A Place to Belong Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/a-place-to-belong In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt an official multiculturalism policy. It was meant to preserve cultural freedoms and recognize the contributions of diverse groups to Canadian society. Today it’s a defining feature of the Canadian identity. But for much of our history, that wasn’t the case. We explore the reasons why in this five-part series, A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada, produced by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. A Place to Belong is part of a larger education campaign created by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada also offers a video series and an education guide about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. Visit historicacanada.ca for more. FOLLOW US! Instagram: https://instagram.com/historicacanada/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricaCanada TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@historicacanada Facebook: https://facebook.com/Historica.Canada/ Pinterest: https://pinterest.ca/historicac/_saved/ 2021 Historica Canada cc8fc1ff-eb4a-566a-aa8e-377e7508851a no Coming Soon! New Podcast: Strong and Free A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:36:55 -0400 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:27:17 -0500 https://aplacetobelong.transistor.fm/ https://img.transistor.fm/M0FUi9prbI5jfUGo8mrgKa1myVg6igzWKa2tW4NKc-4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzE5NjE4LzE2MTg4/MzYwMTctYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg A Place to Belong https://aplacetobelong.transistor.fm/ episodic Historica Canada In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt an official multiculturalism policy. It was meant to preserve cultural freedoms and recognize the contributions of diverse groups to Canadian society. Today it’s a defining feature of the Canadian identity. But for much of our history, that wasn’t the case. We explore the reasons why in this five-part series, A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada, produced by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. A Place to Belong is part of a larger education campaign created by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada also offers a video series and an education guide about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. Visit historicacanada.ca for more. FOLLOW US! Instagram: https://instagram.com/historicacanada/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricaCanada TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@historicacanada Facebook: https://facebook.com/Historica.Canada/ Pinterest: https://pinterest.ca/historicac/_saved/ In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt an official multiculturalism policy. multiculturalism, policy, canada, history, documentary Historica Canada No No Coming Soon! New Podcast: Strong and Free 6 6 Coming Soon! New Podcast: Strong and Free trailer d73783c6-1fc4-41f6-929e-d4871f73065e https://share.transistor.fm/s/3a6d8897 The Strong and Free podcast series is part of a larger Black History education campaign created by Historica Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada offers a video series, an education guide, and several new entries on The Canadian Encyclopedia about Black History in Canada.

Follow Historica Canada on Twitter,  Instagram, and TikTok @HistoricaCanada, and on Facebook at facebook.com/Historica.Canada/ 

For more resources, visit historicacanada.ca.

]]> The Strong and Free podcast series is part of a larger Black History education campaign created by Historica Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada offers a video series, an education guide, and several new entries on The Canadian Encyclopedia about Black History in Canada.

Follow Historica Canada on Twitter,  Instagram, and TikTok @HistoricaCanada, and on Facebook at facebook.com/Historica.Canada/ 

For more resources, visit historicacanada.ca.

]]> Thu, 23 Sep 2021 12:47:23 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 60 Coming October 5, 2021: Tracing stories from the earliest Black settlers to recently arrived Canadians, Strong and Free captures just a few of the crucial stories of Black Canadians thriving and contributing to building this country. Listen to Strong and Free, a six-part podcast from Historica Canada, produced by Media Girlfriends. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. Because Black history is Canadian history. Coming October 5, 2021: Tracing stories from the earliest Black settlers to recently arrived Canadians, Strong and Free captures just a few of the crucial stories of Black Canadians thriving and contributing to building this country. Listen to Strong multiculturalism, policy, canada, history, documentary No Project Neighbourhood 5 5 Project Neighbourhood full fcf49882-6da1-439e-acd0-493de1f76c02 https://share.transistor.fm/s/611aa5aa This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thanks to Jim Torczyner, who was also a consultant on this episode.  

Clips of Magda Popeanu generously provided by the Toronto Ward Museum’s Block by Block Program. 

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Additional reading:

·       Cotes-des-Neiges 

·       Anti-Semitism in Canada

·       Block by Block Program by the Toronto Ward Museum

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thanks to Jim Torczyner, who was also a consultant on this episode.  

Clips of Magda Popeanu generously provided by the Toronto Ward Museum’s Block by Block Program. 

