Strong and Free Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/strong-and-free 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. Because Black history is Canadian history. Historica Canada 2021 57408d94-4c57-5234-bae8-7c3b9750bf30 no New Podcast: Strong and Free en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:36:00 -0400 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:02:28 -0500 https://img.transistor.fm/SP52Lr5t_YV9Ryy6wC1qjjgC8ZbiyJ0KaxJQNEG91G0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzIzMjY0LzE2NDYy/MzAwNzgtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg Strong and Free episodic Historica Canada 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. Because Black history is Canadian history. 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. history, canada, black history, canadian history Historica Canada No No Haitian Diaspora in Quebec: Rhymes and Revolution 6 6 Haitian Diaspora in Quebec: Rhymes and Revolution full f6826665-03b9-4223-a0c0-fb54d975a242 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5db7c5c5 Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written and produced by Josiane Blanc.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung.

 

Sound design and mix by David Moreau and Gabbie Clarke.

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

 

Thanks to singer/songwriter Jenny Salgado. And thank you to our script-consultant Alain Saint-Victor. 

 

Fact-checking by Cloé Carron

Additional reading:

·       Quiet Revolution

·       Montreal

·       Michaëlle Jean

·       Caribbean Canadians

·       SAINT VICTOR, Alain. De l'exil à la communauté : une histoire de l'immigration haïtienne à Montréal 1960-1990. Mémoire de maîtrise (histoire), Université du Québec à Montréal, 2018. 139 p. De l'exil à la communauté : une histoire de l'immigration haïtienne à Montréal 1960-1990 (uqam.ca)

 

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written and produced by Josiane Blanc.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung.

 

Sound design and mix by David Moreau and Gabbie Clarke.

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

 

Thanks to singer/songwriter Jenny Salgado. And thank you to our script-consultant Alain Saint-Victor. 

 

Fact-checking by Cloé Carron

Additional reading:

·       Quiet Revolution

·       Montreal

·       Michaëlle Jean

·       Caribbean Canadians

·       SAINT VICTOR, Alain. De l'exil à la communauté : une histoire de l'immigration haïtienne à Montréal 1960-1990. Mémoire de maîtrise (histoire), Université du Québec à Montréal, 2018. 139 p. De l'exil à la communauté : une histoire de l'immigration haïtienne à Montréal 1960-1990 (uqam.ca)

 

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

]]> Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0500 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1396 In the 1960s and 70s, Quebec saw an influx of Haitian immigrants fleeing Francois Duvalier’s dictatorship. By 1971, thousands of Haitians had immigrated to Quebec, the only other majority French-speaking society in North America. Arriving mostly in Montreal, Haitians encountered the Quiet Revolution, the perfect setting to establish their exiled community and combat Duvalier’s regime from abroad. Their battle for liberation infused with Quebec’s own. But who are these Haitian immigrants, and what do we really know about their history? We speak with musician Jenny Salgado (a.k.a. J Kyll) and educator and historian Alain Saint-Victor to learn more about the relationship between Haiti and Quebec and the influences of the Haitian community in “la belle province.” In the 1960s and 70s, Quebec saw an influx of Haitian immigrants fleeing Francois Duvalier’s dictatorship. By 1971, thousands of Haitians had immigrated to Quebec, the only other majority French-speaking society in North America. Arriving mostly in Montre Haiti, Haitian diaspora, Jenny Salgado, Alain Saint-Victor, Garvia Bailey, J Kyll, Montreal, Quebec, The Quiet Revolution, immigration, Canadian history, Canada, history, Black history, activism, Black activism No John Ware: The Legend of Canada’s “First” Black Cowboy 5 5 John Ware: The Legend of Canada’s “First” Black Cowboy full a4331f97-5c26-4bdb-839c-67812ee7f852 https://share.transistor.fm/s/adf434f0 Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written and produced by Garvia Bailey.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung.

 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau. 

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

Thank you to Karina Vernon and to our script consultant, Cheryl Foggo.

 

Fact-checking by Sean Young. 

 

Additional reading:

·       Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324 — the Proposed Ban on Black Immigration to Canada

·       John Ware

·       Black History in Canada: 1900-1960

·       Cowboys and Cowgirls in Canada

 

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written and produced by Garvia Bailey.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung.

 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau. 

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

Thank you to Karina Vernon and to our script consultant, Cheryl Foggo.

 

Fact-checking by Sean Young. 

