PODCAST · history
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)
by The Champlain Society
Immerse yourself in Canada’s history! Witness to Yesterday episodes take listeners on a journey to document a time in Canada’s past and explore the people behind it, its significance, and its relevance to today. If you like our work, please consider supporting it: https://bit.ly/support_WTY. To learn more about the Society and Canada’s history, subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/news_WTY.
Episodes
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Justice for Some
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Kent Roach about his book Justice for Some: A Comparative Study of Miscarriages of Justice and Wrongful Convictions. This book defines the differing concepts of miscarriages of justice, wrongful convictions and innocence in relation to the presumption of innocence and…
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The Writings of David Thompson, Volume 3
Donald Wright speaks with Bill Moreau about his book The Writings of David Thompson, Volume 3: From the Northwest to Montreal, Selected Letters and Contributions to Newspapers, published by the Champlain Society in 2025. David Thompson is one of the touchstone figures in the early history of...
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Warriors and Warships (2023 reissue)
Larry Ostola speaks with Robert D. Banks about his book, Warriors and Warships: Conflict on the Great Lakes and the Legacy of Point Frederick. The untold story of Point Frederick, where early nineteenth-century Canadians built warships that stopped invasion and brought peace. Warriors and…
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John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada's 17th Prime Minister (2023 reissue)
In this masterful and engaging biography, acclaimed journalist Steve Paikin brings to life John Turner (1929-2020), one of the most glamorous and successful politicians in Canadian history. Born in England, raised in BC, Turner was a champion sprinter and a Rhodes scholar who captured the…
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The Lives of Canada’s War Women (2022 reissue)
In this podcast episode, Greg Marchildon interviews Stacey Barker and Krista Cooke on the lives of Canadian women and their involvement in the two world wars of the 20th century. They along with co-author Molly McCullough wrote Material Traces of War: Stories of Canadian Women and Conflict,...
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Rough Justice (2023 reissue)
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Keith Mercer about his book, Rough Justice: Policing, Crime, and the Origins of the Newfoundland Constabulary, 1729–1871. In Rough Justice, Keith Mercer examines the history of policing and crime in early Newfoundland. It focuses on the period between the appointment of...
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The Rise and Fall of One-Industry Towns in Northern Canada (2019 reissue)
Greg Marchildon speaks with Steven High about his book One Job Town: Work, Belonging, and Betrayal in Northern Ontario. There’s a pervasive sense of betrayal in areas scarred by mine, mill and factory closures. Steven High’s One Job Town delves into the long history of deindustrialization in the...
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On the Ground (2023 reissue)
On the Ground (2023 reissue) by The Champlain Society
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Reinventing Canada after 1945 (2020 reissue)
Greg Marchildon speaks with Dimitry Anastakis about his book Re-Creation, Fragmentation and Resilience: A Brief History of Canada since 1945 This book is an engaging survey of post-Second World War Canada, exploring ten themes key to the Canadian experience since 1945. An accessible narrative...
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Demanding Equality
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Joan Sangster about her book Demanding Equality: One Hundred Years of Canadian Feminism. In Demanding Equality, Joan Sangster weaves together various moments of women’s activism over a 100 year period to explore what feminism is in Canada. Sangster delves into the…
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Canada's Odyssey
Greg Marchildon speaks with Peter Russell about his book Canada’s Odyssey: A Country Based on Incomplete Conquests. 150 years after Confederation, Canada is known around the world for its social diversity and its commitment to principles of multiculturalism. But the road to contemporary Canada is…
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Concordia University at 50
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Monika Gagnon and Brandon Webb about their book Concordia University at 50: A Collective History, which celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the merging of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University in Montreal in August 1974. Distinct from traditional...
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History Has Made Us Friends
Larry Ostola speaks with Don Abelson about his book History Has Made Us Friends. Separated by the world’s longest land border and engaging in over three billion dollars in trade daily, Canada and the United States share security concerns, cultural interests, and a history spanning more than 250...