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Additional reading:

·       Cotes-des-Neiges 

·       Anti-Semitism in Canada

·       Block by Block Program by the Toronto Ward Museum

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> Wed, 23 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1460 In this episode, we asked: What does the multiculturalism policy look like in practice? To find out the answer, Jim Torczyner, a professor of social work at McGill University, walks us through Montreal’s most diverse neighbourhood, Côte-des-Neiges, and we explore what works — and what needs work. In this episode, we asked: What does the multiculturalism policy look like in practice? To find out the answer, Jim Torczyner, a professor of social work at McGill University, walks us through Montreal’s most diverse neighbourhood, Côte-des-Neiges, and we multiculturalism, Canada, history, policy, immigration, Montreal, Côte-des-Neiges, Jim Torczyner No Hogan’s Alley 4 4 Hogan’s Alley full 9f410492-c7e2-431e-816a-d0fb2ada2f66 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3eb61c1b This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support by Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio. 

Thank you to our interviewees Bertha and Randy Clark, and consultant Stephanie Allen, founding board member of the Hogan’s Alley Society.   

Clips of Thelma Gibson-Towns from the 1994 documentary Hogan’s Alley by Cornelia Wyngaarden and Andrea Fatona provided by Video Out Distribution. 

Fact-checking by Amy van den Berg. 

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.   
Additional reading:
·       Hogan's Alley
·       Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324 — the Proposed Ban on Black Immigration to Canada
·       Black History in Canada until 1900
·       Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present  


Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support by Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio. 

Thank you to our interviewees Bertha and Randy Clark, and consultant Stephanie Allen, founding board member of the Hogan’s Alley Society.   

Clips of Thelma Gibson-Towns from the 1994 documentary Hogan’s Alley by Cornelia Wyngaarden and Andrea Fatona provided by Video Out Distribution. 

Fact-checking by Amy van den Berg. 

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.   
Additional reading:
·       Hogan's Alley
·       Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324 — the Proposed Ban on Black Immigration to Canada
·       Black History in Canada until 1900
·       Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present  


Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> Wed, 16 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1813 In the late 1960s, Hogan’s Alley was the only area in Vancouver with a largely Black population, mainly because of the housing discrimination pervasive in the city. In this episode, Randy and Bertha Clark share their memories of a tightknit community brought to the ground by city planning, and explain how historic Black communities are still fighting to be remembered. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains reference to specific instances of anti-Black racism and violence. In the late 1960s, Hogan’s Alley was the only area in Vancouver with a largely Black population, mainly because of the housing discrimination pervasive in the city. In this episode, Randy and Bertha Clark share their memories of a tightknit community b multiculturalism, Canada, policy, history, Hogan's Alley, Vancouver, Black history, Canadian history, Randy Clark, Bertha Clark No Mayor of Toronto’s Chinatown 3 3 Mayor of Toronto’s Chinatown full 72139aa5-fcc0-4f46-9356-a9040b427ca8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cc387e6d This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support and post-production by Edit Audio.  


Thank you to Arlene Chan and to our script consultant, Dr. Serene Tan.


Special thanks to the Lumb family and the Jean Lumb Foundation. Clips of Jean Lumb from the 2003 documentary Spirit of the Dragon by Gil Gavreau were provided by Third World Newsreel. 

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt. 

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Cover image of Jean Lumb courtesy of Arlene Chan. 

Additional reading:

·       Jean Lumb

·       Toronto's Chinatown

·       Chinese Immigration Act

·       Chinese Head Tax in Canada

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> This episode was co-written by Melissa Fundira and Historica Canada. It was produced by Historica Canada. Production support and post-production by Edit Audio.  


Thank you to Arlene Chan and to our script consultant, Dr. Serene Tan.


Special thanks to the Lumb family and the Jean Lumb Foundation. Clips of Jean Lumb from the 2003 documentary Spirit of the Dragon by Gil Gavreau were provided by Third World Newsreel. 

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt. 

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Cover image of Jean Lumb courtesy of Arlene Chan. 

Additional reading:

·       Jean Lumb

·       Toronto's Chinatown

·       Chinese Immigration Act

·       Chinese Head Tax in Canada

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook. 

