PODCAST · history
Bedard's Unofficial Podcast
by Pierre Bedard
This is the podcast version of Bedard's Unofficial Saint John's page, which I've kept up in some form for years. Three old boys talk about an iconic chain of Canadian schools, founded by Ted Byfield. I graduated in 1975 and am not affiliated in any way with the school. We make sure to keep it strictly from a student's perspective. In no way do I personally advocate replicating the challenges boys went through.
Episodes
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"I'd take a swat for a O'Henry."
Note: This was recorded back on February 25, 2026, before the podcast's brief hiatus. Don't judge. At the time, I needed the calories... but I digress. Pierre Bedard and Dr. James Arnold get together to discuss God's Paddlers and peoples reaction to it along with many other things, including Yet...
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The Return of Pierre and Crazy James
After a long sojourn, Bedard's Unofficial Podcast returns. We've been away for a bit as we try to process everything that's going on with all this crazy shit. I didn't really think it proper to be podcasting while the world went to shit, but here we are. Crazy James, in his Northern Alberta lair…
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Stephen Riley reflects on early journalism career in Winnipeg
NOTE: Because of some technical issues, Stephen does not appear on video but he comes through loud and clear. An interesting discussion with author Stephen Riley about the old times in Winnipeg, including how he came to be introduced to Ted Byfield, whose chair Riley sat in on the Winnipeg Free...
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Stephen Riley - Author of God's Paddlers
Stephen joins me today in a brief and far ranging meandering discussion about God's Paddlers. If you've already read the book or are thinking about it, join us as we talk about what lessons we think we learned.
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The Old Boys CBC Report - Where is it?
Stephen Riley joins Pierre to talk about Stephen's documentary - The Old Boys' - which aired in Manitoba in February 1990. The big question - where is the video? How can we see it online? Neither of us have found it - but this is the internets. If anyone out there has a copy, let us know!
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Author Stephen Riley
Join us as Stephen Riley, author of God's Paddlers, joins Pierre and Dr. James Arnold. It's Stephen's first appearance on the podcast so we talked at length about his writing process and the experience of writing a book 50 years in writing. If you haven't read the book, now's the time to get...
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Pierre and Crazy James talk baseball (before the fact)
Pierre and Crazy James talk baseball. Specifically, the World Series, the condition of Rogers Centre, and the Montreal Expos. Local politics creep in as we celebrate 16 years of James' service to his city, High Prairie on the city council. I likely insulted someone somewhere along the way, but...
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R. v Sheppard. - Dr. Arnold and Pierre recap the Supremes Decision
Pierre and Dr. Arnold break down about the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in the matter of R. v. Sheppard. The Doctor and I have followed the Sheppard case and podcasted about it in the past. Now that we have a decision by the nation's highest court. We talk about the Court's findings and…
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Crazy James and Pierre Catch Up
Pierre and Crazy James talk about recent civic activities, including upcoming local elections in October where James is running for city council again. Pierre shared his reappointment to the Library Commission for another four years. Pierre and Crazy tried to discuss Dungeons & Dragons, and James...
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Post Supreme Court - A Few Months Later
Pierre and Doctor Arnold talk about the Sheppard case after having some time to reflect about its importance in Canadian jurisprudence. The Canadian Supreme Court's decision to uphold the original sentence of 6 years for sexual assault was meant to send a strong signal about their expectations -...
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Crazy James and Pierre talk Stanley Cup
Pierre and Crazy James discuss the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. We focus on goaltending, defense, and offensive capabilities, all the while hating on the Maple Leafs, because, you know, Toronto.
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PTSD with Dr. Arnold and Pierre
A frank discussion about ptsd of all sorts. We talk about its history - when ptsd started making its way into our society, the symptoms, and how to deal when it's really hard to deal. Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome is so ingrained in us that its acronym itself is a trigger to many people.
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Dr. Arnold, Pierre, and the Supremes
Jim and Pierre talk His Majesty the King v. Sheppard . Decided on 23 April 2025, Paul Sheppard was ordered back to jail to serve his full six-year term. We talk about the Canadian parole system, the legal process, and the costs associated with legal proceedings, especially when a case goes to the...
