Podcast explores all facets of Canadian history ─ the good, bad and ugly

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — An Alberta-made podcast is shining a spotlight on Canada’s history, including lesser-known and sometimes darker elements of the country’s past.

The Canadian History Ehx podcast was designed to showcase the good, bad and ugly parts of Canadian history.

Creator Craig Baird did not want to shy away from difficult topics, and felt it was important to address misconceptions about Canada as well.

“As Canadians we have this view that our history is squeaky clean, there were some hiccups and everything,” said Baird. “But I want to show people that there are dark periods to our history and we can learn from those, and make a better future for ourselves.”

Baird, a former journalist, started the podcast about a year ago and says he has recently seen an uptick in people wanting to learn more about Canada.

“Back when Black Lives Matter was really at its zenith, I heard a lot of people in Canada talking about how Canada, we didn’t really have slavery,” he said. “And we were kind of this oasis to escaping Black people from the United States who were enslaved.

“And while parts of that are true, I made sure I did an episode that showed that Canada did have slavery for two centuries. And we never really got rid of it. We just were part of the British Empire, and they got rid of it. So we got rid of it as a result.”

In 1 week, I will be looking at the Cypress Hills Massacre

On June 1, 1873, believing Assiniboine had stolen horses, wolfers & whisky traders attacked their camp, killing at least 20 Indigenous
Little known today, the event was a catalyst for the creation of the NWMP pic.twitter.com/cpueGRlMwD

— Craig Baird – Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) July 3, 2021

Most recently, the Stony Plain, Alta., native explored the residential school system after more than 1,000 children’s remains were found at various former school sites.

“I’m going to be kind of doing more of a focus on Indigenous history, women’s history, LGBTQ history,” said Baird.

Part of Baird’s formula is combining those darker, more serious moments with fun and quirky stories.

“I might do an episode on Mr. Dressup, but I’ll do an episode on the Cypress Hills Massacre at the same time,” he said.
“But then there are also light-hearted things in our history, like margarine bootleggers in Newfoundland.

“Through the summer I have nostalgia episodes coming up for the Red Green Show and the Friendly Giant.”

Let us never forget the days when the Canadian government banned margarine, for decades.

Learn all about those days, and the margarine bootleggers from Newfoundland, in a very early episode of the podcast from 2019https://t.co/SheFMvE27E pic.twitter.com/IYg2Q9tLbU

— Craig Baird – Canadian History Ehx (@CraigBaird) July 3, 2021