Radio Reports for HIST 382

The radio programs of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation are available online. You can access live programming through its webcasts, or pick up archived programs at any time. For live programming, I recommend you explore the richness of regional programming across Canada. This is great material that gives you an idea of the scale and diversity of the country. Unfortunately, the CBC offers little in the way of podcasting. Its streamed programs, however, are excellent, if inconvenient.

CBC Regional Radio Programming

To access the web pages of CBC regional affiliates, go to the home page of the CBC, scroll to the bottom, and find the “Local” links in the left-hand column. The listings in the table below are my recommendations for listening—programs that are more feature than spot news. You can access these programs live online, but of course, you’ll have to deal with time zones. The quickest way to go directly from the CBC home page to a live stream of a regional radio affiliate is to use the “Listen to CBC Radio” link near the bottom of the page, in the middle.

British Columbia	BC This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	All Points West	4-6 PM weekdays.
	B.C. Almanac	12-2 PM weekdays. Programs are archived for streaming.
Alberta (Calgary or Edmonton)	Alberta This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	Wild Rose Country & Wild Rose Forum	12-2 PM weekdays.
Manitoba	Manitoba This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	Radio Noon	12-1 PM weekdays.
Montreal	C'est La Vie	11:30 AM Fridays.
New Brunswick	Shift	4-6 PM weekdays.
	Maritime Noon	12-2 PM weekdays.
	Maritime Magazine	8:30-9 AM Sundays.
Newfoundland & Labrador	Radio Noon	12-2 weekdays. Feature show, followed by call-in. Feature segments are archived.
	Fisheries Broadcast	5:30-6 PM weekdays.
Nova Scotia	Maritimes This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	Maritime Noon	12-2 PM weekdays.
	Island Echoes	8-9 PM Saturdays.
	Maritime Magazine	8:30-9 AM Sundays.
Ottawa	The House	9-10 AM Saturdays.
Prince Edward Island	Maritimes This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	Maritime Noon	12-2 PM weekdays.
	Maritime Magazine	8:30-9 AM Sundays.
	Mainstreet	4-6 weekdays.
Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan This Week	Weekly podcast abstracted from news and feature programming.
	Blue Sky	12-2 PM weekdays.

CBC Archives – Recommended Program Series (Streamed Clips)

This is a rich archive, accessible from the CBC home page by using the link at bottom of the page, “Archival Audio,” and from there using the link at left, “Topic Index.” The material for each topic is mixed-media, some audio and some video. In the table below I recommend certain topics, but I’m still exploring the collection, so find something that interests you.