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Unparliamentary: Tales from Canada’s Colourful Parliamentary Past
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Charlie Feldman about his book, Unparliamentary: Tales from Canada’s Colourful Parliamentary Past. From fistfights to scandals, Unparliamentary provides a sourced account of unexpected events that have marked the history of Canada’s Parliament. It offers an...
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The Black Box: Lady Bessie Borden’s Family, 1863–1956
Donald Wright speaks with Carman Miller about his book The Black Box: Lady Bessie Borden’s Family, 1863–1956. In a remarkable tale of tragedy, war, family conflict, and imperial diplomacy, The Black Box presents a collective biography of four generations of women in an elite Nova Scotia family...
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Louis J. Robichaud
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Donald Savoie about his book Louis J. Robichaud. Louis J. Robichaud, the first elected Acadian premier of New Brunswick, transformed an inward-looking province with an ingrained aversion to change into a vibrant modern society now home to strong political…
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Canada's Main Street
Larry Ostola speaks with Craig Baird about his new book Canada’s Main Street. Much has been written about the Canadian Pacific Railway, the first major transportation network that bound Canada coast to coast, but almost nothing about The Trans-Canada Highway, even though more people use it...
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Habs Nation
Larry Ostola speaks with Brendan Kelly about his book Habs Nation. The history of the Montreal Canadiens is about more than just hockey. It’s also the story of how hockey’s most winning team has always skated hand-in-hand with its home province of Quebec. Brendan Kelly takes a fresh look at the…
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Poutine Nation
Larry Ostola speaks with Sylvain Charlebois about his book, Poutine Nation. Poutine Nation traces the evolution of poutine from its origins in rural Quebec to its status as a global phenomenon. Though it was once dismissed as lowbrow junk food, poutine has now earned a place in fine dining, fast...
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ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Ed Conroy about his book, ImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV. Featuring over one hundred children’s programs broadcast between 1950 and 2000, ImagiNation is a memory-filled trip for anyone who spent their weekdays after school or Saturday mornings...
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Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson about their book, Democracy’s Second Act: Why Politics Needs the Public. Democracy’s Second Act is a smart, story-driven blueprint for how democracies can move beyond gridlock and cynicism by giving ordinary citizens real power...
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Times of Transformation
Larry Ostola speaks with Barbara Messamore about her book Times of Transformation. Times of Transformation positions the watershed 1921 federal election in the context of activist efforts and the revolutionary mood in the years following the Great War. New Liberal leader William Lyon Mackenzie...
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Constitutional Challengers
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Adam Dodek about his book Constitutional Challengers. Behind every great constitutional case, there is a person with a fascinating story. The Supreme Court decides some of the biggest issues in Canadian society: Do Canadians have the right to assisted suicide? Should...
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Oceans of Fate
Larry Ostola speaks with Dan Black about his book Oceans of Fate. The remarkable story of how one ship — doomed by war — intersected lives and crossed into history. Completed in 1913 for Canadian Pacific, the Empress of Asia plied the oceans for nearly 30 years. Built for long-haul ocean travel...
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Political Culture in Louis XIV’s Canada
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Colin Coates about his book, Political Culture in Louis XIV’s Canada. In Louis XIV’s New France, colonial authorities attempted to reproduce French regal authority in novel ways, often by performing typical metropolitan political rituals. When these practices were...
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The Governors General
Often misunderstood or even unrecognized, Canada’s governors general are not merely heads of state; they are amongst the great constitutional curiosities of our age. In this delightful and often whimsical account of the Canadians who have held this post since 1952, journalist and author John…
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The Crisis of Canadian Democracy
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Andrew Coyne about his book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy. With characteristic wit, insight, and rigor, Coyne dismantles the comforting myths Canadians tell themselves about their political system, revealing a parliamentary structure eroded by unaccountable...
