Saint John: Nothing Happened Here

On October 10, 2026, prepare to be mystified as Mark and Valerie hit the stage for our first live show/recording. We will take you on a journey through Harry Houdini's trip to Saint John in 1896. As a relatively unknown magician at the time, Houdini had little impact on Saint John; but Saint John had a life changing impact on Houdini.
Venue: The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe - 1 Market Square
Time: 7pm - 8:30pm, Saturday, October 10th
Admission is free but seat are limited. Come early and bring your curiosity!
Mark's new book, Discovering Historic Saint John, is available at Chapters/Indigo/Coles throughout Canada and at Amazon.com for our American friends.

Francoise Marie Jacquelin arrived in Acadia expecting a marriage and instead found herself at the center of a civil war. She was thrown in a dungeon, sailed the Atlantic several times to secure aid, and ultimately led the defence of Fort La Tour. It is no wonder she is known as the Lioness of Acadia. In this episode, we explore how a young woman from France became one of the most formidable figures in early history of what would become Canada, and why her story still resonates today.
Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-francoise-marie-jacquelin-and-the-battle-of-fort-latour

Season 3! Coming on September 29, 2026.

At the end of the American Revolutionary War, tens of thousands of Loyalists were evacuated by the British from New York City. The flight ended in disaster for one vessel headed to the Saint John Harbour. Andrew MacLean from Backyard History joins us as a co-host for this episode as we look at one of the worst maritime disasters in an area that is known for maritime disasters. 
Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-the-sinking-of-the-loyalist-ship-martha

In 1863, during the American Civil War, a group of Saint Johners were recruited by men professing to be representatives of the Confederate States of America to seize control of a civilian vessel in the United States. The men successfully hijacked the ship and brought it to British North American waters with the United States Navy in hot pursuit.
In this episode, we are joined by guest co-host, Troy Middleton, to discuss this incident and its fallout, which risked drawing the British Empire into the American Civil War.
Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-the-pirates-of-the-chesapeake