The Duplessis Orphans	During the reign of Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis in the 1940s and 1950s, an alarming number of healthy children living in sanctuaries were hastily diagnosed as mentally incompetent, psychotic patients. The diagnoses were always swift — the children went to bed orphans and woke up psychiatric patients. The reason? Shrewd fiscal planning; federal subsidies paid out more to hospitals than to orphanages. Some children allegedly endured lobotomies, electroshock, straitjackets and abuse. For the rest of their lives they would struggle to bring attention to their story and demand compensation. They called themselves the Duplessis Orphans.
A Lost Heritage: Canada's Residential Schools	In 1928, a government official predicted Canada would end its "Indian problem" within two generations. Church-run, government-funded residential schools for native children were supposed to prepare them for life in white society. But the aims of assimilation meant devastation for those who were subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Decades later, aboriginal people began to share their stories and demand acknowledgement of — and compensation for — their stolen childhoods.
Creation of Nunavut	On April 1, 1999, the new territory of Nunavut was born, finally making the controversial dream of the Northwest Territories' Inuit a reality. It meant the Inuit gained self-rule and control over their own institutions. This was the result of years of lobbying Ottawa and numerous plebiscites overwhelmingly in favour of self-determination. But along with the territory come the challenges: combating suicide, reversing assimilation and regaining a sense of identity.
Tommy Douglas and the NDP	Tommy Douglas was the most influential politician never to be elected Prime Minister. He pursued his radical ideas relentlessly until they became so mainstream rival politicians claimed them as their own. Called a communist and threatened by in-party fighting, Douglas battled hard to bring the New Democratic Party to legitimacy in its first ten years. He was often criticized for his singular idealism but through it all Douglas was undeterred, convinced that he was helping to create a better, more humane society. In 2004, Douglas was voted number one in CBC's The Greatest Canadian contest.
Canada's Secret War: Vietnam	Vietnam may have been America's war but Canada was heavily involved — for and against. Canada harboured American draft dodgers and helped supervise ceasefires. But at the same time, about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in southeast Asia. And there was Canada's involvement in secret missions, weapons testing and arms production. CBC Archives looks at Canada's role in the Vietnam War.
Beyond Green Gables: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery	Nearly a century ago Anne of Green Gables introduced readers to one of the most enduring characters in fiction and launched Canada's most lucrative literary franchise. The heartwarming story of the plucky red-headed orphan has gone on to sell hundreds of millions of copies and become the basis for an unprecedented television phenomenon. But behind the fictional and feisty Anne Shirley lurked the often-tormented life of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. CBC Archives takes a look at the life, death and lasting legacy of the woman who created Anne.
Mordecai Richler Was Here	When Mordecai Richler left Canada for Paris, he was a brooding young intellectual with lots to say. He returned a prolific, respected writer with a keen eye for the absurd and the magnetism to charm or anger just about all of his contemporaries. From Montreal's Jewish ghetto to Quebec nationalism to boring Anglophones to hypocritical politicians – the incomparable Richler commented, questioned, laughed and angered.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Swinger, Philosopher, Prime Minister	He slid down banisters, dated movie stars and wore a red rose in his lapel. Pierre Elliott Trudeau is arguably the most charismatic prime minister in Canada's history. But he was more than just charisma – Trudeau helped shape Canada with his vision of a unified, bilingual, multicultural "just society." Throughout his 16 years as prime minister, he faced some heavy criticism. But when Trudeau died on Sept. 28, 2000, the nation mourned the man who, in the words of one biographer, "haunts us still."
The Halifax Explosion	On Dec. 6, 1917, a collision in Halifax Harbour led to the biggest man-made explosion in the world before the era of the atomic bomb. The blast leveled most of the city and sent shards of glass and burning debris flying for miles. It left thousands dead, blinded or homeless. Although the explosion occurred before the creation of the CBC, the Canadian radio and TV network has retold the story throughout the years to ensure that this crucial event in Canadian history is not forgotten.
Lacrosse: A History of Canada's Game	The First Nations began playing the sport more than 500 years ago. Today lacrosse not only remains an integral part of native culture, but is played by thousands of people across Canada. From its origin as 'The Creator's Game' to the overwhelming popularity of the Toronto Rock and the modern game, lacrosse has survived the test of time after treading down a long, controversial path that led it to become recognized as Canada's official national sport.
The Man from High River: Joe Clark	"Joe Who?" read a newspaper headline when Alberta's Joe Clark claimed the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 1976. Three years later, Clark became Canada's youngest prime minister, at age 39, but his minority government lasted just nine months. Forced out as leader in 1983, Clark took on high-profile cabinet posts in foreign affairs and constitutional change. In 1998, he returned to lead the decimated Tories and fight off efforts to unite the right. CBC Archives looks at Joe Clark's life in politics.
The Spirit of Hockey	In a vast and often frozen land, they are rituals that bind. Dark drives to a chilly hockey arena. Blades biting outdoor ice. Kids in heroes' sweaters, mouthing their own play-by-plays. CBC drives to the net with an unabashedly affectionate look back at the grassroots of our national game — the true spirit of hockey.
Sir John A. Macdonald: Architect of Modern Canada	Sir John A. Macdonald has been described as a pragmatic statesman, earning the title of Old Chieftain, and a procrastinating drunk with the nickname of Old Tomorrow. But there's no denying the legacy of Canada's first prime minister. He united the country with his national vision and the construction of the world's longest railway. Macdonald would overcome personal hurdles, albeit with the help of the bottle, to lay the foundation for modern Canada.
Mackenzie King: Public Life, Private Man	With his cautious policies and shrewd political skills, he successfully led Canada for almost 22 years. But behind closed doors, he held secret séances and had frequent conversations with his dead mother. As Canada's longest-serving prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King's public persona was staid and serious. After his death in 1950, however, his fascinating private life slowly came to light.