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The Prime Ministers: Canada's Leaders and the Nation They Shaped
Larry Ostola speaks with J.D.M Stewart about his book The Prime Ministers: Canada’s Leaders and the Nation They Shaped. After a surprising conversation with young Canadians who didn’t recognize the name Lester B. Pearson – Nobel Peace Prize winner and Canada’s fourteenth prime minister — author...
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My Life in the Law
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Robert J. Sharpe about his book My Life in the Law. My Life in the Law is a rich, personal reflection on Robert J. Sharpe’s long, varied, and influential career as a lawyer, scholar, and judge. After giving an account of his early life and education, Sharpe examines his...
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The Enduring Riddle of Mackenzie King
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Patrice Dutil about his book, The Enduring Riddle of Mackenzie King. In his lifetime, Canadians often dismissed William Lyon Mackenzie King as a meritless interloper, yet numerous scholars have since ranked him as the best prime minister ever. Patrice Dutil…
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McGill in History
Donald Wright speaks with Don Nerbas and Tess Elsworthy about their book McGill in History. This book brings together diverse historiographies and perspectives to critically examine how McGill has been implicated in power structures and is the product of conflicting ideologies. James McGill, the...
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Run Like A Girl: A Memoir of Ambition, Resilience, and Fighting for Change
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Catherine McKenna about her book, Run Like A Girl. From Olympic dreams to the frontlines of politics and climate action, Run Like A Girl charts McKenna’s personal and political journey – from leading Canada’s climate plan to withstanding sexist attacks as…
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The Higgs Years
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Gabriel Arsenault about his book The Higgs Years. Blaine Higgs was the premier of New Brunswick from 2018 to 2024. Leading his Progressive Conservative Party through six years of headline-making policy, in September 2024 he called an election, trying and failing to…
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He Did Not Conquer
Larry Ostola speaks with Madelaine Drohan about her book He Did Not Conquer. Throughout his long and illustrious career, Benjamin Franklin nursed a not-so-secret desire to annex Canada and make it American. When he was not busy conducting scientific experiments or representing American interests…
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Chrétien and the World
Donald Wright speaks with Jack Cunningham about his book Chrétien and the World. Conventional wisdom holds that foreign policy was not a priority for Jean Chrétien over his ten years as Canadian prime minister. In reality, he and his government pursued an often ambitious, activist policy to…
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On the Wings of War and Peace: The RCAF during the Early Cold War
Larry Ostola speaks with Randall Wakelam and William March about their book On the Wings of War and Peace: The RCAF during the Early Cold War. Bringing together leading researchers on Canadian air power, On the Wings of War and Peace captures the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)...
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Challenging Exile: Japanese Canadians and the Wartime Constitution
Donald Wright speaks with Eric Adams and Jordan Stanger-Ross about their book, Challenging Exile: Japanese Canadians and the Wartime Constitution. How did Japanese Canadians navigate the challenges arrayed against them? Eric M. Adams and Jordan Stanger-Ross detail the circumstances and...
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Ancillary Police Powers in Canada: A Critical Reassessment
Nicole O’Byrne speaks with John W. Burchill and Richard Jochelson about their book Ancillary Police Powers in Canada: A Critical Reassessment. Police enforce the law, but they must also obey it. Statutes circumscribe how law enforcement officers conduct their work. Controls on police power are…
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Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign
Larry Ostola speaks with Marc Milner about his book Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign. In June 1944, an Allied army of British, American, and Canadian troops sought to open up a Second Front in Normandy. But they were not only fighting to bring the...
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The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981
Greg Marchildon speaks with Ron Graham about his book, The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981. Jim Coutts, principal secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau from 1975 to 1981, was one of the most powerful men in Canada during those tumultuous years. Equally...
