Podcasts · History · Society & Culture

Canadian History Ehx

Craig Baird

300 episodes

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.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. This is Canada: Godspell in Toronto

    · 34 min

    In 1972, a group of unknown actors came together to perform in the Toronto production of Godspell. In the coming years, the group would reshape comedy and music, winning everything from Academy Awards to Tony Awards…

  2. This Is Canada: Gander on 9/11

    · 44 min

    On 9/11, the United States closed its airspace worried about further attacks. That closed airspace meant hundreds of planes and thousands of passengers had to find a new destination. Among them were 38 planes and…

  3. This Is Canada: The Canadian Peacekeepers

    · 34 min

    In 1956, the Suez Crisis erupted and threatened to drag humanity into a Third World War that could go nuclear. That crisis was averted through thanks to the hard work of people like Lester B. Pearson through the…

  4. This is Canada: Jackie Robinson In Montreal

    · 30 min

    Before he ever became a baseball legend in the big leagues, Jackie Robinson played a season in Montreal with the Royals. He called it one of the happiest periods of his life due to the positive reception he and his…

  5. This Is Canada: The Whisky War

    · 24 min

    For almost 50 years, Canada and Denmark were at war over a tiny island in the Arctic. Hans Island was only one kilometre wide, with nothing on it, but it was an important spot along the border when it came to access to…

  6. This Is Canada: The Alaska Highway (with Hostile History)

    · 41 min

    Over the space of eight months in 1942, an 2,700 kilometres of highway was built from Dawson Creek, BC to Alaska. It was an incredible project that took the international cooperation of Canada and the United States.…

  7. This Is Canada: The Canadian Caper

    · 33 min

    In 1979, amid the Iranian Revolution, several American diplomats and their spouses were caught in the middle. It fell to the Canadians and Diplomat Ken Taylor to rescue them, hide them and then get them out of the…

  8. This Is Canada

    · 0:30 · Trailer

    For over 150 years Canadians have shaped history. In every area, from sports and science to peace and humanitarianism, the world has been made better because of Canada. And we sometimes forget that. So this month, I'm…

  9. A Burning Fire: Maurice Richard

    · 38 min

    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 the Quebec people. He was one of the…

  10. Triumph and Tragedy: Terry Sawchuk

    · 36 min

    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 lows, and an unfortunate and tragic end…

  11. The Greatest Hockey Player: Gordie Howe

    · 36 min

    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 you could meet off the ice, he was called…

  12. A Unique Currency: New France's Playing Card Money

    · 19 min

    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 in the early years of the colony. In…

  13. The Man Behind The Mask: Jacques Plante

    · 41 min

    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 most innovative goaltenders in the…

  14. Le Gros Bill: Jean Beliveau

    · 35 min

    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 Cups and remains one of the greatest…

  15. Poking Fun At Politics: This Hour Has 22 Minutes

    · 51 min

    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 at every Canadian politician across the…

  16. A TV Classic: Road To Avonlea

    · 38 min

    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. During its run, it also picked up a…

  17. Ahead of Its Time: CBC's The Odyssey

    · 31 min

    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, with a complex narrative. It was Lost…

  18. Nostalgia Overload: Fraggle Rock

    · 32 min

    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 it was a mostly Canadian production, and…

  19. A Royal Event: The 1939 Royal Tour

    · 44 min

    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 of Canadians would never forget. ORDER…

  20. Centennial Centrepiece: Expo 67

    · 33 min

    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. At a time when Canada had a population of…

  21. The Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant

    · 27 min

    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 two territories, rowed from Rocky…

  22. The Other Mrs. Diefenbaker: Edna Diefenbaker

    · 27 min · Bonus

    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 volume memoirs. He overlooked her in…

  23. Vancouver's Big Moment: Expo 86

    · 34 min

    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 success, with some tragedy mixed in, and led…

  24. When Canada Celebrated Itself: The Centennial

    · 44 min

    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 was an amazing time, and the entire…

  25. Devoted To Conservation: Anahareo

    · 35 min

    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 to becoming a famous for his…

  26. A Battlefield Angel: Edith Monture

    · 29 min

    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 service during the First World War, she…

  27. More Than Tonto: Jay Silverheels

    · 42 min

    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 Indigenous on film and TV. He also helped…

  28. Tragedy In Europe: Abraham Ulrikab

    · 23 min

    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 human zoo in Europe in 1880. Among the…

  29. Soldier, Actor, Engineer: James Doohan

    · 39 min

    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 also helped influence many people to…

  30. Introducing "Hostile History"

    · 45 min

    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 four-part series, join military historian…

  31. TV's Greatest Lawyer: Raymond Burr

    · 42 min

    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. Outside acting, he was one of the most…

  32. King Kong's Beauty: Fay Wray

    · 37 min

    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 family. She is truly a remarkable and…

  33. CHE Biography: Chris Hadfield

    · 37 min · Bonus

    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 Station. That space career all began thanks…

  34. Building Film: Canadians In Early Hollywood

    · 44 min

    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 like Florence Lawrence, it was an…

  35. The Greatest Canadian: Tommy Douglas

    · 46 min

    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 history. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY BOOK!…

  36. The Hero of The War Of 1812: Laura Secord

    · 25 min

    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 knew. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY BOOK!…

  37. Saving Millions: Sir Frederick Banting

    · 38 min

    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 lives. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY BOOK!…

  38. Time Lord: Sir Sandford Fleming

    · 29 min

    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 the British Empire by telegraph. ORDER…

  39. Fame and Murder: Francis Rattenbury

    · 37 min · Bonus

    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 leaving Canada forever. But he is most…

  40. Mountain Tragedy: The Hillcrest Mine Disaster

    · 30 min

    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 the mountain community of Hillcrest,…

  41. One Last Shot: Leduc No. 1

    · 25 min

    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. ORDER MY FIRST HISTORY BOOK! CANADA'S…

  42. An Alberta Legend: John Ware

    · 27 min

    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 to this day. Thank you to Cheryl Foggo…

  43. CHE Biography: Ken Read

    · 49 min · Bonus

    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 his many podium finishes, he became a…

  44. The Moving Mountain: The Frank Slide

    · 26 min

    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 cubic metres of rock. It remains…

  45. The NWMP Era Begins: The March West

    · 30 min

    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 NWMP before it began. ORDER MY FIRST…

  46. Fearless On The Slopes: The Crazy Canucks

    · 40 min

    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 their fast and almost reckless style of…

  47. Golden Boy: Percy Williams

    · 32 min

    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 he was a reluctant hero who shunned the…

  48. Golden Team: The Winnipeg Falcons

    · 39 min

    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, and then came home to become champions.…

  49. CHE Biography: Les Stroud

    · 27 min · Bonus

    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 why it is so important to protect the…

  50. A Resounding Success: The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary

    · 56 min

    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 became some of the most successful in…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.