We have hit another major year in Canada’s history. This one saw many changes come to Canada, and the end of a devastating war. On Jan. 28, John McCrae died of pneumonia. Born in 1872, McCrae graduated from medical school in 1898 and began teaching...
What is the longest walk you have ever embarked on? Maybe 20 kilometres? Have you ever walked across your city? Let me go a step further, pun intended… Have you ever walked not just to the next town but to the next province? I have. In July 2024, I...
We have reached the 50th year since Canada became a country, and the 50th episode of this podcast. This year was not only a big anniversary year, but another watershed year in the history of Canada. On Feb. 1, James Alexander Murray became the...
On Jan. 22, Bill Durnan was born in Toronto. He entered the NHL at the age of 27 and only played in seven seasons but he became one of the greatest NHL players in history. As a goalie, he played his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens from...
On Jan. 6, 1915, the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry entered the trenches for the first time, at a location called Dickiebush by the British troops. With this momentous day for the troops, I will relate some of what the diary said directly...
Over the Top is a famous Canadian photograph from the First World War which features Canadian soldiers, climbing over a trench, guns at the ready as they head out into the field of battle against Germans. It is an impactful photograph. It is also...
Samuel Sharpe was born in Zephyr, Ontario, the son of Irish immigrants, George and Mary Ann Sharpe, on March 13, 1873. As a child, he was known for his enthusiasm, which his friend said was contagious to everyone else. He was always involved in...
The story of the Battle of Hill 70, fought in August 1917, is a notable one because it represented the first time that the Canadian Corps fought under a Canadian commander. That commander was the subject of last week’s episode, Sir Arthur Currie...
The majority of Canadians likely can’t name too many generals in Canadian history, at least post-Confederation. There are several famous ones, but few reach the level of fame that Sir Arthur Currie enjoys. In fact, it could be said that his fame and...
You can support Canadian History Ehx with a donation at When war was declared against Germany, Canadians of all backgrounds signed up to fight. Over the previous century, the Indigenous people of Canada had seen their land taken, rights stripped...