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Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game: 150 Years of Hockey Stories
Larry Ostola speaks with Don Weekes about his book, Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game: 150 Years of Hockey Stories. The players. The builders. The moments and stories that define the game. Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game is a visual catalog of hockey's history -- from the early…
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Beyond the Rink: Behind the Images of Residential School Hockey
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Alexandra Giancarlo, Janice Forsyth, and Braden Te Hiwi about their book, Beyond the Rink: Behind the Images of Residential School Hockey. In 1951, the Sioux Lookout Black Hawks from Pelican Lake Indian Residential School toured Ottawa and Toronto after winning...
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Scene: How the 1960s Transformed Canadian Art
Larry Ostola speaks with Harry Malcolmson about his book, Scene: How the 1960s Transformed Canadian Art. Scene traces this remarkable reshaping of the nation’s artistic landscape. Written by renowned art critic Harry Malcolmson, the book offers an insider’s view of how a surge of artists,...
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A Biography of Robert Henry Winters
Nicole O'Byrne speaks with Barry Cahill about his book, A Biography of Robert Henry Winters. This biography is of Nova Scotian Robert Henry Winters (1910-1969) who was first elected to Parliament in 1945 and appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent in 1948. Between 1957 and 1965...
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The Spiritualist Prime Minister: Volume 1: Mackenzie King and the New Revelation
Larry Ostola speaks with Anton Wagner about his book, The Spiritualist Prime Minister: Volume 1: Mackenzie King and the New Revelation, along with the author of the foreword, Walter Meyer zu Erpen. The Spiritualist Prime Minister by Anton Wagner is a groundbreaking two-volume biography that…
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Montreal After Dark: Nighttime Regulation and the Pursuit of a Global City
James Stewart (J.D.M.) speaks with Matthieu Caron about his book, Montreal After Dark: Nighttime Regulation and the Pursuit of a Global City. Montreal After Dark by Matthieu Caron explores the transformation of Montreal’s vibrant nightlife from the early twentieth century through the reformist…
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The Rise of the Neighbourhood in Canada, 1880s–2020s
Larry Ostola speaks with Richard Harris about his book, The Rise of the Neighbourhood in Canada, 1880s–2020s. The Rise of the Neighbourhood in Canada, 1880s–2020s by Richard Harris traces the evolution of Canadian neighbourhoods from the 1880s to the 2020s, highlighting their growing importance...
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Statecraft: Canadian Prime Ministers and Their Cabinets
Greg Marchildon speaks with Stephen Azzi and Patrice Dutil about their book, Statecraft: Canadian Prime Ministers and Their Cabinets. This collection of essays explores the politics of cabinet government in Canada through the lens of statecraft, examining how prime ministers have exercised...
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Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse
Nicole O'Byrne speaks with Alan MacEachern about his book Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse. In 1909 Myrtle and Ernest Webb took possession of a Cavendish, Prince Edward Island farm—ordinary except that it was already known as the inspiration for Anne of…
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Masters of Empire: Great Lakes Indians and the Making of America
Greg Marchildon speaks with Michael A. McDonnell about his book, Masters of Empire: Great Lakes Indians and the Making of America. Masters of Empire by Michael A. McDonnell reveals the vital role played by the native peoples of the Great Lakes in the history of North America. Though less well…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Immerse yourself in Canada’s history! Witness to Yesterday episodes take listeners on a journey to document a time in Canada’s past and explore the people behind it, its significance, and its relevance to today. If you like our work, please consider supporting it: https://bit.ly/support_WTY. To learn more about the Society and Canada’s history, subscribe to our newsletter at https://bit.ly/news_WTY.
HOSTED BY
The Champlain Society
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How many episodes does Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) have?
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) currently has 391 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) about?
Immerse yourself in Canada’s history! Witness to Yesterday episodes take listeners on a journey to document a time in Canada’s past and explore the people behind it, its significance, and its relevance to today. If you like our work, please consider supporting it: https://bit.ly/support_WTY. To...
How often does Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) release new episodes?
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) publishes regularly with 391 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History) is created and hosted by The Champlain Society.
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