Today in Canadian History

July 7 – Norman Bethune

July 7th, 1937 was a big day for Dr. Norman Bethune. Larry Hannant explains...

July 6 – Birth of George “Chief” Armstrong

Professor David Mills discusses the career and significance of Canadian professional hockey player George Edward "Chief" Armstrong

July 5 – No. 2 Construction Battalion

The creation of the first all-Black Canadian battalion in WWI.

July 2 – The Battle of the Somme

Christine Leppard discusses Canada's involvement in The Battle of the Somme.

July 1 - Canada Day!

Dr. Matthew Barlow discusses the historical significance of Canada Day. Happy Canada Day everyone!

June 30 – The Chinese Exclusion Act

The Chinese Immigration Act was passed on this day back in 1923. To learn more we spoke with Britt Braaten, the Curator and Manager of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario.

June 29 – Thoroughbred Horse Racing in Canada

Queen Elizabeth II was in Toronto to attend the 99th annual Queen's Plate at Woodbine. To learn more we spoke with Louis Cauz, the Managing Director at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as well as the author of "The Plate: 150 Years of Royal Tradition from Don Juan to the 2009 Winner".

June 28 – Chinese Canadians and the Prairie West

Dr. Royden Loewen of the University of Winnipeg spoke to us about the stories of Yee Clun of Regina and Rosie's Restaurant in Calgary. Dr. Loewen is the co-author of "Immigrants in Prairie Cities".

June 27 – O Canada Officially Adopted

In 1980, the National Anthem Act was adopted by Parliament.

June 24 – 1968 Saint-Jean Baptiste Day

Today is La Fête nationale du Québec. To learn more about the infamous 1968 Saint-Jean Baptiste Day we spoke with official Pierre Elliot Trudeau biographer and author of "Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Vol. 2: 1968-2000".

June 22 – Dief the Chief Becomes Prime Minister

We spoke with Dr. Michael Atkinson, the Executive Director of the Diefenbaker Canada Centre at the University of Saskatchewan to learn more about Diefenbaker's six years as PM. Diefenbaker served his second day as PM on this date back in 1957.

June 21 – National Aboriginal Day – Treaty 8

Extended episode for National Aboriginal Day. Discussion on Treaty 8, signed back in 1899.

June 20 – National Library of Canada Opens

Lester B. Pearson opened the Canadian institution in Ottawa in 1967.

June 17 – Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg's first church service was held by settlers on this day back in 1753.

June 16 – Saskatchewan Wakes up to a Socialist Government

The Saskatchewan branch of the CCF defeated the Liberals in an election on June 15, 1944, making Tommy Douglas Premier. To learn more we spoke with C. Stuart Houston, the author of "Tommy's Team: The People Behind the Douglas Years".

June 15 – Herman ‘Jackrabbit’ Smith-Johannsen

The ski pioneer was born on this day back in 1875 in Norway. We spoke with his grandson, Peter Austin.

June 14 – Province of Canada’s First Parliament

Back in 1841, preparations were being made in Kingston for the first parliament, held June 15th.

June 13 – The Last Fatal Duel

Upper Canada's last fatal duel happened on June 13, 1833 in Perth, Ontario. To learn more we spoke with John Fowler, the Chair of the Perth Historical Society.

June 9 – The Politics of The Great Depression

RB Bennett and Mackenzie King sparred while the 1930 election loomed. We spoke with John Boyko, the Dean of History and Social Science at Lakefield School in Ontario, as well as author of "Bennett: The Rebel Who Challenged and Changed a Nation".

June 7 – The Beothuk

June 8 – Mackenzie King Becomes Longest Serving PM

We spoke with Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer an Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of History at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, as well as co-editor of "Mackenzie King: Citizenship and Community."

June 6 – D-Day

We spoke with Dr. Desmond Morton on the anniversary of the Allies launching the invasion of Normandy back in 1944.

June 3 – Newfoundland Referendum of 1948

For more than a decade the dominion of Newfoundland was governed by a non-elected Commission of Government. We spoke with Keith Collier, a freelance writer and historian who works at the Maritime History Archive at Memorial University of Newfoundland to learn more about the referendums that decided the future of Canada's newest province.

June 2 – Stan Rogers Passes

Musician Stan Rogers passed away on this day back in 1983.

June 1 – The Cypress HIlls Massacre

The Cypress Hills Massacre occurred on this date back in 1873. We spoke with Royce E. W. Pettyjohn of Fort Walsh & Cypress Hills Massacre National Historic Sites of Canada.

May 31 – Ernest Manning

Ernest Manning was appointed Premier of Alberta on this date back in 1943.

May 30 – Neal Beaumont is Born

Canadian football all-star and world record holder Neal Beaumont discusses what the CFL was like back in the 1960s as well as the play that got him in the record books.

May 27 - Algonquin Park is Established

Algonquin Park became Canada's first provincial park back in 1893.

May 26 – The Avrocar or “Flying Saucer”

Canadian aerospace manufacturer Avro was hard at work building a "Flying Saucer" for the US Airforce. To learn more we spoke Shirley Render, the executive director of the The Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. The museum is in possession of an Avrocar replica.

May 25 – Battle of Eccles Hill

Fenians attacked Quebec on this day back in 1870. To learn more we spoke with Alan Rowe, an instructor at Keyano College.