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Pierre talks Victor Hugo's Hernani
Hernani by Victor Hugo, premiered on February 25, 1830. The historical significance of the play, its popularity throughout the 19th century as a mainstay of French theatre, and even its influence on opera is unparalleled. First translating the play in 1978, my adaptation has been read by many…
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Dr. Arnold and Pierre / Wallenberg Factum on Sheppard
The Raoul Wallenberg Foundation filed a Factum in the case of R v. Paul Sheppard to be heard on 23 April 2025. Dr. Arnold and I go through the highlights of the argument and discuss how and why the Sheppard case made it to the Supreme Court of Canada. You can see the video at...
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Meat Room: Makin' Bacon
Pierre and Dave reminisce about their time in the meat crew, discussing the production and sale of pork products like back bacon and pepperoni. We prove beyond a doubt that selling honey is for slackers and go indepth into the production of St. John's meat products.
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Elbow's Up: Trump's Exec Orders
Pierre and Crazy James discuss the effects of Trump's executive orders on their local communities. Revisiting their previous podcast, they discuss the current state of affairs, a little than a month later. Measles has made it to Calgary. Elbows Up!
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James and Pierre Discuss Trump's Executive Orders
James and Pierre, two lowlife St. John's alumni, one from Alberta, one from Canada, grossly discuss the Trump Executive Orders. It's an interesting take you won't hear anywhere between an Albertan (-36 Celsius) and a Californian (59 Fahrenheit - in the shade).
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Doctor Arnold and Pierre talk about the Sheppard Case
Holy shit on hardtack! The case of His Majesty the King v. Paul Sheppard is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on April 23, 2025 in Ottawa. It is currently scheduled to start at 9:30am. It will be webcast. See https://www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossiers/search-recherche/41126/ for the...
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Flag of Humanity with Bruce Benson and Martin Denny
Bruce and Martin join Pierre to talk about an exciting project the two are working on, The Flag of Humanity. They've set up a charitable foundation that makes a difference, built around some solid St. John's values. Bruce is on location in Guatemala. Read about the project at...
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The Supreme Court Steps In
Pierre discusses the upcoming Sheppard case, which is going before the Supreme Court of Canada in 2025. The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service appealed the reduction in sentence to His Majesty the King. Find out why this case was taken on by the Court and why it's important to Canadian law. Pierre...
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St. John's of High Prairie, AB
Pierre posits an idea for resurrecting the school as a hockey hell school, on par with the Sutter Brothers farm. Where to place it remains to be seen, though James is more than willing to go along and put it up in High Prairie, Alberta, which is just fine by Pierre. Our first post-election…
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Richard @ Ted Byfield Tribute
Our intrepid reporter and author, Richard de Candole leaves British Columbia for Edmonton, attends Ted Byfield's memorial gala in Edmonton, and lives to tell us about it! Love him or hate him, Ted Byfield had a big impact on Alberta through the Alberta Report, his influence in the founding of the...
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Doctor Arnold and Pierre Ratch
Doctor Arnold joins Pierre to talk about Provincial politics and other items of note. One of us is jetlagged. It's not Pierre. For the faint-hearted, some concerns about the influence of right-wing agendas on education, etc. may be expressed by the hosts! Who's on facebook? Well, hell. We talk...
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The Supremes in 2025 - Part II
Crazy James and Pierre continue our journey. Everything goes off the rails tonight. We find out Pierre's St. John's nickname. James interacts with his MLA. We get political. We get sloppy. But one thing: it's time to follow the money. If Sheppard can afford lawyers, he can give his victim(s)…
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The Supremes in 2025 - Part I
I never thought I'd see a case go to the Canada Supreme Court but here we are - R. v. Sheppard is going to the Big Show, the main rink, center court. This is what's called Justice. Two old boys, Crazy James and Pierre, talk through what's been going on. Pierre expresses absolute shock (shock I…
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The Sheppard Appeal with Doctor Arnold and Pierre
Two old boys, clinical psychologist, Doctor James Arnold, and podcast host Pierre Bedard discuss the case of Paul Sheppard. Once a headmaster, and now a convict, his sentence was reduced last week by the Alberta Provincial Appeals Court. Read all 122 pages of the Appeal at bedard.com. Doctor...
