Stories of veteran service and sacrifice straight from the people driving today’s most important veterans causes and veterans organizations around the world. The show shines a spotlight on their inspiring projects making a real difference for veterans and their families, and along the way we'll hear the stories that drive them to do their best every day as they work to support veterans and their memory.
Boyd Laanstra (Bank of Canada) - Symbolism and Design on Canada's New Vertical $20 Note
"The Vimy Memorial was built as a tribute to Canadians who fought in the First World War and for us at the bank, it's featured in honour of Canada's contributions and sacrifices in military conflicts throughout its history."
This week, we speak with Boyd Laanstra, Bank Note Visual Content Specialist at the Bank of Canada. Boyd gives behind-the-scenes insight into how Canada’s newly unveiled vertical $20 bank note, featuring His Majesty King Charles III and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, came to fruition. He explains the multi-year process of creating a circulating national canvas, balancing cutting-edge 3D security technology with historic commemoration and royal portraiture.
In this episode:
- Hear how the Bank of Canada planned a photo session at Buckingham Palace and worked with a master engraver to translate King Charles III’s likeness into secure hand-engraved line work
- Learn why the note incorporates provincial floral emblems and vines inspired by the Books of Remembrance, alongside four traditional Indigenous plants representing sustenance, gratitude, and healing
- Discover the complex rollout of a national currency and how the lengthy project must coordinate with cash-handling networks to update ATMs, bank note counters, vending machines, and parking meters across Canada before public release
3 Nov 2026
John Monahan & Jeremy Diamond (Mount Pleasant Group & RCAF Foundation) - Lights of Remembrance
"Veterans are not some unique group of others that are specially called upon to serve and to give sacrifice to their country and to their communities. They are all of us. They are our neighbors, our siblings, our family members, those nearest and dearest to us."
This week, we speak with John Monahan, President and CEO of Mount Pleasant Group, and Jeremy Diamond, CEO of the RCAF Foundation. Together, they share how community partnerships are redefining remembrance across the Greater Toronto Area, why the Lights of Remembrance activation is changing how the public interacts with veteran graves, and the importance of connecting new generations with personal stories of service.
In this episode:
- Hear how Mount Pleasant Group evolved from Toronto’s first non-denominational burial ground at Potter’s Field in 1826 into the resting place of over 15,000 known Canadian veterans
- Learn about William Barker, Canada’s most decorated serviceman, and the unveiling of a new commemorative monument
- Find out how Indigenous Veterans Day is being observed at Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough
Listen on Wreaths Across America Radio on Friday, November 6th at 11AM ET: https://wreathsacrossamerica.org (https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/)
Listen on Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/5b1hT0BJwrnMARDRueFffS (https://open.spotify.com/show/5b1hT0BJwrnMARDRueFffS)
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/story-behind-the-stone/id1795798019 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/story-behind-the-stone/id1795798019)
15 Oct 2026
The Honourable Erin O'Toole (ADIT North America) - The Modern Fight for Recognition of Valour
"We owe it to our men and women to say there's no time limit on recognizing valour and recognizing extraordinary citizens."
This week, we speak with the Honourable Erin O'Toole, former Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, and the current President and Managing Director of ADIT North America.
Erin's expansive career began with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), where he served for 12 years before attending Dalhousie Law School and spending nearly a decade in corporate law. In 2012, he was elected to represent the Ontario riding of Durham in Parliament and was re-elected for three more consecutive terms in 2015, 2019, and 2021. Erin served as the Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition between 2020 and 2022. In 2023, he joined ADIT North America as President and Managing Director.
In this episode:
- Hear how Erin and fellow veteran, the Honourable Roméo Dallaire, started the Sam Sharpe Breakfast, bringing attention to veterans' and service members' mental health challenges
- Find out about Erin's very personal future donation to the Concussion Legacy Foundation and what the organization, under Tim Fleiszer's leadership, is doing to better understand traumatic brain injury
- Listen to Erin's thoughts on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and how Odysseus's journey back from trauma and moral injury reflects the experiences of current service members
Who has been a guest on Story Behind the Stone
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
AJ Orlikoff
Kristin Sargent
Monica Mohindra
Nick Miller
Amber Caron
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
93
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Questions about Story Behind the Stone
Who hosts Story Behind the Stone?
Matthew Cudmore and Ryan Mullens host the show. Published by Memory Anchor.
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The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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