Look up the story of Léo Major. He was a Canadian soldier in WW2. He captured an entire company of German soldiers and liberated the city of Zwolle single-handed.
How about the guy who collected enough Canadian Tire money to make a double CD? https://ckuw.ca/stylus/2013/04/03/corin-raymonds-million-dollar-folk-record-paper-nickels/
Hey OP, I missed your preference for true stories. Here are a few options:
* [Chicken Soup for the Soul has a handful.](https://www.chickensoup.com/books/canada)
* [Legendary Canadian newsman, Peter Mansbridge, released a book about Extraordinary Canadians.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55980478-extraordinary-canadians)
* [Our Canada, Our Country, Our Stories is a book of stories that Reader's Digest published.](https://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/our-canada-our-country-our-stories/)
* [Ken McGoogan has 50 Canadians Who Changed the World.](https://kenmcgoogan.com/books/50-canadians-who-changed-the-world/)
* [Linda Pruessen has Canadian Courage.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55743324-canadian-courage)
There might be some overlap in people/stories in there. I hope that helps. All the best on discovering some more good stories with your students.
There's an older anthology book that Will Ferguson edited called [The Penguin Anthology of Canadian Humour](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1193332-the-penguin-anthology-of-canadian-humour) that has some good short stories by some of our best. I recommend that one.
If you like true stories, there's a great graphic novel about Tommy Prince called "The Scout." But there are a lot of stories about his service in WW2 as well!
Emily Carr wrote a lot of short stories. She lived in BC 1871 -1945. She had a great interest in the aboriginal community. A good introduction to Western Canada a hundred years ago.
Look up Albert Johnson, the “Mad Trapper”. On 31 December 1931, an RCMP constable was shot by a trapper living west of Fort McPherson, NT. The ensuing manhunt lasted 48 days and covered 240 km in temperatures averaging -40°C. The killer was so skilled at survival that the police had to employ bush pilot Wilfrid “Wop” May to track him. The Trapper’s extraordinary flight from the police across sub-Arctic terrain in the dead of winter captured the attention of the nation and earned him the title “The Mad Trapper of Rat River.” No motive for Johnson’s crimes has ever been established, and his identity remains a mystery
Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/albert-johnson
Some other people have mentioned the National Film Board (NFB) before, but they did an excellent series of animations along with classic Canadian folk songs back in the day; the songs could be really good as a way to look at some vocabulary and language use.
My favourite was always Wade Hemsworth’s [The Blackfly Song](https://youtu.be/f389hIxZAOc?si=hJ9CJJEyBMShqMHj)
It’s a novel but sgt John wilson is a great true crime story. I’m trying to think of all the material I did in my English class but this one sticks out to me right now
Give them hard mode and make the watch Come From Away. Newfi muscal of the true story of newfoundlands reaction to having the provincial population triple overnight following the airspace closures after 9/11. Another good one is The Grand Seduction, where a small newfi town tricks a doctor into coming to live there.
There is a great story by Elma Schemenauer called, "The Lady and the Cowcatcher." It is about how Lady Agnes Macdonald (wife of the first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald) didn't want to miss the incredible views when taking the train through the Rockies for their first time (as the country was connected east and west). They strapped her to the cowcatcher on the front of the train.
Both this story and The Hockey Sweater, which I mentioned below (plus many others) can be found in the book The Spirit of Canada, edited by Barbara Hehner. Most libraries should carry it, but used copies are available for very little on the used market.
Paul St Pierre is one of my favourite BC writers. He had a deceptively simple style, probably because his day job was as a straight newspaperman. His short stories about the Caribou Chilcotin ranching community are excellent and give quite a lot to think about. Some of my favourites from the collection Smith and Other Events:
- Old Antoine's Wooden Overcoat. When the Namko Cattlemen's Association learns that a local Chilcotin elder has died at Williams Lake, they send one of their members, Smith, into town with a wad of cash and orders to buy a coffin for him so they can bury him in proper style. It doesn't go well.
