Voyage to Freedom

A Vietnamese father and daughter make a dangerous escape from their war-torn region — a journey that ultimately takes them to Canada as refugees.
Video / Settlement & Immigration
Jackie Kovacs, Editorial Director, Canada’s History magazine celebrates some incredible inventions made in Canada with guest host, Syd Smith. This segment aired February 7, 2025.
The roots of the drug addiction crisis in Vancouver's downtown Eastside stretch back to the opium dens of the nineteenth century and the heroin scene of the 1960s. Now, when thousands of people are dying of street drugs spiked with synthetic opioids, historian Dave Hazzan traces the origins of drug culture in Vancouver and other big Canadian cities.

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The Roma in Peterborough

When sixty Roma set up camp on an extension of George Street in Peterborough, Ontario, in the early summer of 1909, they caused a sensation.

Original Storytelling

An Ontario pioneer village works with Anishinaabe communities to tell a fuller story of settlement and its impacts.

Saving Sweet & Sour

To halt the demolition of Toronto’s first Chinatown, restaurateurs found that the way to a politician’s heart is through his stomach.

2024 Governor General's History Awards

Standing in the Doorway: Lived Histories and Experiences of the Chinese Community

This collaborative, multi-faceted project commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Michele Schwab

Michele Schwab wanted to create an opportunity for her students to make connections with local kêhtê-ayak (Cree for old ones) and knowledge carriers from Starblanket Cree Nation, Little Black Bear First Nation, Okanese First Nation, and Peepeekisis First Nation.

Ben Gross and Daniel Kunanec

Tasting History was an interdisciplinary project that combined Grade 11 and 12 classes in history, hospitality and tourism, and green industries to explore a broad history of European Jewry beyond the Holocaust.
The Governor General's History Awards

Celebrating the very best in Canadian achievements in the field of history and heritage.

View all the recipients, past and present

Latest Stories

Making Room

Five ways to build a more inclusive history.

Night Vision

Toronto’s female baseball players pioneered playing under the stars.

On Guard for Teeth

The term “hockey teeth” seems like an oxymoron — the gappy grins of so many players say a mouthful about how rough our favourite game can get.

As Sharp As Ever

An ulu with a slate cutting edge might have been used to scrape animal skins, to chop meat, and to make clothing.

Courting Justice

The Supreme Court of Canada was not always as supreme as its name suggests. Since 1875 the court has grown in importance alongside the country’s increasingly independent legal landscape.

The Irish Revolutionary who Became a Canadian Nationalist

Thomas D’Arcy McGee’s golden words helped to conjure Canada into existence — but his Irish revolutionary past came back to haunt him.
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Education

Preparing for Difficult Conversations

In this lesson, students will assess their knowledge of the Residential School system and the ongoing investigations related to students who died while attending Residential Schools.

Tracing the Tensions of the Cold War

In this lesson, students will examine the context of the Cold War and the causes that led to the conflict.

Running Towards Change

In this lesson, students will learn about Terry Fox and explore the history and development of lower limb prostheses.

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Students will learn about different types of energy sources used throughout Canada’s history, exploring the challenges, benefits, and harms associated with creating electricity.