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Curious Canadian History

David Borys

Historian David Borys dives deep into the fascinating world of Canadian history in this bi-weekly podcast exploring everything from the wonderful to the weird to the downright dark.



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  • 23 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 37 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • September 8 · 34 min

    S12E1 Lake Ontario (not Lake America)

    Today, Lake Ontario has surged into headlines after President Donald Trump ordered it renamed "Lake America" for U.S. federal use, igniting outrage across Canada. The centuries-old name—shared by a lake that's more than half Canadian—has become the latest flashpoint in an escalating cross-border political and cultural dispute. To kick off our 12th season we are diving deep into the history of Lake Ontario. Daniel Macfarlane is a Professor in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University. His most recent book is "The Lives of Lake Ontario: An Environmental History" (September 2024). Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • September 1 · 17 min

    Summer Reboot - The Fall of Hong Kong

    This summer reboot looks at the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. **Announcement** - Season 12 kicks off next week! First episode of the new season drops September 8th! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 25 · 48 min

    Summer Reboot - Trumps First Tariff War

    This is a reboot from an episode we did back in season 10 when President Donal Trump was first elected and completely upended the economic relationship with Canada in a shocking application of across the board tariffs. Sadly, it seems that history is repeating! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • August 11 · 17 min

    Summer Reboot - The VWC and the 1970 Abortion Caravan

    Our summer reboot takes us to 1970 when the Vancouver Women's Caucus heads to Ottawa to protest Canada's changing but still restricted laws on abortion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 28 · 15 min

    Summer Reboot - La Famille Verendrye and the Exploration of the North American Continent

    The Verendrye family played a crucial role in expanding French knowledge of western North America during the eighteenth century. Led by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye, and later assisted by his sons, they established a network of trading posts stretching from Lake Superior to present-day Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Their expeditions strengthened the French fur trade, forged alliances with many Indigenous nations, and greatly improved European maps of the interior. Although they never found the long-sought route to the Pacific Ocean, their journeys opened the Canadian Prairies to further exploration and laid the groundwork for later western expansion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 21 · 14 min

    Summer Reboot - The Pig War of 1859

    Even though Season 11 has officially ended we still have a few summer gems for you listeners. For this episode of our Summer Reboot series we go back to the 1850s and look at the Pig War of 1859 in an episode we did back in Season 4. The Pig War was a bloodless border dispute between Britain and the United States on the San Juan Islands. Triggered when an American settler shot a British-owned pig, both nations deployed troops. Diplomacy prevailed, and international arbitration in 1872 awarded the islands to the United States. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 14 · 30 min

    S11E22 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 2

    Picture a quiet harbour on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Calm waters. Towering forests. It seems peaceful enough—but beneath that surface lies a story that helped shape Canada's Pacific coast. Long before warships lined the docks, Indigenous peoples lived and thrived here. Then came explorers, empires, sailors, and soldiers, each leaving their mark on what would become Esquimalt Harbour. How was this natural harbour connected to broader British imperial interests in Latin America? And how did it allow the British to project imperial power over the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest? Was this the final key in completing the Canadian project? "Scott Stephen is a historian and educator based in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He is currently working in education policy and as a consultant for Trailmark Systems. Scott’s research areas include British imperial history, British Columbia’s history and naval history. His work on the Esquimalt naval base began during his graduate studies at UBC, and he won the Jacques Cartier MA prize for 2024 from the Canadian Nautical Research Society for his thesis. His recent article “Esquimalt and its Latin American Connection: Linking British Concerns in Pacific Latin America to the Establishment of a Naval Base on Vancouver Island”, published in the Canadian Historical Review, repositions Pacific Latin America as an essential component to the navy’s interest in Esquimalt Harbour circa 1858 and details the larger imperial context within which that interest arose. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • July 7 · 37 min

    S11E21 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 1

    Picture a quiet harbour on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Calm waters. Towering forests. It seems peaceful enough—but beneath that surface lies a story that helped shape Canada's Pacific coast. Long before warships lined the docks, Indigenous peoples lived and thrived here. Then came explorers, empires, sailors, and soldiers, each leaving their mark on what would become Esquimalt Harbour. How did this sheltered stretch of water become the birthplace of Canada's Pacific Navy? And why has it remained strategically important for more than 150 years? Scott Stephen is a historian and educator based in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He is currently working in education policy and as a consultant for Trailmark Systems. Scott’s research areas include British imperial history, British Columbia’s history and naval history. His work on the Esquimalt naval base began during his graduate studies at UBC, and he won the Jacques Cartier MA prize for 2024 from the Canadian Nautical Research Society for his thesis. His recent article “Esquimalt and its Latin American Connection: Linking British Concerns in Pacific Latin America to the Establishment of a Naval Base on Vancouver Island”, published in the Canadian Historical Review, repositions Pacific Latin America as an essential component to the navy’s interest in Esquimalt Harbour circa 1858 and details the larger imperial context within which that interest arose. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 23 · 37 min

