Curious Canadian History

Written by: David Borys
  • Summary

  • 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. Get add free content at Patreon!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    ©Curious Canadian History
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Episodes
  • Special Episode 3 - Punching Above Our Weight - Pre-purchase available now!!
    Sep 10 2024


    Our very own David Borys has a new book coming out in September titled “Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867” published by Dundurn Press. The book is an easy to read, single volume history of Canada at war since 1867. This photograph-rich volume covers nearly 150 years of the Canadian military, tracing its evolution from a small, underfunded, poorly trained militia to the modern, effective military it is today

    The book will be released on September 24th in Canada and October 22nd in the United States.

    As part of the pre-sale campaign CCH is dropping a series of short readings by David from sections of the book.


    For today’s story we go back to the late 19th century where heated debates rage throughout Canada regarding the nation’s role in the broader British empire. Some believe that Canada can continue to rely on Britain’s military assistance like it has always done, others are arguing for significant improvements to Canada’s current small and underfunded force, while others are adamant that Canada begin sending young Canadians to go overseas to fight for the empire as Britain becomes more and more embroiled in putting out imperial fires across its vast empire.


    You can pre-purchase a copy right now at the below links:


    Amazon

    Indigo

    Dundurn

    Goodreads

    Indiebookstores.ca

    Get add free content at Patreon!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    10 mins
  • S10E1 - The Oak Ridge Experiment
    Sep 3 2024

    Welcome back to Season 10!! In the first episode of the newest season we take you to Penetanguishene, Ontario along the shores of Georgian Bay where once existed the Oak Ridge ‘Criminal Insane Building.’ Oak Ridge has been deemed the ‘Alcatraz of Canada’ and ‘the most terrible institution of all.’ For decades it housed some of Canada’s most violent criminals and in particular violent criminals with serious psychiatric illnesses. Yet in the 1960s an intensive and radical therapy program arrived, promoting the widespread of drugs and treatment methods that frankly bordered on torture. The Social Therapy Unit at Oak Ridge is still remembered by some as a successful venture in utopian experimentation though for others it embodies a state-authorized subjection of the individual without any checks or balances. A place where patients became test subjects in a radical and controversial program of rehabilitation.


    This week’s book recommendation is Watching the Devil Dance by William Toffan, published in 2020 by Biblioasis.


    Don’t forget! You can pre-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

    Get add free content at Patreon!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    22 mins
  • Special Episode 2 - Punching Above Our Weight
    Aug 27 2024

    **SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – NEW BOOK**

    Our very own David Borys has a new book coming out in September titled “Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867” published by Dundurn Press. The book is an easy to read, single volume history of Canada at war since 1867. This photograph-rich volume covers nearly 150 years of the Canadian military, tracing its evolution from a small, underfunded, poorly trained militia to the modern, effective military it is today

    The book will be released on September 24th in Canada and October 22nd in the United States.

    As part of the pre-sale campaign CCH is dropping a series of short readings by David from sections of the book.


    Today’s excerpt takes us back to 1870/71 where the Canadian government has sent out a military expedition to secure the annexation of the Red River Colony. This expedition, known as the Wolseley Expedition, is not sure if they are going to encounter violence when they finally arrive in Red River after what was an arduous and challenging journey to what would become Canada’s newest province.


    You can pre-purchase a copy right now at the below links:


    Amazon

    Indigo

    Dundurn

    Goodreads

    Indiebookstores.ca

    Get add free content at Patreon!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    7 mins
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very cool series!

As a Canadian who loves anything involving history this series is like crack cocaine for me. the narration can be pretty fast paced so paying close attention is necessary, but well worth the listen in any case.

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