History Matters by Canadian Institute for Historical Education

• Sean Conway on Separate School Education in Ontario

  In this episode, host Allan Williams welcomes historian and former Ontario cabinet minister Sean Conway for a wide-ranging discussion that connects contemporary political decisions to their deeper historical roots.Conway reflects on the Ontario provincial election of 1985, which brought an end to the 42 year PC dynasty, and the unusual circumstances that led to his receiving official briefings on the “Separate School Funding” issue as much as six weeks before the Frank Miller government fell and Conway was sworn in as Minister of Education in the David Peterson government. The conversation also explores the longer constitutional backdrop, from the Union period in the 1840s to Confederation, and how denominational school rights shaped provincial and national politics well into the twentieth Century.Conway closes by sharing the family influences that led to his interest in Canadian history and recommending two books by Christopher Moore for listeners eager to learn more about Canada’s founding moment.Sean Conway is part of our Advisory Council.https://share.google/G9az9o9u3gliqKmoChttps://cihe.ca/

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• David Wilson on The Dictionary of Canadian Biography

  What happens when a national biography doesn’t just celebrate—or condemn, but strives to understand? In this episode, I sit down with historian David A. Wilson to explore how the DCB is rethinking who gets included, how language is updated without “rewriting” the past, and why a birdseed magnate—James Nicholson—helped launch Canada’s most important biographical project. In this episode, I sit down with historian David Wilson, General Editor of the Dictionary of CanadianBiography, to discuss the origins and history of this great institution that has been ongoing now for morethan seventy years. We cover how the DCB decides who gets included, how the language of olderbiographies can be updated without “rewriting” the past, and why a birdseed magnate—JamesNicholson—helped launch Canada’s most important biographical project. I was particularly struck byDavid’s line: “the goal of the dictionary is not to celebrate Canadian history, but nor is it to join thebandwagon of those who condemn Canadian history; the goal of the dictionary is to understandCanadian history in all its complexity.” We also touch on David’s award-winning two-volume biographyof Thomas D’Arcy McGee and his most recent book, Canadian Spy Story: Irish Revolutionaries and theSecret Police, (McGill-Queen’s, 2022)—including the 3,000 letters in Macdonald’s papers that reveal areal Fenian underground in Canada and why Macdonald downplayed the threat publicly while, incontrast, he later amplied the threat from the Plains Cree in 1885. Along the way, David shares how heaccidentally became a Canadian historian, the DCB’s precarious funding reality, and three must-readbooks for anyone who loves Canadian history.If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and share. Find History Matters on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Write to us at [email protected] and learn more about the Canadian Institute for Historical Education.If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and share. Find History Matters on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Write to us at [email protected] and learn more about the Canadian Institute for Historical Education.

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• J.D.M. Stewart on The Prime Ministers

  Host Allan Williams welcomes J D M James Stewart, author, broadcaster, podcaster, and veteran teacher, to discuss The Prime Ministers, Canada’s Leaders and the Nation They Shaped Sutherland House, 2025. They revisit R B Bennett’s reputation in the shadow of the Depression, examine Mackenzie King’s wartime stewardship, and consider how crisis, longevity, and electoral success drive rankings that often place King, Macdonald, and Laurier at the top. Stewart outlines his research approach using Hansard, press archives, and landmark biographies, and argues that the Indigenous file crosses every PM’s desk far more than most surveys acknowledge.The episode widens to the challenge of historical literacy in Canada, highlighting the roles of schools, public broadcasters, film, heritage organizations, and publishers, without maple washing the past. Human details, from King’s diaries to Chretien and Clinton’s rapport, keep the story grounded in people as well as policy.J.D.M. Stewarthttps://cihe.ca/

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• Tribute to Historian Tim Cook

  Host Allan Williams welcomes J.D.M. Stewart, Eric McGeer, and Christopher Dummitt for a special tribute to Tim Cook, the award-winning Canadian military historian and chief historian/director of research at the Canadian War Museum. The panel reflects on Cook’s life, generosity, and extraordinary output—19 books that made the World Wars accessible without sacrificing scholarly rigour. They spotlight must-reads including The Secret History of Soldiers, Warlords, Lifesavers and Body Snatchers, and his sweeping two-volume histories of WWI and WWII.The conversation blends personal memories with critical insight into Cook’s popular and academic impact—how he balanced “worm’s-eye” human stories with meticulous research, and why his work will keep teaching new readers for years to come. Recorded in the spirit of gratitude and remembrance, the episode invites listeners to honour Cook by reading and sharing his books.

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• New Podcast History Matters

  History Matters brings Canada’s past to life through conversations with leading historians, authors, and thinkers. Hosted by Allan Williams of the Canadian Institute for Historical Education, each episode explores the people, events, and ideas that shaped our country, from Confederation to contemporary debates about memory, democracy, and identity.

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