Beyond the Ridge, a series of conversations, brings together Vimy Foundation program alumni and expert academics to examine knowledge of the First World War and how it relates to the Canadian experience today.
New episodes coming soon!
By clicking on the links and descriptions below, you will find the recordings of every webinar and more educational resources, podcasts included!
You can also listen to this podcast on Spotify or Soundcloud.
Season 2 (2021)
The War and the Black Community (FR)
July 15th, 2021
In this installment, Brintha Koneshachandra, our host, and Webster (artist, writer & lecturer) are discussing the history of Black Canadians during the First World War and beyond.
Elliott Grondin, VPA 2020 recipient, also tells us about rationing in the First World War!
Guests: Webster & Elliott Grondin
Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare
Sound Editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
Directors: Brintha Koneshachandra & Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
The War and the First Nations (FR)
June 21st, 2021
Guests: Éric Pouliot-Thisdale & Pascale Ouellette
Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare
Sound Editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
Directors: Brintha Koneshachandra & Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
The War and the Japanese Canadian Community (ENG.)
May 19th, 2021
In this new installment, Melanie Ng (U. of T.) meets Nahira Gerster-Sim, VPA 2020 recipient, who talks about shell shock, and Mr. David Iwaasa, who presents the Canadian Japanese perspectives on the First World War through the story of his great-uncle, Seiichi Kinoshita.
Host: Melanie Ng
Guests: Nahira Gerster-Sim & David Iwaasa
Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare
Sound editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
Directors: Melanie Ng, Guillaume Bouchard Labonté
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
Season 1 (2020)
In partnership with the National Film Board of Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada
Soldiers, Nurses, and the 1918-1919 Pandemic (English)
May 21st, 2020
The first instalment of this limited series, in collaboration with Defining Moments Canada, explores the 1918 Influenza Pandemic through the lens of Canadian military personnel of the Great War. This conversation between Kandace Bogaert (PhD in medical anthropology) and Caroline Tolton (Vimy Foundation program alumna) will look at Canada’s pandemic reality over a century ago and how it informs our current reactions to the Covid-19 crisis.
Recording and further resources here.
Read more on nurses and nursing sisters in The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
Les femmes et la guerre (French)
June 18th, 2020
Cette deuxième conversation de la série, présentée en collaboration avec le Club universitaire Montréal, explore la place des femmes lors des conflits historiques de la Première et de la Seconde Guerre mondiale d’un point de vue contemporain.
Recording (in French) and further resources here.
Read more about women and the cost of war on women in The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
War & the Environment (English)
July 23rd, 2020
The third instalment of this limited series, in collaboration with the Toronto Zoo, explored the environmental impact of war. This conversation between Dolf DeJong (CEO of the Toronto Zoo) and Rose He (Vimy Foundation program alumna) looked at the scars left on nature by years of armed conflict.
Recording and further resources here.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
War Measures Act (French)
August 20th, 2020
The fourth instalment of this limited series, in partnership with the Canadian War Museum, explores the War Measures Act during the First and Second World Wars.
*This event will be offered in French with simultaneous translation in English*
Recording (in French) and further resources here.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
Veterans & Commemoration (English)
September 17th, 2020
The fifth instalment of this limited series, in partnership with the Canadian War Museum, explored veterans and commemorations. This conversation between Dr. Tim Cook, acting director of research at the Canadian War Museum, and Prasanna Iyengar, 2010 Vimy Prize Alumnus, looked at the signification of collective memory.
Recording and futher resources here.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
The making of Return to Vimy (French)
October 15th, 2020
The sixth and last instalment of this limited series, in partnership with the NFB, explored the production of the short documentary film Return to Vimy. This conversation between Denis McCready, film director, and Marianne Goyette, 2014 Beaverbrook Prize recipient, looked at the importance of historical authenticity in filmmaking.
Recording and futher resources here.
Click on the link below to listen to the podcast!
Thanks to our series partner, the National Film Board of Canada
NFB.ca, the National Film Board of Canada’s award-winning online Screening Room, featuring over 3,000 productions. We showcase films that take a stand on issues of global importance that matter to Canadians—stories about the environment, human rights, international conflict, the arts and more.
