About History Matters by Canadian Institute for Historical Education
Canada’s history is full of triumphs, tensions, and turning points. Yet too often, it’s reduced to headlines or overshadowed by present-day debates. History Matters was created to give space for deeper conversations — ones that connect the past to the present, and help us see why context matters more than ever.
Jason Kenney on Western Alienation and the Alberta Referendum
Allan welcomes Jason Kenney, former Premier of Alberta, former federal cabinet minister, and spokesperson for the stay-in-Canada campaign, to discuss the upcoming referendum in Alberta and the deep historical roots of Western alienation. Prompted by the October 19th referendum, Kenney explores the origin of Alberta’s distinct political culture, the legacy of political dynasties like the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), Social Credit and Progressive Conservatives, and key moments in federal-provincial tension—from early natural resource disputes to the National Energy Program and modern energy policy debates.
1 Oct 2026
Michael Hill on The Lost Prime Ministers
Allan welcomes guest Michael Hill, former history teacher, former artistic director of the Mariposa Folk Festival, and author of The Lost Prime Ministers: Macdonald's Successors Abbott, Thompson, Bowell, and Tupper, to discuss the four prime ministers who led Canada between the death of Sir John A. Macdonald and the election of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Prompted by the recent unveiling of "The Unfortunate Four" sculpture in Bancroft, Ontario, Hill explores the unique backgrounds, political challenges, and brief tenures of John Abbott, John Thompson, Mackenzie Bowell, and Charles Tupper.
24 Sept 2026
Barbara Messamore on the King-Byng Affair
Allan welcomes back Barbara Messamore, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of the Fraser Valley, to discuss the 1925 Canadian federal election, the subsequent King-Byng affair, and the 1926 election. Messamore addresses common misconceptions regarding Governor General Julian Byng’s refusal of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s request for a dissolution of Parliament, examining how the crisis unfolded amidst the Customs Department scandal and Arthur Meighen’s short-lived government. She also reflects on the political dynamics between King and Meighen, the evolving constitutional role of the Crown in Canada, and how similar parliamentary situations have played out in Canadian political history.
Contact History Matters by Canadian Institute for Historical Education
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