The Hudson’s Bay Company: The Fall of a Canadian Colossus and the Meaning of Its Legacy It began not as a company but as a proposition—an improbable vision hatched in the salons of Restoration England and the bitter snowfields of Rupert’s Land. In 1670, King Charles II granted a royal charter to a syndicate of…
By Canada History Society, August 2025 Click here for Video Series This year, the Canada History Society proudly unveils a sweeping 20-part video documentary series, “From Sea to Sea: British Columbia and the Road to Confederation,” chronicling the dramatic, colorful, and often contested history of British Columbia’s journey from remote outpost to integral part of…
Barry Gough, the distinguished historian, has embarked on an enthralling voyage of historical exploration with his captivating podcasts, which are available on his website. The inaugural series of these podcasts delves deep into the life and legacy of Richard Blanshard, the inaugural Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island. Gough’s storytelling prowess and meticulous research…
Podcast Series The Curious Passage of Richard Blanshard: First Governor of Vancouver Island By Barry Gough Barry Gough’s The Curious Passage of Richard Blanshard: First Governor of Vancouver Island is a meticulously researched and compelling account of an oft-overlooked figure in Canadian colonial history. Gough, a distinguished historian and authority on maritime and Pacific Northwest…
The Macdonald Question: Changing Interpretations of Canada’s First Prime Minister For generations, Sir John A. Macdonald stood unchallenged as the architect of Confederation, the unyielding force who willed a disparate collection of colonies into a nation. Schoolchildren were told of his vision, his determination, his genius for politics. His flaws—his drinking, his partisanship—were acknowledged with…
On July 1, 1867, a new nation was born, not through revolution, but through negotiation, diplomacy, and the pragmatic ambition of a handful of determined leaders. The British North America Act united the colonies of Canada (split into Ontario and Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into the Dominion of Canada, setting the foundation for…
Canada History Society Announces Winner of 2025 True North Book Prize Vancouver/Ottawa Canada July 1, 2025 — The Canada History Society is proud to announce Patrice Dutil as the recipient of the 2025 True North Book Prize, awarded annually for an outstanding work of historical writing that deepens public understanding of Canada’s past. Dutil receives…
George Brown and the Dream of a New Canada Few men in Canadian history were as principled, stubborn, and essential to the nation’s birth as George Brown. He was a fighter, a journalist, and a statesman, but above all, he was a reformer. As founder of The Globe, Brown shaped public opinion with a conviction…
By Greg Scott May 5, 2025 Canada’s Triumph in the Netherlands, 1945 The final spring of the Second World War broke cold and hungry across the Netherlands. Cities lay hollow, fields lay flooded, and the bellies of Dutch children grumbled with the bitterness of what became known as the “Hunger Winter.” Then came the Canadians…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Canada History Society Announces the True North History Book Prize Celebrating Excellence in Canadian National History Writing The Canada History Society is proud to announce the launch of the True North History Book Prize, an annual award recognizing the best book published on the theme of Canadian National History. This prestigious prize…