]]> Wed, 09 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1821 Toronto’s Chinatown – one of the largest in North America – is filled with hustle and bustle. Today, the community is larger, more diverse, and more embedded in Canadian society than ever. But, in the late 1960s, the City of Toronto nearly wiped its Chinatown from the map. In this episode, Arlene Chan helps us explore the history of the Chinese people in Canada, and one Chinese Canadian woman’s determination to save Toronto’s Chinatown. Toronto’s Chinatown – one of the largest in North America – is filled with hustle and bustle. Today, the community is larger, more diverse, and more embedded in Canadian society than ever. But, in the late 1960s, the City of Toronto nearly wiped its China multiculturalism, canada, history, policy, Chinese Canadian, Toronto, chinatown, immigration No Battle of the Hatpins 2 2 Battle of the Hatpins full 1a1589e1-cabe-44bf-934d-1651cf1f296e https://share.transistor.fm/s/61a8ae4d This episode was written and produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Andrew Chung and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thanks to Soukaina Boutiyeb and to our script consultant, historian Dr. Marcel Martel.

Fact-checking by Sebastian Leck.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Cover image courtesy of the University of Ottawa, Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture (CRCCF).

Additional reading:

·     The Battle of the Hatpins

·     Francophones of Ontario (Franco-Ontarians)

Additional viewing:

The Battle of the Hatpins

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

]]> This episode was written and produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Andrew Chung and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thanks to Soukaina Boutiyeb and to our script consultant, historian Dr. Marcel Martel.

Fact-checking by Sebastian Leck.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

Cover image courtesy of the University of Ottawa, Centre for Research on French Canadian Culture (CRCCF).

Additional reading:

·     The Battle of the Hatpins

·     Francophones of Ontario (Franco-Ontarians)

Additional viewing:

The Battle of the Hatpins

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1348 On a cold January day in 1916, dozens of francophone parents fought off police who were trying to prevent French-language instruction at the Guigues School in Ottawa. In the infamous Battle of the Hatpins, mothers brandished rolling pins, cast-iron pans and hatpins and refused to allow police on the grounds. In this episode, executive director of the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne, Soukaina Boutiyeb, helps us explore the centuries-long fight for francophone rights in Ontario – and the historic battle that marked it. On a cold January day in 1916, dozens of francophone parents fought off police who were trying to prevent French-language instruction at the Guigues School in Ottawa. In the infamous Battle of the Hatpins, mothers brandished rolling pins, cast-iron pans a multiculturalism, policy, canada, history, documentary No How We Got Here 1 1 How We Got Here full 026aa734-ba09-4c62-8cb9-ee13976a80ea https://share.transistor.fm/s/01df817c This episode was written and produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thank you to Dr. Jan Raska and Guy Freedman, who were also consultants on this episode.  

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt.  

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

Cover image courtesy of Library and Archives Canada/1990-560-2.

Additional reading:

·       Canadian Multiculturalism Act

·       Immigration to Canada

·       Immigration Policy in Canada

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

]]> This episode was written and produced by Historica Canada. Production support from Michael Fiore and Edit Audio. Post-production by Edit Audio.  

Thank you to Dr. Jan Raska and Guy Freedman, who were also consultants on this episode.  

Fact-checking by Nicole Schmidt.  

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

Cover image courtesy of Library and Archives Canada/1990-560-2.

Additional reading:

·       Canadian Multiculturalism Act

·       Immigration to Canada

·       Immigration Policy in Canada

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2021 08:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1270 Canada as we know it today has been shaped by policies that encourage immigration and welcome people from all corners of the globe. But the journey to a multicultural Canada hasn’t been a straight path. In this episode, Guy Freedman, Métis from Flin Flon and president of the First Peoples Group, and historian Dr. Jan Raska from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 help us understand how we got to where we are today. Canada as we know it today has been shaped by policies that encourage immigration and welcome people from all corners of the globe. But the journey to a multicultural Canada hasn’t been a straight path. In this episode, Guy Freedman, Métis from Flin F multiculturalism, policy, canada, history, documentary No A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada trailer 83d51559-3a5b-4746-8041-9aa54aeca6d4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a17aa873 A Place to Belong is part of a larger education campaign created by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada also offers a video series and an education guide about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. Visit historicacanada.ca for more.

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

]]> A Place to Belong is part of a larger education campaign created by Historica Canada and made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada also offers a video series and an education guide about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. Visit historicacanada.ca for more.

Follow @HistoricaCanada on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and @Historica.Canada on Facebook.

]]> Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:22:37 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 44 Coming May 26, 2021: A podcast series about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada is a five-part podcast series that aims to commemorate the people who make up Canada as we know it today. Coming May 26, 2021: A podcast series about the history of multiculturalism in Canada. A Place to Belong: A History of Multiculturalism in Canada is a five-part podcast series that aims to commemorate the people who make up Canada as we know it today. history, multiculturalism, Canada, policy No