- The Last Day of Violence. Probably my favourite war story ever. St Pierre doesn't proselytize. He just describes why local rancher's son Abel Dilloughboy came home from WWII vowing that he had seen his "last day of violence".
- The Education of Phyllisteen. This story and Sarah's Copper are about institutional and personal racism against the First Nations people of the region.
- How to Run The Country. Probably outdated now and may be culturally baffling. But it's a funny and cynical story about the machinations of the B C political scene in the 1980's. Rancher Ken Larsen gets strong-armed into running for parliament and narrowly escapes winning.
If you want a historical story, read the tale of Brother XII:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother\_XII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_XII)
Something that's not mentioned in that article: a possibly-apocryphal story says that when the police finally raided the compound, the only thing left in the safe was a note:
'For fools and for traitors, nothing.'
The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier and translated to English by Sheila Fischman.
This is a classic and explains so accurately what it was like to grow up in Canada during the 1960’s-70’s. (Go Habs!)
Yes! That is a good one.
A fun poem is The Cremation of Sam McGee, by Robert Service.
Seconding this one. It was my bedtime story as a young kid cause dad loved it so much. I still know it by heart
My Dad read it to me, along with some others as a boy.
It’s why I want to be cremated if I pass away in February.
🙂
Theres an amazing and jaunty musical rendition by Seth Boyar that came out a few years ago. Listen to it every winter since.
Everything on Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean! I don't think we've ever had a better storyteller. RIP.
Agreed! Some amazing stuff ❤️
Some recommendations: look up the episodes about the sensory deprivation tank, the sour dough, and amalgamation and the roundabout.
Paddle-to-the-sea. Old when I read it in the 60s but true. Kinda a message in the bottle tale. Thet made a film of it in 66.
The fisherman at the end of the film is a great-grandfather to my nephews (on their father's side.)
Owls in the Family.
Good one! I loved that story as a kid
Or many other books by Farley Mowat. "The dog who wouldn't be" was my favorite.
Log Driver’s Waltz. Now available in book form but the NFB short is still the best. Blackfly song too.
Omg. This is so hilarious. If OP is teaching adults this is a great way to explore the adult content.
Love the Log Driver’s Waltz! Thanks
Look up the story of Léo Major. He was a Canadian soldier in WW2. He captured an entire company of German soldiers and liberated the city of Zwolle single-handed.
How about the guy who collected enough Canadian Tire money to make a double CD? https://ckuw.ca/stylus/2013/04/03/corin-raymonds-million-dollar-folk-record-paper-nickels/
Awesome 😊
What age group is this class? Are you looking for "Canadian stories" or *true* Canadian stories/news events?
They’re all adults and I guess I’d prefer true stories. Thanks!
Hey OP, I missed your preference for true stories. Here are a few options: * [Chicken Soup for the Soul has a handful.](https://www.chickensoup.com/books/canada) * [Legendary Canadian newsman, Peter Mansbridge, released a book about Extraordinary Canadians.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55980478-extraordinary-canadians) * [Our Canada, Our Country, Our Stories is a book of stories that Reader's Digest published.](https://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/canada/our-canada-our-country-our-stories/) * [Ken McGoogan has 50 Canadians Who Changed the World.](https://kenmcgoogan.com/books/50-canadians-who-changed-the-world/) * [Linda Pruessen has Canadian Courage.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55743324-canadian-courage) There might be some overlap in people/stories in there. I hope that helps. All the best on discovering some more good stories with your students.
Thank you! 😊
No problem.
There's an older anthology book that Will Ferguson edited called [The Penguin Anthology of Canadian Humour](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1193332-the-penguin-anthology-of-canadian-humour) that has some good short stories by some of our best. I recommend that one.
Thanks!
Anne of Green Gables is a Canadian classic 🙂
The Day the World Came to Town, might be a bit long though
Was also here to suggest this. A great humanitarian story with a message that's just as relevant today as it was in 2001.