Breaking the Ice: Canada and the Northwest Passage	It's been called "the Arctic Grail." For centuries, European explorers were obsessed with the quest for a route around North America to the Orient. Norway's Roald Amundsen finally conquered the Northwest Passage in 1906. But long Arctic winters meant the route couldn't be exploited commercially. Global warming could change all that by melting the ice and making the passage a key shipping route. But as this happens, the controversial question of sovereignty becomes increasingly important. Does the Northwest Passage belong to Canada or the world?
Rethinking Riel	Who was Louis Riel? The Métis leader commanded two rebellions in western Canada and was tried, convicted and hanged for treason in 1885. Until well into the 20th century Riel was regarded as "misguided and impetuous" at best and a psychotic traitor at worst. But in the 1960s Riel's image began to turn around. Today most Canadians, particularly the Métis, have reclaimed him as a heroic patriot, founder of Manitoba and a Father of Confederation.
Pelts, Pups and Protest: The Atlantic Seal Hunt	Those beseeching eyes were impossible to avoid. In the 1970s images of fuzzy white seal pups were everywhere as activists fought to end the seal hunt in Canada. Seals have been harvested for generations on the floes of the Atlantic coast, but concerns about killing methods and conserving the herd virtually ended the practice in the 1980s. The threat of too many cod-eating seals resurrected the hunt, and today anti-cruelty activists monitor an industry that's at its strongest in decades.
Fished Out: The Rise and Fall of the Cod Fishery	It's greedy, it's ugly and it's built to last. For more than 500 years the Atlantic cod was the king of the global fish market, helping build empires, spark wars and found Britain's first colonies in North America. CBC Archives looks at how Canada's abundant cod stocks off of Newfoundland and Labrador were fished to the brink of extinction in what is considered one of the biggest ecological disasters of the 20th century.
The First World War: Canada Remembers	They called it "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars" – though of course it didn't. When hostilities erupted in Europe in 1914, Canadians rushed to Britain's side. But the cost was terrible: more than 60,000 were killed, 172,000 wounded. There are no more Canadian combat veterans alive to recall the horrors of the First World War, but their voices and memories live on in the archives of the CBC. Lest we forget, here are some of their stories.
From Cheers to Jeers: The Mulroney Years	In 1984, Brian Mulroney led the federal Conservatives to the biggest election victory in Canadian history. Almost a decade later, the man described as having "Robert Redford eyes and Paul Newman hair," would leave the Prime Minister's Office as the most unpopular prime minister in Canada's recent memory. Mulroney's bold leadership on controversial issues such as free trade, GST and Meech Lake would drastically alter the political landscape of this country.
Jean Chrétien: From Pool Hall to Parliament Hill	It was a hardscrabble climb to the top for Jean Chrétien. "The little guy from Shawinigan" surprised everyone - except himself - by finding his way to the summit of Canadian politics. From the pool hall political debates of his childhood to the opulent offices of Ottawa, CBC Radio and Television capture the long, colourful career of Canada's 20th prime minister.
Gordon Lightfoot: Canada's Folk Laureate	His melodic, soulful voice is unmistakable. A modern day troubadour, Gordon Lightfoot has touched the lives of millions of people with his thoughtful, evocative portraits of Canadian life and landscape. He's a musician steeped in the folk tradition, his catalogue of songs, including such classics as Canadian Railroad Trilogy and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, earning him a place in the pantheon of Canadian icons.
A Tale of Perseverance: Chinese Immigration to Canada	They risked their lives to help build Canada's railroad in the 1880s. But as soon as the work was done, Canada just wanted them gone. It was the beginning of a difficult history for Chinese immigrants to Canada. They struggled through the head tax, personal attacks and job discrimination. But the Chinese in Canada persevered. And today, Chinese-Canadians are an integral part of Canada's multicultural society, forging their own cultural identities.
Monsters, Myths and Mystery: Great Canadian Legends	Have you ever spied on Sasquatch or ogled Ogopogo? Do you ponder the buried treasure on Oak Island or sob over suicidal lemmings? You're not alone. Canada is full of stories about elusive monsters, legendary loot, mystical creatures and contemporary lore. Join CBC Archives as we take a trip across this land of legends.
A Taste of Canada: Our Homegrown Cuisine	Is there such a thing as Canadian cuisine? The idea of ordering "Canadian" may have some scratching their heads. But Canada has given the world its share of gastronomic delights. From peameal bacon to poutine to pemmican, CBC Archives digs in to some distinctly homegrown fare.
Adieu L'Acadie… Hello Alberta	The flow of workers from Atlantic Canada started several years ago. There are many economic reasons pushing them toward the West. The series explores the anguish of the people who decide to leave, their arrival in Calgary and Fort McMurray, as well as the perception of Westerners toward the new arrivals, and the consequences that such an exodus have on the rural Acadian communities.

The Assignment

It is difficult to define exact requirements, as the diversity of offerings and formats makes consistency impossible. In general, I expect you to make several visits to the CBC and to listen to programs of interest to you. Follow some element of regional broadcasting, or explore a topic in the archived material. As you listen, make a few notes as to the content of the programs. When you are ready, post a report to the Club Car.

A report typically begins with a summary telling what you listened to, for what dates (if regional material), and the major topics dealt with. Go on to recount points of particular interest in the broadcasts. Finally, tell us how your listening shapes your thinking about life (society, politics, choose any aspect or aspects of life you wish, except don’t do more than one radio report focusing on sport) in Canada.

Rubric for Evaluation of Radio Reports
Points of Interest	The report discusses programs of personal interest or of applicability to our study of Canada.	5
Impressions	The report assesses how the radio broadcast shapes your thinking about life in Canada.	3
Appropriate Length	Target length: 250-300 words	1
Matters of Style	Composition, grammar, and punctuation are important to communication.	1
Total Points Possible for Report		10

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