 

Additional reading:

·       Order-in-Council P.C. 1911-1324 — the Proposed Ban on Black Immigration to Canada

·       John Ware

·       Black History in Canada: 1900-1960

·       Cowboys and Cowgirls in Canada

 

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

]]> Tue, 02 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1664 Known for his strength and horsemanship and his innovative ranching techniques, John Ware was a legendary Albertan. Born into enslavement, he became a successful rancher and eventually settled near Calgary. He was widely admired as one of the best cowboys in the West, even at a time of widespread anti-Black racism and discrimination. We turn to Cheryl Foggo, author, playwright, screenwriter, and director of John Ware Reclaimed and Karina Vernon, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, to learn more about this legendary Black hero who had a hand in shaping Canada’s prairie culture. Known for his strength and horsemanship and his innovative ranching techniques, John Ware was a legendary Albertan. Born into enslavement, he became a successful rancher and eventually settled near Calgary. He was widely admired as one of the best cowboys Black history, Canadian history, history, Canada, John Ware, Karina Vernon, Cheryl Foggo, Black pioneers, Black cowboy, Alberta, Calgary, Garvia Bailey No Mary Ann Shadd: Journalism, Activism, and the Power of Words 4 4 Mary Ann Shadd: Journalism, Activism, and the Power of Words full aec95714-3d06-4ce5-aa82-c21ef81857fa https://share.transistor.fm/s/a32558e3 Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

This episode was written and produced by Hannah Sung.

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau.

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.      

Thank you to Marishana Mabusela and to our script consultant, Adrienne Shadd.

Fact-checking by Sean Young.

Additional reading:

·       Mary Ann Shadd

·       Underground Railroad

·       Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

·       Black History in Canada Until 1900

 

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

This episode was written and produced by Hannah Sung.

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau.

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.      

Thank you to Marishana Mabusela and to our script consultant, Adrienne Shadd.

Fact-checking by Sean Young.

Additional reading:

·       Mary Ann Shadd

·       Underground Railroad

·       Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

·       Black History in Canada Until 1900

 

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

]]> Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 2000 Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America. But Mary Ann Shadd didn’t just make history by being first. With her newspaper “The Provincial Freeman,” she captured history. Today, her perspective deepens our understanding of the past and is an example of why representation in journalism matters. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with two of Shadd’s descendants: Marishana Mabusela, our researcher for this podcast, and her mother, writer and historian Adrienne Shadd. Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America. But Mary Ann Shadd didn’t just make history by being first. With her newspaper “The Provincial Freeman,” she captured history. Today, her perspective deepens our unders history, canada, black history, canadian history No Marie-Josèphe Angélique : Montreal on Fire 3 3 Marie-Josèphe Angélique : Montreal on Fire full bbffd43b-028c-4b88-bd1a-04337351fa8d https://share.transistor.fm/s/095c98b3 Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends. 

This episode was written and produced by Josiane Blanc. 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by David Moreau and Gabbie Clarke. 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends. 

Thank you to Ayana O’Shun, Denyse Beaugrand-Champagne, author of Le Procès de Marie-Josèphe-Angélique, and to Dr. Afua Cooper, author of The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal.  

Thank you to our script consultant, Dr. Dorothy Williams, historian and author.  

Thank you to Dominique Fils-Aimé and Ensoul Records for the use of Dominique’s song “There is probably fire,” written by Dominique Fils-Aimé and Jacques G Roy. Published by Ensoul Records and Harris & Wolff.  

Fact-checking by Sean Young.

English versioning by Power of Babel.

Additional reading:

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends. 

This episode was written and produced by Josiane Blanc. 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by David Moreau and Gabbie Clarke. 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends. 

Thank you to Ayana O’Shun, Denyse Beaugrand-Champagne, author of Le Procès de Marie-Josèphe-Angélique, and to Dr. Afua Cooper, author of The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal.  

Thank you to our script consultant, Dr. Dorothy Williams, historian and author.  

Thank you to Dominique Fils-Aimé and Ensoul Records for the use of Dominique’s song “There is probably fire,” written by Dominique Fils-Aimé and Jacques G Roy. Published by Ensoul Records and Harris & Wolff.  

Fact-checking by Sean Young.

English versioning by Power of Babel.

Additional reading:

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

]]> Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1983 Marie-Josèphe Angélique was an enslaved Black woman owned by Thérèse de Couagne de Francheville in Montreal. In 1734, she was charged with arson after a fire leveled Montreal’s merchants’ quarter. It was alleged that Angélique committed the act while attempting to flee her bondage. She was convicted, tortured, and hanged. While it remains unknown whether she set the fire, Angélique’s story has come to symbolize Black resistance and freedom. We discuss Angélique’s story, and that of enslavement in Canada, with three women who have examined the trial: Dr. Afua Cooper, historian, poet, and professor at Dalhousie University; Denyse Beaugrand-Champagne, historian & archivist, and Ayana O’Shun, director of “Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave.” Marie-Josèphe Angélique was an enslaved Black woman owned by Thérèse de Couagne de Francheville in Montreal. In 1734, she was charged with arson after a fire leveled Montreal’s merchants’ quarter. It was alleged that Angélique committed the act while atte Marie-Josèphe Angélique, Enslavement, Garvia Bailey, Afua cooper, Denyse Beaugrand-Champagne, history, Black history, Canada, Montreal, Canadian history, slavery No Herb Carnegie: Black Excellence on – and off – the Ice 2 2 Herb Carnegie: Black Excellence on – and off – the Ice full 8e91d567-ae1d-4359-9ade-ab7ba1bf350c https://share.transistor.fm/s/a7e7a93b Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

This episode was written by Hannah Sung.