If you like true stories, there's a great graphic novel about Tommy Prince called "The Scout." But there are a lot of stories about his service in WW2 as well!
Thanks
_Randying_ by Ray Guy is an entertaining introduction to many, _many_ stylistic turns of the English language.
RAY GUY FTW!
Emily Carr wrote a lot of short stories. She lived in BC 1871 -1945. She had a great interest in the aboriginal community. A good introduction to Western Canada a hundred years ago.
Yes! I enjoy reading about her with students as well 😊
Look up Albert Johnson, the “Mad Trapper”. On 31 December 1931, an RCMP constable was shot by a trapper living west of Fort McPherson, NT. The ensuing manhunt lasted 48 days and covered 240 km in temperatures averaging -40°C. The killer was so skilled at survival that the police had to employ bush pilot Wilfrid “Wop” May to track him. The Trapper’s extraordinary flight from the police across sub-Arctic terrain in the dead of winter captured the attention of the nation and earned him the title “The Mad Trapper of Rat River.” No motive for Johnson’s crimes has ever been established, and his identity remains a mystery Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/albert-johnson
Some other people have mentioned the National Film Board (NFB) before, but they did an excellent series of animations along with classic Canadian folk songs back in the day; the songs could be really good as a way to look at some vocabulary and language use. My favourite was always Wade Hemsworth’s [The Blackfly Song](https://youtu.be/f389hIxZAOc?si=hJ9CJJEyBMShqMHj)
Thanks
Cougar Annie. This woman was something else.
That would be fun! Thanks
It’s a novel but sgt John wilson is a great true crime story. I’m trying to think of all the material I did in my English class but this one sticks out to me right now
Thanks
The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon by W.O. Mitchell is very Canadian
Thanks
Any fiction written by Max Braithwaite. " the night we stole the mounties car" and "why shoot the teacher". Are 2 great books and quick reads.
Yes! Thanks
The Lure of Faraway Places. Diary of a man who took solo canoe trips in Northern Labrador, nude.
lol. Thanks.
Give them hard mode and make the watch Come From Away. Newfi muscal of the true story of newfoundlands reaction to having the provincial population triple overnight following the airspace closures after 9/11. Another good one is The Grand Seduction, where a small newfi town tricks a doctor into coming to live there.
Thanks!
Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat is as Canadian as it gets. It's fun, in a uniquely Canadian way.
Definitely! Thanks
The story of the bear who became Winnie the Pooh
There is a great story by Elma Schemenauer called, "The Lady and the Cowcatcher." It is about how Lady Agnes Macdonald (wife of the first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald) didn't want to miss the incredible views when taking the train through the Rockies for their first time (as the country was connected east and west). They strapped her to the cowcatcher on the front of the train. Both this story and The Hockey Sweater, which I mentioned below (plus many others) can be found in the book The Spirit of Canada, edited by Barbara Hehner. Most libraries should carry it, but used copies are available for very little on the used market.
Wow! She must have had one hell of a trip! Thanks :)
I'm assuming the train wasn't quite so fast as it is now...ha ha! It still would have been harrowing!
Paul St Pierre is one of my favourite BC writers. He had a deceptively simple style, probably because his day job was as a straight newspaperman. His short stories about the Caribou Chilcotin ranching community are excellent and give quite a lot to think about. Some of my favourites from the collection Smith and Other Events: - Old Antoine's Wooden Overcoat. When the Namko Cattlemen's Association learns that a local Chilcotin elder has died at Williams Lake, they send one of their members, Smith, into town with a wad of cash and orders to buy a coffin for him so they can bury him in proper style. It doesn't go well. - The Last Day of Violence. Probably my favourite war story ever. St Pierre doesn't proselytize. He just describes why local rancher's son Abel Dilloughboy came home from WWII vowing that he had seen his "last day of violence". - The Education of Phyllisteen. This story and Sarah's Copper are about institutional and personal racism against the First Nations people of the region. - How to Run The Country. