History Matters by Canadian Institute for Historical Education

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 unde...

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...

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 Cana...

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 Matt...