Settle in and get cozy for some spine-tingling Canadian folklore. Featuring stories of ghost ships, supernatural beings, larger-than-life heroes, mysterious spi...
In January of 1947, in the depths of a record-breaking winter, beloved Canadian writer Pierre Berton, then a fledgling reporter with the Vancouver Sun newspaper, boarded a plane and ventured into the frozen wilds of the Nahanni Valley, a chain of towering mountains and ancient vales carved into the southwestern reaches of the Northwest Territories. The trip was a harrowing one, punctuated by severe winter storms and more than a few narrow escapes. The weather was so cold that he and his companions had to literally cook the plane’s battery in a cast iron oven and thaw its engine with a blowtorch before takeoff. At nearly every stop along the way they were warned to give up and turn back, lest they add to the region’s tally of tragic deaths and disappearances. Why would they risk their lives to come to such a remote, inhospitable place at such a treacherous time of year? Like countless others before them, they had gone to the north looking for fame and fortune. But unlike all the others, it wasn’t for gold, or valuable furs, or even a hunting trophy. They were searching for a legend, and for answers to a mystery that was over 40 years in the making.
Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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56:34
The Fiddle Burning Priest of Cape Breton Island
The violin might be one of the most Canadian of musical instruments. In fact, there are a dozen different styles specific to Canada—styles like West Coast, Prairie, Ottawa Valley, Down East and the star of this episode, Cape Breton. Yet if one zealous priest had gotten his way, the distinctive Cape Breton sound wouldn't exist. Join me as we explore the legends and history of Reverend Kenneth J. MacDonald, the infamous Fiddle-Burning Priest of Cape Breton Island.
Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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44:03
The Pirate King and Queen of Canada
They are the quintessential pirate couple: Captain Eric Cobham and his first mate and partner in crime, the ruthless Maria Lindsay. Legend has it that this dreadful duo once haunted the waters of eastern Canada, slaughtering every sailor and sinking every ship they encountered for 20 years. Stories of their exploits can still be found all along the east coast from New York, to Newfoundland, but is there any truth to the tale?
Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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49:05
The Puzzling Gravestone of Waterloo County, ON
For some, it’s little more than a local oddity. For others, it’s a mystery that demands to be solved. But once we uncover its solution, we may find that it comes with more questions and some unsettling implications. Join me as we solve a century old puzzle, and learn about the curious history, fascinating folklore, and dubious medical advice that are part of the story of one of Canada’s strangest gravesites.
Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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32:23
The Haunted Barber of Barkerville, BC
The final part of my four part series about “Ghost Town Ghosts,” another story from my own home province of British Columbia and arguably the most famous ghost town in western Canada. The story is about friendship—about a connection that can pierce the veil between this world and the next. It’s also a tale mystery, of true crime, and of how historic facts and figures can take the shape of legend.
Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca. David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Settle in and get cozy for some spine-tingling Canadian folklore. Featuring stories of ghost ships, supernatural beings, larger-than-life heroes, mysterious spirits, and national myths. Host David Williams will tell you a tale, then bring you on a deep dive into its history and cultural significance.
Canada - english