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Rainy Lake with Wedge and Slug (#699 talks to #722)
Rainy Lake is a hell of a lake and it's now a hell of a script. David Barrett, aka Wedge, and Pierre talk about canoeing, crossing the Height of Land on the Churchill and the Grand Portage. Just two Manitoba old boys, one in the Philippines and one in California talking about gunwales and shit....
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St. John's Resurrection? A discussion...
Crazy James and Pierre talk about the old Alberta and Manitoba properties. We talk about the deteriorating state of school properties in Manitoba and Alberta, the challenges and costs of repurposing old school buildings, and the pluses and minuses of the Selkirk and Stony Plain locations.…
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Robert Young Pelton #241 joins Richard and Pierre
A conversation with Robert Young Pelton - #241 - a man who vacations in war zones. RYP has a unique and extremely qualified viewpoint on the school's regimen. We meander through a river of hair-raising experiences, the swat regimen, lessons learned, Parkman, life in the 60s and 70s, and the…
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Da Oilers Part II - with Crazy James
This short episode was recorded the night before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Pierre and Crazy James talk about Da Oilers and their personal experiences with hockey and television at St. John's. Fun, short, and timely.
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Da Oilers - with Crazy James
30th Episode - Good evening, today! Pierre and Crazy James talk about what everyone is talking about - the Edmonton Oilers. Meandering through James' love of the Oilers, Pierre joins in to shower love on Gary Bettman and bemoan the fact that there could have been a Bedard playing in San Jose. We...
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Doctor Arnold In the House
Today we talk to the antithesis of Jordan Peterson, Doctor James Arnold, a retired psychologist who also happens to have attended SJSA. Doctor Arnold is very active in his local community (if you consider Saskatchewan a community) both as a serious Saskatoon biker and social activist. He read...
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Education @ St. John's: Discuss
As a core mission of any school, education is key, if not everything. Emma Croft-Biggs, an educator with 35 years experience and a Masters joins her husband Matt and myself, an overeducated bilingual St. John's graduate with a BA, a French DEUG, an MBA, and Juris Doctorate, to talk about…
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The Seinfeld Episode: Talking about nothing
Pierre and Crazy James talk about absolutely nothing: their past jobs, hobbies, and the impact of certain events like the demolition of the Tropicana in Las Vegas, movies, TV shows, and the St. John's culture, including the prevalence of a 'prison economy' and strict disciplinary measures...
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First Day of Spring 2024
Pierre and Richard talk canned meat products, primarily. Other deep thoughts include personal anecdotes and confessions, family origins histories, and the impact of the fur trade route on canoe sizes. Listen while eating some Spam, or Klik, or whatever.
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Talking Immigration with Eswar
Immigration is a central theme of a new dystopian series, break the chain. Writer Eswar Priyadarshan and I share our immigration experience in this special edition of Bedard's Unofficial Podcast. Every immigrant has their own immigration origin story, and ours were no harder, nor easier than...
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Talking Timiskaming, Part II
Matt had to work so it's just Pierre and Emma, talking about avoidance, selling honey and meat door-to-door, and the media, among other things. The theme is healing. It's a slab of back bacon snuck out of the meat room to get some needed calories in for lack of chicken soup. This podcast has...
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Talking Timiskaming with Matt, Emma, and Pierre, Part 1
In the first of a series on the Lake Timiskaming tragedy, Pierre, Emma, and Matt talk about where they were when they first got word. Emma lost her brother. Matt, who was slated to be in the brigade, lost classmates. Pierre hosts and graduated from the Selkirk school in 1975. Forty-five years...
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Richard de Candole Interview
Pierre interviews Richard about Toughest School in North America, how he wrote it, and why? It's an interesting journey into Richard's mind and intent. It's a book, first written in the '80s about events in the 1960s, and then recast in 2022. We each name our most notable alumni. Altogether, a...