    S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross

    In October of 2006 Jess Larochelle from Ontario was guarding an observation post near the Afghanistan village of Pashmul when dozens of Taliban insurgents attacked Jess’ position. The ensuing battle is almost unbelievable in what Jess did and how he did it. Bruce Moncour is a veteran of Afghanistan and for years has been leading the charge, through his organization Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, to get Larochelle awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in the Canadian military. Recently Bruce’s organization has celebrated a couple major victories that are getting him and his organization ever closer to that ultimate goal. Bruce Moncur is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, advocate, and grade 5 teacher. In 2006, he deployed to Afghanistan with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment and fought in Operation Medusa, the largest Canadian-led battle since the Korean War, where he was seriously injured in a friendly-fire incident. After a long recovery, he became a leading voice for veterans’ rights. He is the founder of Valour in the Presence of the Enemy David O’Keefe is one of the most engaging voices on Canada’s Second World War story, in the classroom, on the page, and on screen. A professor of history at Marianopolis College in Montreal, he’s the bestselling author of One Day in August and Seven Days in Hell, with a new book, Missing Presumed Dead, coming in late 2027. You can also see him right now in the new Tom Hanks World War II documentary, bringing fresh insight and energy to some of the war’s most hotly debated battles. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 9 · 45 min

    S11E19 Moe Norman: A Canadian Golf Legend

    Moe Norman was a Canadian golf legend widely regarded as one of the greatest ball strikers in golf history. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1929, Norman became famous for his remarkable accuracy, consistency, and unique single-plane swing technique. During his career he won more than 50 Canadian tournaments, including several Canadian PGA Championships. Although he struggled to adapt socially to the pressure and culture of the PGA Tour, many professional golfers, including Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino, praised his extraordinary talent. Moe Norman died in 2004 but remains an iconic figure in Canadian golf history. Lorne Rubenstein is a Canadian writer, broadcaster, and journalist best known for his work covering golf. He has written extensively for major newspapers and magazines, authored several books on golf (including two on Moe Norman), and earned respect for his thoughtful commentary on the sport, its players, history, and culture in Canada and internationally. He is a member of the Canadian golf hall of fame for his work and in 2018 received the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • June 2 · 46 min

    S11E18 The 'LGBT Purge' and the Limits of Forgiveness

    The Canadian government has a long history of regulation, exploitation, and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2) people. One of the most painful chapters in this history is the “LGBT Purge,” a term that refers to the expulsion of LGBTQ2 service members and employees from the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and federal public service between 1955 and 1992. The LGBT Purge was the subject of a class action lawsuit filed in 2017 that resulted in a settlement agreement in 2018. On a parallel track to the settlement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a formal apology for the government’s history of state-sponsored discrimination against LGBTQ2 people in 2017. Daniel Del Gobbo is an Assistant Professor and Chair in Law, Gender & Sexual Justice at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. His research explores how legal processes and institutions can be redesigned to promote access to justice and social justice for historically marginalized groups, with a focus on the rights of women and queer and trans people in Canada. He earned his J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2011, LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2015, and S.J.D. from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2021. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast Hostile History! Hostile History on Spotify Hostile History on Apple Hostile History on Amazon Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 19 · 44 min

    S11E17 John A. Macdonald Part 2

    John A. Macdonald stands as one of the most influential and controversial figures in Canadian history, a political architect whose vision helped bring a nation into being. The first Prime Minister of Canada. His rise through colonial politics, his central role in Confederation and his leadership in the first decades of this country’s existence shaped the nation we understand today in so many ways. He was a man of ambition, a man of compromises, and a man of contradictions and the complexities that defined him also defined his leadership in a fragile, emerging country dealing with a rapidly evolving world and continent. Through both achievement and controversy, Macdonald’s legacy continues to shape Canada. In this second installment of a two part series we look at John A Macdonald’s early vision for Canada, resistance to that vision, his controversial policies towards First Nations and finally his legacy. This is John A. Macdonald Part 2. Patrice Dutil is a professor of politics and public administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. He has written, co-written and edited fourteen books and has covered many aspects of leadership, both at the political and the administrative level. Dutil is known for having founded the Literary Review of Canada thirty-five years ago. He was also the President of the Champlain Society for nearly a decade. Dutil has written extensively about Macdonald. He co-edited Macdonald at 200: New Perspectives and Legacies with Roger Hall. That book came out in 2015. More recently, he has published Sir John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year of 1885 and Ballots and Brawls: the 1867 Canadian General Election. Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • May 5 · 39 min

