It was the largest man-made…
Feb 28, 2025 · 20:43
For four decades, a small group of men controlled nearly everything in Upper Canada. This oligarchy stifled progress in the name of padding their own pockets. It was the era of…
Feb 25, 2025 · 24:51
Portia White was one of the most famous concert singers of her day, and called a Voice from Heaven. Sadly, her career, and life, were far too short. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY BOOK!…
Feb 18, 2025 · 17:37
The daughter of escaped enslaved parents, Rose Fortune became a legend in Annapolis Royal thanks to the company she founded and her work as the unofficial police officer of the…
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