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau.

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

Thank you to Bernice Carnegie and to our script consultant, Kwame Mason.

Fact-checking by Amy Van den Berg.

Thank you to TSN and Hockey Canada for use of the clip of Akil Thomas at the World Junior Hockey Championship of 2020. 

Additional reading:

·       Herb Carnegie 

·       Colored Hockey League

·       Willie O’Ree

·       National Hockey League 

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

This episode was written by Hannah Sung.

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau.

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

Thank you to Bernice Carnegie and to our script consultant, Kwame Mason.

Fact-checking by Amy Van den Berg.

Thank you to TSN and Hockey Canada for use of the clip of Akil Thomas at the World Junior Hockey Championship of 2020. 

Additional reading:

·       Herb Carnegie 

·       Colored Hockey League

·       Willie O’Ree

·       National Hockey League 

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

]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1872 Herb Carnegie is widely regarded as the best Black player to never play in the NHL. He played competitive hockey in the 1940s and 1950s, mostly in the Quebec and Ontario Junior A and senior leagues. In this episode, we learn about Herb’s story of Black excellence on and off the ice, and speak with Kwame Mason, director and producer of the “Soul on Ice” film and podcast, and Bernice Carnegie, daughter of Herb Carnegie, and co-founder of The Carnegie Initiative for acceptance and inclusion in hockey. Herb Carnegie is widely regarded as the best Black player to never play in the NHL. He played competitive hockey in the 1940s and 1950s, mostly in the Quebec and Ontario Junior A and senior leagues. In this episode, we learn about Herb’s story of Black ex Herb Carnegie, hockey, Black history, Canadian history, history, Canada, NHL, black hockey players No West Indian Domestic Scheme: Nurturing a Nation 1 1 West Indian Domestic Scheme: Nurturing a Nation full b234c524-e43c-41f6-80d3-c7bf54df8707 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ac6df20a Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written by Garvia Bailey.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau. 

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

Thank you to Eva Bailey and to our script consultant, Karen Flynn, associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 

 

Special thanks to the Bailey family. 

 

The 1959 clip you heard in this episode was produced by The Calvin Company for a McGraw Hill Textbook series in a video called The Problem With Women.   

Fact-checking by Amy van den Berg. 

 

Additional reading:

·       Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present

·       West Indian Domestic Scheme

·       Jean Augustine 

·       Caribbean Canadians 

 

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

]]> Strong and Free is produced by Historica Canada and Media Girlfriends.

 

This episode was written by Garvia Bailey.

 

Senior producers are Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. 

 

Sound design and mix by Gabbie Clarke and David Moreau. 

 

The Media Girlfriends team is rounded out by Josiane Blanc, Lucius Dechausay, Jeff Woodrow, and Nana aba Duncan, the founder of Media Girlfriends.

 

Thank you to Eva Bailey and to our script consultant, Karen Flynn, associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 

 

Special thanks to the Bailey family. 

 

The 1959 clip you heard in this episode was produced by The Calvin Company for a McGraw Hill Textbook series in a video called The Problem With Women.   

Fact-checking by Amy van den Berg. 

 

Additional reading:

·       Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present

·       West Indian Domestic Scheme

·       Jean Augustine 

·       Caribbean Canadians 

 

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

]]> Tue, 05 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400 Historica Canada Historica Canada 1987 From 1955 to 1967, Canada ran a recruitment initiative known as the West Indian Domestic Scheme. Young women from English-speaking Caribbean countries could come to Canada as domestic workers. These women were crucial to the economic and cultural growth of the country, and the Canadian idea of multiculturalism was built, in part, on the backs of these women. In this episode, Eva Bailey, mother of host Garvia Bailey, remembers her experience coming to Canada shortly after the scheme. We also speak with associate professor Karen Flynn, who explores the feminist revolution as well as the social mobility this immigration scheme encouraged. From 1955 to 1967, Canada ran a recruitment initiative known as the West Indian Domestic Scheme. Young women from English-speaking Caribbean countries could come to Canada as domestic workers. These women were crucial to the economic and cultural growth o Immigration, Domestic Workers, Black history, Canadian Black history, Canadian history, Canada, history, West Indian Domestic Scheme, Caribbean No New Podcast: Strong and Free 1 1 New Podcast: Strong and Free trailer 35b929ae-e59e-4f4a-8754-b007ad649706 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8bd3d628 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, 16 Sep 2021 15:35:02 -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 history, canada, black history, canadian history No