    S11E16 - John A. Macdonald Part 1

    John A. Macdonald stands as one of the most influential and controversial figures in Canadian history, a political architect whose vision helped bring a nation into being. The first Prime Minister of Canada. His rise through colonial politics, his central role in Confederation and his leadership in the first decades of this country’s existence shaped the nation we understand today in so many ways. He was a man of ambition, a man of compromises, and a man of contradictions and the complexities that defined him also defined his leadership in a fragile, emerging country dealing with a rapidly evolving world and continent. Through both achievement and controversy, Macdonald’s legacy continues to shape Canada. In this first installment of a two part series we look at John A Macdonald’s immigration to Canada from Scotland, his life as a lawyer, his early entry into politics and his role in shaping the confederation debates. Patrice Dutil is a professor of politics and public administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. He has written, co-written and edited fourteen books and has covered many aspects of leadership, both at the political and the administrative level. Dutil is known for having founded the Literary Review of Canada thirty-five years ago. He was also the President of the Champlain Society for nearly a decade. Dutil has written extensively about Macdonald. He co-edited Macdonald at 200: New Perspectives and Legacies with Roger Hall. That book came out in 2015. More recently, he has published Sir John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year of 1885 and Ballots and Brawls: the 1867 Canadian General Election. Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • April 21 · 46 min

    S11E15 - Prince Edward Island Joins Canada

    Prince Edward Island is often imagined as a quiet, pastoral place—rolling fields, red sand beaches, and small communities shaped by the rhythms of the sea. But beneath that picturesque surface lies a history that is far more complex, contested, and revealing than its postcard image suggests. Today we trace parts of that story. From its earliest days as Mi’kmaq territory, through European contact and colonization, to its reluctant entry into Canadian Confederation. We’ll explore how land ownership disputes—particularly the controversial absentee landlord system—shaped generations of Islanders, fueling resistance and political change. We’ll also look at how the island’s strategic position in the Gulf of St. Lawrence made it a site of imperial rivalry, and how its identity evolved over time through migration, agriculture, and cultural mythmaking. This is not just a regional story—it’s a lens into broader themes of colonialism, resistance, and nation-building in Canada. Prince Edward Island is so much more than little a pastoral escape, it’s a place where identity is foundational and history has left a deep and lasting mark. Edward MacDonald is Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Prince Edward Island, where for a quarter of a century he taught Prince Edward Island, Atlantic, and Canadian history. In recognition of his work as an author, teacher, historian, and public intellectual, he was named to the Order of Canada in 2023 and the Order of Prince Edward Island in 2024. While he has published extensively on the social, religious, and environmental history of his native province, his most recent book, The Geography of Home: Poems for a Lost Time, published by Island Studies Press in 2025, combines poetry with history and memoir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • April 7 · 58 min

    S11E14 Battle Series: D-Day Phase One vs. the Battle of the Scheldt

    In this CCH special episode, we bring together two expert historians for a gripping confrontation of perspectives, examining—and challenging—the significance of two defining Canadian battles of the Second World War: D-Day Phase One and the Battle of the Scheldt. These were not just moments on a battlefield, but crucibles of chaos, courage, and consequence, where the fate of thousands—and the trajectory of the war itself—hung in the balance. Each historian steps forward to argue why their battle stands as a pivotal moment in Canada’s military history, setting the stage for a compelling and thought-provoking exchange. ALEXANDER FITZGERALD-BLACK is the Executive Director at the Juno Beach Centre Association, the charity that owns Canada’s Second World War Museum on the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, France. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History (University of New Brunswick) and a Master of Arts in Public History (Western University). His first book, Eagles over Husky: The Allied Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, 14 May to 17 August 1943, was published in 2018. He has co-written multiple exhibitions at the Juno Beach Centre, including From Dieppe to Juno: The 80th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid and Rising to the Challenge: The RCAF in the Second World War. Most recently, his book chapter “The Air Support Rollercoaster: Canadian Soldiers’ Morale in Normandy” was published by the Naval Institute Press in Airpower and the Normandy Campaign, edited by Mike Bechthold. Megan Hamilton is a Canadian historian currently studying in the UK. She's in the final year of her PhD at King’s College London, which is being completed in partnership with the Imperial War Museum. Her research studies Second World War army training across the British Empire, examining how the Imperial armies trained and learned together. She was part of the team that put together the IWM’s current temporary exhibit, 'Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus,’ which is open in London until the end of March 2026. She is a regional director for the Second World War Research Group and a graduate teaching assistant at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. You can donate to the Juno Beach Centre's fundraising drive for a Juno Beach Memorial at the below link! https://campaign.junobeach.org/donate/monument Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • March 24 · 42 min

