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. Stewart

https://cihe.ca/

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.

What does settler colonialism really mean, and how does it shape the way we see Canada’s past? In this special live episode of History Matters, we feature journalist and author David Frum delivering his talk “Settlers and Colonialists,” recorded at a CIHE event in Toronto.

Frum challenges audiences to think critically about how the language of settler colonialism has reframed the histories of Canada, the U.S., and Israel, and what that means for national identity, guilt, and democracy today. Whether you agree or disagree, this is a provocative exploration of how history and politics collide in modern discourse.

https://davidfrum.com/page/about

How does a library protect democracy? In this episode, I speak with Vickery Bowles, former City Librarian of Toronto, about how the Toronto Public Library became the largest library system in North America, 100 branches strong.

We talk about the Toronto Reference Library, its remarkable special collections, and why intellectual freedom remains a core democratic value. Plus, Vickery shares news of a big milestone: all 100 branches are now open on Sundays for the first time ever.

Vickery Bowles

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickery-bowles-68712665/?originalSubdomain=ca

What if one year and one election defined Canada’s destiny? In this first episode of History Matters, I speak with historian Patrice A. Dutil about his new book Ballots and Brawls: The 1867 Canadian Election, and why context matters in understanding our past.

We unpack the first election after Confederation, the chaos of open ballots and political brawls, and how a fragile democracy took root under Sir John A. Macdonald. Patrice also shares insights from his award-winning Sir John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year 1885, when rebellion, smallpox, and railways collided to test Canada’s young nation.

Subscribe for more thoughtful takes on the moments that shaped Canadian history.

Patrice Dutil

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-dutil-8962a12b7/

Canada’s history is full of triumphs, tensions, and turning points. Yet too often, it’s reduced to headlines or overshadowed by present-day debates. History Matters was created to give space for deeper conversations — ones that connect the past to the present, and help us see why context matters more than ever.

Through engaging storytelling, candid interviews, and spirited discussion, History Matters will explore:

• The pivotal choices and challenges that have shaped Canada
• Stories of the people — both well-known and overlooked — who influenced our path
• How history continues to inform today’s debates about politics, culture, and identity

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