Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)

Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Eric Andrew-Gee about his book, The Mind Mappers.

This powerful dual biography tells the true story of two neurosurgeons—Wilder Penfield and the lesser-known William Cone—whose partnership revolutionized brain science in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, when brain surgery was still highly risky, the two men joined forces, united by a fascination with the mind’s inner workings. Together, they founded the Montreal Neurological Institute, which quickly became a world-renowned center for neurological research.

Penfield gained fame for developing the Montreal procedure to treat epilepsy, a breakthrough that revealed key brain functions related to speech, memory, and consciousness. Cone, meanwhile, worked tirelessly in the operating room and at patients’ bedsides, quietly enabling Penfield’s success. Though their achievements were shared, Cone’s contributions went largely unrecognized.

Over time, the strain between them grew. Penfield pursued scientific glory, while Cone remained grounded in patient care. Their friendship deteriorated, ending abruptly with Cone’s sudden death at age sixty-two.

Eric Andrew-Gee explores the founding of The Neuro and the complex bond between two men at the heart of modern neuroscience. The book restores Cone to his rightful place in history, illuminating the human cost of scientific progress.

Eric Andrew-Gee is the Quebec correspondent for The Globe and Mail, based in Montreal, and a former staff reporter for the Toronto Star. He is the winner of two National Newspaper Awards. His work has appeared in magazines including The Walrus, Toronto Life and The New Republic. This is his first book.

Image Credit: Penguin Random House

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with William E. Moreau about his book, The Writings of David Thompson, Volume 1.

Between 1784 and 1812, David Thompson explored and traded across much of western North America, from Athabasca to the Missouri and from Lake Superior to the Columbia River's mouth. In his later years, he recounted these experiences in his autobiographical work Travels. More than just a personal narrative, Travels blends geographic exploration with intellectual reflection, offering insights into the land and Indigenous peoples he encountered.

This distinguished work combines scientific observation with vivid storytelling, capturing Thompson’s curiosity and deep sense of wonder. It stands as a foundational text in Canadian literature and history.

The boxed set referenced includes the two companion volumes of Travels published in 2009 and 2015. It features a new transcription of Thompson’s complete manuscript, critical annotations, historical and textual introductions, biographical appendices, and maps—both historical and modern. With an updated edition and a new preface by geographer John Warkentin, it remains the definitive scholarly reference for Thompson’s legacy and continues to introduce his work to new generations.

William E. Moreau is a teacher with the Toronto District School Board and a sessional lecturer with the University of Toronto at Scarborough.

Image Credit: The Champlain Society

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with Tim Falconer about his book, Windfall: Viola MacMillan and Her Notorious Mining Scandal.

Viola MacMillan was a trailblazing prospector and mining executive who rose to prominence in a male-dominated industry. In 1964, after decades of success, she became the central figure in a major stock scandal. Shares in her company, Windfall Oil and Mines, soared on unverified rumors of a big find. MacMillan remained silent as the price climbed—until the company admitted it had nothing. The crash devastated small investors and led to a royal commission and reforms in Canadian financial regulation. Though convicted and jailed, MacMillan was later awarded the Order of Canada.

Tim Falconer is the author of Bad Singer: The Surprising Science of Tone Deafness and How We Hear Music and Klondikers: Dawson City’s Stanley Cup Challenge and How a Nation Fell in Love with Hockey, both named to The Globe and Mail’s Top 100 Books. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Image Credit: ECW Press

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with Nick Etheridge and Phil Calvert about their book, Supervising a Peace that Never Was: Recollections of Canadian Diplomatic Personnel in Indochina, 1954–1973.

Supervising a Peace that Never Was: Recollections of Canadian Diplomatic Personnel in Indochina, 1954–1973 is a collection of essays written by former Canadian diplomats who served on international commissions in Indochina. These individuals were initially deployed to oversee the implementation of the 1954 Geneva Accords (through the International Commission for Supervision and Control, or ICSC) and later, in 1973, to monitor compliance with the Paris Peace Agreement (under the International Commission of Control and Supervision, or ICCS). Over the course of two decades, young Canadians were posted to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos—regions in which Canada had previously played a minimal role. The chapters that follow reflect their personal memories and experiences during these diplomatic missions.

Read the full book here: https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/capi/assets/docs/books/supervising-a-peace-that-never-was.pdf

Nick Etheridge joined External Affairs in 1967 and held postings in Australia, Vietnam, and Europe, including roles in the CSCE. He served as Canada’s representative in Cambodia (1993), Chargé d’Affaires in the Baltic States (1993–95), and High Commissioner to Bangladesh (1996–99). He retired in 2002 as Director of the Defence Relations Division.

Phil Calvert joined the Department of External Affairs in 1982 and served in Beijing during three postings. He held key roles in trade negotiations, including as Deputy Chief Negotiator for China’s WTO accession, and was Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos from 2011 to 2016. He retired in 2016.

Image Credit: University of Victoria - CAPI Publications

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Wayne Sumner about his book, Prairie Justice: The Hanging of Mike Hack.

Prairie Justice explores the 1928 murder of George Edey in Saskatchewan and the swift conviction and execution of Mike Hack, a deaf and mentally disabled farmhand. Denied clemency, Hack was hanged in 1929 at the age of twenty-seven. Author Wayne Sumner traces the case from investigation to execution, drawing on personal family ties to the story. Through this gripping account, the book sheds light on broader issues in Canada's criminal justice system, including unfitness to stand trial, the insanity defence, ineffective legal representation, and the risk of wrongful convictions—ultimately exposing how justice can fail the poor and marginalized.

Wayne Sumner is a university professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto.