    S11E13 Red River Reflection: The Myth of François Guilmette

    In the heart of the Red River Settlement, a vibrant Métis community forged a distinct identity shaped by kinship, trade, and resistance. The latter half of the 19th century was a time of profound upheaval, when the Red River Resistance challenged Canadian expansion into the region. Yet history is not always what it seems. Alongside real leaders and lived struggles, one figure—long woven into the story—was never real at all. How did a ghost of the past become accepted as truth? And what does that reveal about the way history is remembered, recorded, and retold? In this episode we separate myth from memory on the Red River. Derrick M. Nault is an assistant professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Winnipeg and a citizen of the Red River Métis Nation. His research examines Métis history, with particular attention to how kinship networks, political resistance, and collective memory have shaped Métis identity over time. This focus is grounded in his family’s long-standing involvement in Métis political and cultural life. His direct ancestors include André Nault, Louis Riel’s cousin and a captain during the Red River Resistance; Jean-Baptiste Parenteau and Damase Carrière, councillors in Riel’s 1885 provisional government; Marie Pélagie (Dumont) Parenteau, sister of Gabriel Dumont; and Antoine Vermette, a noted Métis buffalo hunter and founding member of l’Union Nationale Métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast hosted by David Borys, The Conflict and Culture Podcast, here! Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • March 10 · 44 min

    S11E12 Rise and Rise Again - The Life and Times of Mary Ann Shadd Cary

    Born free in a slaveholding nation and unafraid to confront it, Mary Ann Shadd Cary carved out a life defined by intellect, defiance, and relentless public action. A teacher, lawyer, and the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper, she challenged both American slavery and Canadian complacency. Through the pages of The Provincial Freeman, she argued for self-reliance, integration, and equal rights at a time when such demands invited hostility. Her story moves across borders—from the United States to Canada and back again—tracing a 19th-century struggle for freedom that still echoes today. Dr. Nneka D. Dennie is a Black feminist scholar with specializations in nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American history. Her research examines Black intellectual thought with an emphasis on nineteenth-century African American history. Dr. Dennie is an Assistant Professor of History, core faculty in the Africana Studies Program, and affiliate faculty in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Washington and Lee University. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast hosted by David Borys, The Conflict and Culture Podcast, here! Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • February 24 · 44 min

    S11E11 The Frontier Regime of New France under Louis XIV

    In the 17th century, across an ocean and a continent, the will of Louis XIV stretched deep into New France. This episode examines how an absolutist monarchy governed a fragile colonial frontier. How did royal officials impose order on distant settlements along the St. Lawrence? What roles did intendants, governors, and bishops play in enforcing law, regulating trade, and structuring society? From seigneurial land grants to military defense and missionary ambition, we explore the administrative machinery that bound colony to crown—and the tensions that emerged when metropolitan authority met colonial reality in a vast, unforgiving world. Colin Coates is professor of Canadian Studies and chair of the Department of Global and Social Studies at Glendon College, York University. He is currently president of the Canadian Historical Association. His book, Political Culture in Louis XIV’s Canada: Majesty, Ritual, and Rhetoric was published by McGill-Queen’s University Press in 2024. It won the Prix de l’Assemblée nationale for the best political history book from the Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française. Check out Canyon Entertainment’s newest podcast hosted by David Borys, The Conflict and Culture Podcast, here! Don’t forget! You can purchase a copy of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867 right now at the below links: Amazon Indigo Dundurn Goodreads Indiebookstores.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • February 10 · 47 min

    S11E10 Canair Relief and the Nigerian Civil War

    The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) produced widespread famine, particularly in Biafra, prompting an unprecedented humanitarian response from abroad. Canadian churches helped found CANAIRELIEF, an ecumenical coalition that raised funds, mobilized volunteers, and supported clandestine airlifts of food and medical supplies. Motivated by moral urgency and graphic media coverage, these churches sought to bypass political paralysis. Yet the effort was deeply complicated: relief flights risked prolonging the conflict, aid was entangled with Biafran propaganda, and questions arose over neutrality, sovereignty, and whether humanitarian action inadvertently sustained the war’s machinery. Dr. Taiwo Bello is an Assistant Professor of African History and an affiliate faculty member of the Africana Studies Centre at Oklahoma State University. He serves on the Editorial Review Boards of the African Studies Association journal, History in Africa, published by Cambridge University Press; and the Canadian Association of African Studies journal, the Canadian Journal of African Studies, published by Taylor & Francis. He is the current President of the African Military Studies Association (AMSA), a coordinate organization of the African Studies Association. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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