First published on Black Cabin Studio’s NorthAmericanaPodcast.com In today’s episode, we head west, just off the shores of Vancouver, B.C. With the help of talented journalist Lavonne Leong, we explore thriving Hawaiian roots on Canada’s Salt Spring Island, which dates back to a time long before Canada and the United States were formed. It's a fascinating story. Listen in.Special thanks to James Gray for our theme song music. 

For senior producer Lia Grainger, the film industry has been a part of Vancouver's identity for as long as she can remember. Working in the TV and movie business has always been something that just happened to people around her. But here’s the thing — she never had a clear understanding of why Vancouver became the go-to spot in North America, after Los Angeles, to make films and TV, until now. Listen in as Grainger traces it all back to one thrilling, one-of-a-kind movie that was shot in...

In today's episode, award-winning contributing producer Scott Gurian takes us to Montreal, QC., a city often split between languages and cultures, yet passionately united behind their love of the iconic hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. But as Scott reveals, Montreal is far more than just another hockey-crazy town. To “Habs” fans province-wide, hockey embodies the spirit of Quebecois people, their history and culture. Listen in as Scott tells us why.Special thanks to James Gray for our...

In today's episode, award-winning contributing producer Scott Gurian takes us to Montreal, QC., a city often split between languages and cultures, yet passionately united behind their love of the iconic hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. But as Scott reveals, Montreal is far more than just another hockey-crazy town. To “Habs” fans province-wide, hockey embodies the spirit of Quebecois people, their history and culture. Listen in as Scott tells us why.Special thanks to James Gray for our...

As Canadians, we think we know every permutation of “cottage country”. But have you heard of the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”. In this episode, we take you there. Spoiler alert — there will be deep-fried cheese curds. Look at a map of Wisconsin, U.S., and you'll see the peninsula jutting out into Lake Michigan on the eastern side of the state, kind of like a thumb — that’s Door County. The Door County Peninsula, with Green Bay on the western flank, has long been kind of a midwest cottage...

Nova Scotia is a province home to some amazing sights: the Bay of Fundy, Halifax, and of course, anywhere along Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. But in a province with 13,000 kilometres of coastline where you are never more than 50 km away from the ocean, there is a town nowhere near the Atlantic Ocean drawing crowds from across the globe. Award-winning musicians, dancers, international yachters, world-class inventors and more have all flocked to this one area for a long time. Located on the shores...

I know we’re in the final days of summer, but if you’re planning a winter getaway, ponder this: Experiencing the aurora borealis, the northern lights, hit the top ten of almost every official travel bucket list, often in the number one spot. Today, we take you to two great places in Canada to catch this other-worldly phenomenon. Yes, you’ll learn a lot about the northern lights, but we’ve also dug a little deeper — uncovering how some amateur Alberta night sky watchers turned on their heads...

Today we ask a question unthinkable for many Canadians: were the Group of Seven painters really that great? Now before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, we’re not defaming these most iconic of Canadian landscape artists. But here’s what we have in mind.  We’re revisiting the meteoric global rise of these remarkable early 20th century painters through a modern-day lens — not discounting the greatness of their original work, but asking Canadians to challenge the story we’ve all told...

My husband (and production partner) Tim and I knew we wanted to do something special to mark the recent 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Tim’s dad was a Wellington, then Lancaster pilot for six years of WWII — the only member of his original squadron to survive the war. Even among Hollywood portrayals of pilots like Pete Peters, who beat the odds (I’m thinking Memphis Bell, Masters of the Air and others), Pete was a unicorn. All...

Our trusty 60s-era Twin Otter fires up for a flight to the Torngat Mountains National Park in Northern Labrador that will feel not unlike passing through the looking glass. Azure skies and the bright red plane wing contrast a lacework of rivers, estuaries and coastal mountains below. Slowly, the land begins, almost rising up beneath us as we approach Canada's tallest mountains east of the Rockies. Forests begin to disappear, revealing bald, ancient rock, craggy and striated by glaciers long...

If you aren't familiar with Anna Green Gables — dare we ask, where have you been? Because of this book, this story is everywhere. It was written at the turn of the 20th century by P.E.I. resident Lucy Maud Montgomery, and it was published in the summer of 1908. The book was an immediate sensation. Readers were charmed by the central character, young Anne Shirley, a feisty orphan girl with red hair. The story follows Anne as she's adopted by aging brother and sister Matthew and Marilla...

On this episode of Here & There, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Jennifer Haddow. From the bustling streets of downtown Toronto to the serene shores of Georgian Bay and finally, to the top of the world, Haddow's life has been a testament to the transformative power of nature and the strength of female companionship. Haddow's story almost defies belief. Today, the owner of (https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/)Wild Women Expedition (https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/)s runs trips...

Foam swords slice through the air amidst fun carnage while villagers eat ice cream on the shores of Lake Winnipeg — this is Gimli, Manitoba’s annual Icelandic Festival. Complete with Viking battle reenactments, sandcastle contests, golf tournaments and more, this annual festival has been around since 1890, the second-oldest continuous ethnic festival in North America. And thanks to award-winning producer and storyteller Robert Reid, we have front-row seats. Next, we head south to Gimli’s US...

Jamaica is known for its ackee and saltfish, Thailand for its pad thai, India for khichdi… But what the heck is Canadian cuisine? Listen in as we drop award-winning American journalist Scott Gurian into Toronto's Kensington Market, one of Canada’s most lively and diverse urban neighbourhoods, to tackle this big question. A self-described foodie, Gurian takes up the challenge with an open mind and hearty appetite. Along the way, Canadian culinary icon Michael Bonacini and other rising kitchen...

Think Canada’s western adventure culture is pretty macho? Well, yes, but that’s just part of the story. Here & There host and producer Liz Beatty tests her own mettle on backcountry peaks with CMH Heli Skiing and Summer Adventure. And along the way, she introduces us to some amazing women who’ve helped make mountaineering what it is today. Waiting at CMH’s helipad, Liz has second thoughts about being whisked off to a backcountry lodge for a few days of heli-hiking. We're talking remote,...

For as long as I've known my husband Tim, the ship Hector, a 26-metre three-masted brig, has been part of his family lore. Some call it the Canadian Mayflower. Its harrowing eleven-week voyage from Ullapool, Scotland, delivered some 189 souls to the shores of Nova Scotia’s Pictou Harbour in September 1773, just over 250 years ago. Eighteen children on board were buried at sea. When they finally landed, it was too late for the growing season, with none of the promised accommodations, and only...