Alma Bernier (Isaac Brock, Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Finalist for the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/TeachingAward]

Boozhoo Aaniin, Waabibineshii Ikwe dizhinikaaz, mahkwa doodem, Miimiiwziibiing doonjii.  Hello my name is Grey Thunderbird Woman of the Bear clan from Berens  River, Manitoba, Treaty 5 Territory. My English name is Orlene Alma  Bernier and I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. My project inspiration comes  from the 94 calls to action and I persevere in teaching history from an  Indigenous lens. The goal of the project was for my Indigenous students  to identify who they are, where they came from, and how their history  continues to affect their lives. We accomplished this by studying  treaties, residential schools and Manitoba’s election of their first  Indigenous premier. My responsibility is to teach truth and language to  our youth to help break the cycles that have kept Indigenous people from  knowing their true worths and identities. As a grandmother I share what  knowledge and language I have because it is my right and duty to teach  our children as it has always been done for centuries. Miigwech.

Teaching history with an Indigenous lens

Christopher Martinello (St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School, Richmond Hill, Ontario)
Finalist for the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/TeachingAward]

Christopher Martinello's class project is the Wendat Village Educational Archaeology Outreach Program. Before their school opened, archaeologists excavated a Wendat Village archaeological site on the property. The project introduced a new course in archaeological studies. Students re-created Indigenous technologies like atlatl spear throwers and tested them on the school’s field. The Ontario Archaeological Society and the Toronto Star have featured the project in their publications. Students constructed a museum gallery in the school foyer with artifact reproductions, designed one-page entries of the project for the school yearbook, and contributed to a school-specific Land Acknowledgement collaborating with the school board’s Indigenous community partners. Students helped generate a successful application to the Ontario Heritage Trust to establish a historical plaque on the grounds commemorating the Wendat Village.

Wendat Village Educational Archaeology Outreach Program

Dans cet épisode vous entendrez Chantal Duplessis, Renée Landry, François Desmarais, Véronique Picard et David Marchand. Notez que Cathy Morais et Manouchka Otis, également finalistes francophones, n’ont malheureusement pas pu se joindre à la discussion.

Au programme, nos invités retracent leur parcours inspirant, parlent de leur projet en lice pour l’obtention d’un Prix d’histoire du Gouverneur général et présentent des ressources éducatives coup de cœur.

Enseigner l'histoire canadienne : des ressources utiles

This episode features Stephanie Gibson, Michele Cumberland, Rodney Squires, Hillary Weppler, and Jennifer Morris — teachers who are all using interdisciplinary approaches to help their students engage critically and creatively with history.

They talk about combining history with technology, philosophy and the arts, and explore what it looks like when students are encouraged to ask rich questions, connect with their own communities, and share their learning.

Interdisciplinary Connections

This episode features Erin Quinn, Heather Howell, and Tara Corneau, three educators who are using partnerships and community-based learning to further their students learning.

They discuss how to build authentic collaborations with local organizations and how working beyond the classroom helps deepen historical understanding.

Building Authentic Collaborations

This episode features Jessica Gonsales, Vanessa Kirtz, Amelia Adamowicz, and Ian Duncan — educators who are helping students uncover, interpret, and share powerful historical narratives.

Their conversation explores how teachers can support responsible storytelling and help their students grapple with the complex and nuanced histories that they are studying.

Supporting Responsible Storytelling

This episode features Cherlyn Forth, Jon McPhail, and Kathryn Laframbroise, whose students are exploring histories in their own communities and regions and using creative ways to share their learning.

They talk about the role of student voice in determining historical significance, the value of place-based learning, and how they continue to find ideas for their classrooms.

The Role of Student Voice

The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line was a radar defence network in Canada’s Arctic. It was a Cold War engineering marvel, but it had terrible effects on the land and Inuit communities. With Arctic defence once again a topic of concern, Canada's History Society CEO Melony Ward interviews experts about the DEW Line and its impact. 

The Distant Early Warning Line

From Black stevedores in the American Deep South, to Hawaiian Inuit dances, to folk singers on Canada's East Coast music scene -- discover the fascinating world of sea shanties in a special episode by Canada's History contributor Jonah Grignon. With music recorded live by the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. 

