ReCollections

In August 2017, a lightning strike near Waterton Lakes National Park sparked a devastating wildfire that burned nearly 40% of the park. But in the wake of destruction came a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’ll hear from archaeologists and Blackfoot elders about the collaborative archaeology project that’s deepening our understanding of the lives of Indigenous peoples who have lived and travelled in the Rocky Mountains and foothills for millennia. Learn more: Waterton Lakes National Park Plan Your Visit Google Arts and Culture Exhibition: Waterton Lakes Prince of Wales Hotel National Historic Site designation First Oil Well in Western Canada National Historic Site designation Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site Other Media: Post Wildfire Renewal Video and Photo Gallery Dr. Mike Bruised Head’s PhD thesis on the impact of erasing Blackfoot place names in Paahtomahksikimi Questions about the ReCollections podcast or any of the episodes? Please contact us at ⁠⁠nouveauxmedias-newmedia@pc.gc.ca Do you have a suggestion for a new National Historic Person, Site or Event? We’d love to hear it! Visit https://parks.canada.ca/commemorate for details on how to submit a nomination.

The southern coast of Labrador in the 1500s was the scene of Canada’s first oil boom. Each summer, Basque crews from Spain and France traversed the Atlantic to hunt whales and render their blubber into a precious commodity: oil that lit the lamps of Europe. It was dangerous, messy… and profitable. The story was all but lost until the 1970s, when researchers and archaeologists flocked to the tiny community of Red Bay, digging in the gardens and diving in the harbour, to uncover the secrets of Red Bay National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Special thanks to Joxe Felipe Auzmendi and Iñaki Beraetxe, to Daniel Payne for use of his song Selma Barkham’s Waltz, and to Javier Vicente for recording assistance. Our condolences to the family of Robert Grenier, who led Parks Canada’s underwater archaeology work at Red Bay. Robert passed away in January 2026. Learn more: Red Bay National Historic Site Plan your visit Google Arts and Culture Exhibition: Red Bay Heritage Designation: Red Bay National Historic Site UNESCO World Heritage Site designation Other Media: The Great Whale Robbery of Labrador by Canadiana The underwater archaeology of Red Bay: Basque shipbuilding and whaling in the 16th century, edited by Robert Grenier, Marc-André Bernier, and Willis Stevens. Email us at nouveauxmedias-newmedia@pc.gc.ca for any questions or suggestions. Do you have a suggestion for a new National Historic Person, Site or Event? We’d love to hear it! Visit parks.canada.ca/commemorate for details on how to submit a nomination.

Join us for a journey of national historic significance.

Welcome to Ruby's Place in Dawson City, Yukon, “the Paris of the North.” Through the remarkable lives of Madam Ruby Scott and her employees, we’ll hear about Dawson’s Gold Rush heyday and the boom/bust cycle of both the mining and sex work industries. At the heart of the story is Ruby's Place, an elegant false-front building conserved as part of the Klondike National Historic Sites… despite the threats from climate change. Learn More: Klondike National Historic Sites: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike Plan your visit: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/visit Google Arts and Culture Exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/PwWxfnGFmjSquw UNESCO World Heritage Site (Tentative List): https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6255/ Tr'ochëk National Historic Site: https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1970&i=65024 The Other Little House: The Brothel as a Colonial Institution on the Canadian Prairies, 1880–93 by L. K. Bertram: https://academic.oup.com/jsh/article/56/1/58/6554394?login=false Do you have a suggestion for a new National Historic Person, Site or Event? We’d love to hear it! Visit https://parks.canada.ca/commemorate for details on how to submit a nomination. A transcript and bibliography for this episode is available on our website: https://parks.canada.ca/recollections

For over a century, an unassuming island in the St. Lawrence River played a major role in the immigration journey from Europe to North America. A scene of hope and tragedy, punctuated by a series of deadly crises, Grosse Île was home to a quarantine station that served as the gateway for millions of newcomers. Witness to pandemics, health emergencies and the development of modern medical science, Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site is a powerful reminder of the immigrant experience. And it all kicked off with a volcanic eruption on the other side of the planet. Learn More: Grosse-Ile and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile Plan Your Visit: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/visit Dr. Frédérick Montizambert, National Historic Person: https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/DFHD/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1843 For the Temporary Accommodation of Settlers by David Monteyne: https://www.mqup.ca/for-the-temporary-accommodation-of-settlers-products-9780228006381.php Google Arts and Culture Exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/WgXRiCleYInljA Do you have a suggestion for a new National Historic Person, Site or Event? We’d love to hear it! Visit https://parks.canada.ca/commemorate for details on how to submit a nomination. A transcript and bibliography for this episode is available on our website: https://parks.canada.ca/recollections

A special episode from our friends at the Discover Library and Archives Canada podcast - Bill Mason: Wilderness Artist. If you enjoyed our ReCollections episode Grosse-Île: The Quarantine Island, check out their The Shamrock and the Fleur-de-Lys episode to learn more about Irish immigration to Québec. Bill Mason's films: Pukaskwa National Park and Paddle to the Sea. Plan a visit to Pukaskwa National Park in Ontario. Discover Library and Archives Canada podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe for lots more stories about the treasures in their collection.