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The Cold
I know it's been cold but it's going to get colder as Crazy James and Pierre get cold and talk about working up in the North, hypothermia, freezing things, snowshoeing, freezing more things, and the weather in general in this short, cold episode.
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Crazy James and Pierre Talk Politics
Crazy James and Pierre get political and solve all the problems in both the US and Canada, state and provincial, and local! How did St. John's impact politics? Pierre's in California and gets to vote federal in Montreal-Est. James is in High Prairie, Alberta. Both got out of St. John's and the...
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Boxing Day Special - James and Pierre do Alberta
Today, Crazy James and Pierre try to stay on point with some Alberta topics. We talk about the Green Lit Book, the Christmas Choirs, Boxing Day (of course), the Robertson Trading Company in Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan closing this month, the convicted child molester Sheppard, and the Fires up in...
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Antonio of the Royal 22nd (1914-1919)
This is a special Remembrance Day episode. Last week, I researched my Grandfather's WWI record at this link in the Canadian National Archives. It's an amazing link. You can read about Antonio Roy and see his service record Remember Antonio Roy. Enjoy!
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The Vacation Episode
Richard and Pierre talk about what they did on their September vacations. One of the more boring podcasts. Pierre went to Alberta; and Richard to the UK and Ireland. Everyone in search of something.
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Last Leg of the Grand Portage
Join Richard and Pierre for the last leg of the Grand Portage - from the start of the Winnipeg River at Rat Portage to Selkirk (though they made Richard paddle to Winnipeg the next day). This is a good podcast to listen to after watching The New Boy. I could feel the speed of the English River...
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The Rainy River
Pierre and Richard continue the Grand Portage. Today, we paddle the Rainy River, probably the most disgusting river I've ever paddled, and talk about a little-known occurrence back in 1962, on the school's first Grand Portage - the story of David Thompson, who suffered an unfortunate incident…
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Unofficial Ontario - Saint John's (15th episode!)
Emma Croft and Matt Biggs (#109) join Pierre and Richard in our first foray into the world and history of Saint John's of Ontario. I learned things today I never knew about the origins of the Ontario school - its founding, its location, its burning down. A fascinating conversation and history.…
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Truth = Empathy
Crazy James Waikle joins Pierre. Tonight we shill Doug’s Chestnuts, talk about the sins of Paul Sheppard, the Alberta fires, writers who came out of St. John's (like Richard, Michael Rowe, and Robert Young Pelton), and the school's absurdly low graduation rate. Finally, Pierre starts ranting…
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Crazy James joins with some Alberta content
In Episode #12, we put the paddles down and talk about some very current events - the Alberta Fires, the High Prairie Red Wings, Bruce Benson's project, Gordon Lightfoot, holiday meal disasters, and everyone's #1 pick, Connor Bedard. Don't forget to pick up a copy of Richard's book Toughest…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is the podcast version of Bedard's Unofficial Saint John's page, which I've kept up in some form for years. Three old boys talk about an iconic chain of Canadian schools, founded by Ted Byfield. I graduated in 1975 and am not affiliated in any way with the school. We make sure to keep it strictly from a student's perspective. In no way do I personally advocate replicating the challenges boys went through.
HOSTED BY
Pierre Bedard
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bedard's Unofficial Podcast have?
Bedard's Unofficial Podcast currently has 59 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bedard's Unofficial Podcast about?
This is the podcast version of Bedard's Unofficial Saint John's page, which I've kept up in some form for years. Three old boys talk about an iconic chain of Canadian schools, founded by Ted Byfield. I graduated in 1975 and am not affiliated in any way with the school. We make sure to keep it...
How often does Bedard's Unofficial Podcast release new episodes?
Bedard's Unofficial Podcast has 59 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bedard's Unofficial Podcast?
You can listen to Bedard's Unofficial Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bedard's Unofficial Podcast?
Bedard's Unofficial Podcast is created and hosted by Pierre Bedard.
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