Music credits:

Traditional shanties performed by the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective, used with permission of the artists

"Heave Away," traditional, performed by Roger McGuinn, licensed from freemusicarchive.org

"Hawaiian Ciribiribin" composed by Alberto Pestalozza, recorded in 1919 by Louise and Ferera, public domain https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/hawaiian-ciribiribin-1919/

"Medley of sea songs," traditional, recorded in 1913, public domain https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-133664/

"Medley of sea chanties," traditional, recorded in 1914, public domain https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-649564/

Heave Away! Why sea shanties bring the world together

The victory at Vimy Ridge, France, remains Canada’s most storied attack of the First World War. Beginning on April 9, 1917, all four Canadian divisions advanced side-by-side for the first time in a single attack. But the victory came at a cost: During four days of fighting, Canada suffered more than ten thousand casualties. Today, war letters offer a window on that long-ago time. Here, in their own words, are the stories of the soldiers who fought, and the loved ones back home who cherished them.

Music credits: 

 * Stories Behind the History theme music: "The Red River Jig" performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist. 
 * Opening Theme: “The Planets, Op. 32; Jupiter,” by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916
 * William Bell: “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” by Ivor Novello, lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford, 1914
 * B.R. Empey: “Symphony No. 3; A Pastoral Symphony,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1922
 * Maurice Bracewell: “The Planets, Op. 32; Saturn,” by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916
 * George Broome / Violet Moyer: “Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95; From the New World,” by Antonín Dvořák, 1893
 * Sydney Winterbottom: “Good Luck to the Boys of the Allies,” by Morris Manley, 1915
 * Sydney Winterbottom: “Scotland the Brave” – Traditional, Early twentieth century
 * Frank J. Whiting: “Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36; Var. IX – Nimrod,” by Edward Elgar, 1898–1899
 * Frank J. Whiting: “The Last Post” – Military, seventeenth century
 * End Credits: “The Lark Ascending,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1914 (Revised 1920)



Voices of Vimy

Join renowned historians and witnesses to history for a deep dive into Canada's storied past, from Indigenous cultures and the fur trade to the world wars and much more. Because history lives in all of us. Produced by the award-winning team at Canada's History magazine.

Theme music: Red River Jig by Alex Kusturok.

Stories behind the history

This special podcast series features some of the finalists for the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching [https://www.canadashistory.ca/cmsctx/pm/2a1c5210-faf1-47cc-99ad-8b20aa8dfe40/culture/en-CA/wg/6715bc65-8213-4945-b443-fb8a85cdf27f/readonly/0/ea/1/h/2184d0d01ef6dd5ff5c320acb25c11347ff477bf5a443f137df07ed40bb486f1/-/awards/governor-general-s-history-awards/governor-general-s-history-award-for-excellence-in-teaching?uh=f5043a397943cf3e46994141fdbf49959c291d8f1d9fea5eb1c081af900a8f2d]. The award recognizes teachers from across the country for their exceptional work in teaching Canadian history. It is also an opportunity to promote and facilitate the sharing of best practices and innovative teaching ideas within Canada’s history education community.

*** 

Cette série spéciale de balados met en lumière quelques-uns des finalistes francophones du Prix d'histoire du Gouverneur général pour l'excellence en enseignement de 2025 [https://www.histoirecanada.ca/cmsctx/pm/2a1c5210-faf1-47cc-99ad-8b20aa8dfe40/culture/fr-CA/wg/155bebaa-c907-4fef-bf0b-cf6aad61c887/readonly/0/ea/1/h/312a401a7970acd7f76df34ba2beb6ecbd0f866501e5d933fd2b375dd7ce4ed0/-/consulter/prix/les-finalistes-de-l-edition-de-2025-du-prix-d-histoire-du-gouverneur-general-pour-l-excellence-en-en?uh=83fca74fb4cebd1afb2c1444bd0387b37106f5c52492fc4235e10cb119f6d859]. Ce prix reconnaît des enseignants de partout au pays pour leur travail exceptionnel dans le domaine de l'enseignement de l'histoire canadienne. Il permet aussi de promouvoir et de faciliter le partage de pratiques exemplaires et d'idées pédagogiques novatrices au sein de la communauté canadienne de l'enseignement de l'histoire.

Canada's History

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