Image Credit: University of Toronto Press

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with Andrew Burtch about his book, Canada and the Korean War: Histories and Legacies of a Cold War Conflict.

The Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War and Canada’s most significant military engagement after the two world wars. Canada and the Korean War brings together leading scholars to examine key battles and themes of this pivotal yet often overlooked conflict.

Before 1950, Canada had little interest in Korea, but the war’s threat to postwar stability compelled its involvement. Between 1950 and 1953, over 30,000 Canadian military personnel served in Korea, and “peacetime” defence spending reached record levels. Fighting alongside U.S., local, and Commonwealth forces, Canadians faced a resourceful enemy across land, sea, and air. The eventual armistice left Korea divided and tensions unresolved.

This timely collection blends Canadian and international perspectives, highlighting the war’s impact on Canada’s military and its evolving relationship with Korea. It also explores how the war has been remembered over time.

Essential reading for scholars of military history, the Cold War, and Canadian foreign policy, this volume will also appeal to veterans, their families, and general readers interested in Canada’s military past.

Andrew Burtch is the Canadian War Museum’s historian for the post-1945 period and an adjunct research professor in the Department of History at Carleton University.

Tim Cook, CM, FRSC, is the chief historian and director of research at the Canadian War Museum.

Image Credit: UBC Press

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with Don Weekes about his book, Picturing the Game: An Illustrated Story of Hockey.

Hockey has a long, surprising connection to editorial cartooning and sports illustration—one as storied as the game itself. While writers and photographers have captured the action on the ice, cartoonists have offered a rawer, more mischievous take on the sport.

Picturing the Game dives into this satirical world, highlighting the rough drafts of hockey history by artists like Bruce MacKinnon, Aislin, Serge Chapleau, Susan Dewar, Brian Gable, and more. Through sharp wit and keen observation, they not only make us laugh but often expose deeper truths—especially about those running the show.

The collection begins with anonymous early artists who sketched the game’s first moments and spectators. Their work evolved into the illustrations of Arthur Racey and Lou Skuce, whose cartoons thrived when newspapers dominated public opinion and the printed word held great authority. These dailies helped elevate hockey to its place as Canada’s national sport.

Later, artists like Franklin Arbuckle, Duncan Macpherson, and Len Norris brought even more depth, using allegory, irreverence, and cultural commentary to give their work lasting power.

Weekes brings together these visionary cartoonists whose sharp lines and sharper minds made satire an essential lens on hockey. Their work, both groundbreaking and quintessentially Canadian, left a lasting imprint on sports journalism—and the game itself.

Don Weekes is an award-winning television producer and the author of numerous hockey books. He lives in Montreal and shoots left.

Image Credit: McGill-Queen’s University Press

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Larry Ostola speaks with David A. Borys about his book, Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867.

Punching Above Our Weight offers a comprehensive history of the Canadian military, covering 150 years of evolution from a small, poorly equipped militia to a modern, effective force. It highlights key events such as the Red River Resistance, the Boer War, both World Wars, and peacekeeping missions, including the long Afghan conflict. Borys examines crucial battles like Amiens and Operation Medusa, and important figures such as Louis Riel and Arthur Currie. The book also delves into significant moments, including Canada’s declaration of war and the 1990s peacekeeping crises. It addresses challenges faced by the military, such as resource struggles, cultural shifts, and scandals, while offering a fresh perspective on Canada’s role in international conflicts.

David A. Borys is a Canadian military historian and faculty member at Langara College in Vancouver. He has been seen on such history programs as APTN’s Nations at War and National Geographic’s Hitler’s Last Stand, and is the host of the popular history podcast Curious Canadian History. He lives in Vancouver.

Image Credit: Dundurn Press

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Greg Marchildon speaks with Lloyd Axworthy about his book, My Life in Politics.

In this memoir, Lloyd Axworthy reflects on his journey from a Canadian prairie boy to a prominent politician. He served 21 years in parliament, playing key roles in Canada’s Charter of Rights, the Canada-US free trade debate, and global efforts to ban landmines. Axworthy shares insights from significant moments, including Hong Kong’s turnover and Princess Diana’s funeral, and discusses the challenges of balancing progressive ideals with political realities, crediting his family and support network for his success.

Lloyd Axworthy is a Canadian politician, elder statesman and academic. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. In 2000, he retired from politics, returning to western Canada where he served as President of the University of Winnipeg for ten years. In December, 2015 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. He now chairs the World Refugee and Migration Council and lives with his wife Denise, in Ottawa.

Image Credit: Sutherland House

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.

Nicole O’Byrne speaks with Colin Campbell and Robert Raizenne about their book, A History of Canadian Income Tax Volume II, 1948-71.

This book offers an in-depth analysis of the creation and enforcement of the 1948 Income Tax Act and its subsequent amendments. It details the policy discussions among senior officials and finance ministers on various tax system matters, drawing extensively from parliamentary debates, government documents, and resources from the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Colin Campbell began his career as a political science professor at Mount Allison University before earning his law degree at Western. He practiced as a tax partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, specializing in tax planning and representing clients in court. Colin taught at Western Law from 1999 to 2009 as an adjunct, then joined full-time in 2011 as an associate professor. He has written extensively on tax and serves as chair of the Canada Revenue Agency’s Offshore Compliance Advisory Committee.

Robert Raizenne has extensive experience in tax planning, including cross-border and domestic M&A, corporate reorganizations, international tax, and trusts. He is also an experienced tax litigator. Robert is an adjunct professor of tax law at McGill and the University of Toronto, and a frequent speaker and writer at major tax conferences, including those hosted by the Canadian Tax Foundation and the International Fiscal Association.

Image Credit: Osgoode Society Books

If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.