Rocket War

In this episode, we chart the path of E. Lionel Cross — soldier, trailblazing Black lawyer, and civil-rights advocate — and his campaign to hold the Ku Klux Klan accountable after the Oakville cross burning and kidnapping. It is a story about the power of the courtroom and the unfinished work of justice in Canada. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles Writer Nuruddi...

George Alexander Downey was a veteran of two world wars and the patriarch of one of Nova Scotia’s most storied families. From the forests of wartime France to the communities of North Preston, this is the story of his service, sacrifice, and the legacy he passed on to generations who would carry his fighting spirit into the boxing ring and beyond. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class*...

A Black medical student. An all-Black battalion. A war that needed his skills but never fully recognized his service. In this episode of  The Black Hum , we look at the life of Dr. Hewburn Greenidge as it stretched from British Guiana to Winnipeg to the timber camps of the Jura Mountains and back to the heart of the Amazon. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Charles...

In this episode of  The Black Hum , we trace the extraordinary life of Charlie Kelly, a standout baseball player from Ingersoll, Ontario, and a member of Canada’s No. 2 Construction Battalion. From local ballfields to the First World War, Kelly’s story reveals how sport offered both escape and opportunity. The episode culminates in the legendary “Forestry Game,” where Kelly took the mound bef...

Also from Knockabout Media: The Black Hum In this episode, we trace the rise of Rufus Rockhead and the making of Rockhead’s Paradise — the club that became the epicentre of Montreal’s jazz scene. It’s the story of how one man’s ambition transformed a city’s nightlife and created a powerful space for music, community, and resistance. *Download our Discussion Questions for your class* Host Cindy Cha...

In the final episode of  Rocket War , we explore what happened after the guns fell silent in the 1991 Gulf War. From the rapid redeployment of Canadian forces and emotional homecomings to the difficult return to civilian life, this episode reveals the hidden costs of a “short” war. Veterans recount exposure to oil-well fires, the challenge of caring for the wounded after the ceasefire, and th...

In this episode of  Rocket War , the ground war begins. When Britain asks for help, 1 Canadian Field Hospital is rushed to the Saudi desert, where doctors, nurses, and medics prepare for chemical attacks, Scud missiles, and mass casualties. From training in Petawawa to treating wounded Iraqi soldiers on the front lines, Canadian medical staff confront the human cost of the Gulf War up close....

In this episode of Rocket War , we explore Canada’s air war during the first Persian Gulf War, tracing how Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighter jets and aircrew deployed to the Middle East following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Drawing on firsthand accounts from pilots and ground crew, as well as expert historical analysis, the episode examines the political decisions behind Canada’s commitment, t...

In the early hours of August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain of events that would draw Canada into the first Gulf War. In this opening episode of  Rocket War , we explore how Canada went from peacekeeping posture to active military engagement in the Persian Gulf. Featuring firsthand accounts from sailors, air force personnel, and military historians, we trace Canada’s early...

In 1990–91, Canada joined the first UN–sanctioned war against a sovereign state since Korea. Rocket War is a four-part documentary series exploring Canada’s role in the Persian Gulf War as told through the voices of those who served. Focusing on Operation Friction, the series traces Canada’s contribution at sea, in the air, and on the ground—from Royal Canadian Navy ships enforcing...