Overall, we believe that Canadians can, and should, scrutinize Robert Carney’s past views on schooling for Indigenous Peoples, press Mark Carney to clarify his commitment to truth and reconciliation, and challenge the twisting of truth by residential school denialists. Doing all of these things can demonstrate truth and reconciliation leadership and help build a more honourable future. Unlike the denialists, then, our task is to guide public understanding with nuanced, historical work that promotes empathy, understanding, healing, and justice.
By Jacob Richard “Show patriotism by supporting the Hudson’s Bay Company,” declares a recent letter to the editor in the Vancouver Sun. Lamenting the news that the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is on the verge of financial collapse, the letter writer argues that there is “nothing more tragic to becoming the 51st state than to see the Hudson’s Bay close… Read more »
https://media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2025_03_26_03_52_52_64878597-5584-4bd7-95e8-6ae4538fe9b6.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSean Graham talks with Ruby Smith Diaz, author of Searching for Serafim: The Life and Legacy of Serafim ‘Joe’ Fortes. They discuss Ruby’s introduction to Serafim’s story, how she went about researching the book, and some of the challenges she faced in the process. They also chat about how Ruby’s artistic background shaped the book’s structure,… Read more »
https://media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2025_01_22_04_59_42_1a8a866c-3afc-4959-906f-745b6be9b8e7.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham This week I’m joined by Robin C. Whittaker, author of Alumnae Theatre Company: Nonprofessionalizing Theatre in Canada. We discuss the establishment of the Alumnae Theatre Company and its place as Canada’s longest-running women-led theatre group, how the group survived its early years, and the place of non-professional theatre in 20th century… Read more »
https://media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2025_01_09_05_34_34_9214266a-8da2-4ebd-8271-32991e5ad510.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham This week, I’m joined by Tonya Davidson, author of Inside the Snow Globe: Ottawa Monuments and National Belonging. We discuss Tonya’s approach to monuments as a primary source, how publics respond to monuments, and how national monuments fit into local communities. We also talk about some of Ottawa’s less known monuments,… Read more »
https://media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2024_12_12_05_55_34_6e45620e-0180-489d-95df-e0e68151387b.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week I’m joined by Crystal Gail Fraser, author of By Strength, We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples and Indian Residential Schooling in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. We discuss the lesser known story of northern residential schools, conducting oral history with survivors, and the Gwich’in concepts of individual and collective strength. We also chat about the significance… Read more »
https://media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2024_07_07_23_33_13_c4054934-fae7-4d9d-b8d7-bfbfbef312f9.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham This week I’m joined by Daniel Robinson, author of Cigarette Nation: Business, Health, and Canadian Smokers, 1930-1975. We discuss Daniel’s initial interest in studying smoking culture, the increase in smoking rates in the 1930s and 1940s, and the initial studies linking cigarettes to cancer in the 1950s. We also chat about… Read more »
https://pdcn.co/e/media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2023_11_29_05_36_27_00290789-98d5-4f61-a832-675b9969beee.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham I talk with Dustin Galer, author of Beryl: The Making of a Disability Activist. We talk about Beryl Potter’s entry into activism, how the 1970s public debates influenced her campaigns, and the financial challenges faced by disability activists. We also chat about Beryl Potter’s personality and public encounters, her television program,… Read more »
Samira Saramo On March 2, 2023, Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan, announced that it was closing. Since its establishment in 1896 by Finnish migrant-settlers as Suomi College, Finlandia University has been a center of Finnish history and heritage in North America. It has been home to an active Finnish & Nordic Studies undergraduate program and unparalleled archival collections, programming, and… Read more »
https://pdcn.co/e/media.rss.com/whatsoldisnews/2023_10_11_11_26_42_bc4d6388-f3f1-463f-938f-7f46a7d2bca1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham I talk with Andrea Procter, author of A Long Journey: Residential Schools in Labrador and Newfoundland. We talk about how the residential schooling system there differed from Canada’s in the early 20th century, student experiences at the schools, and how communities responded. We also discuss reconciliation in Labrador, why the province… Read more »
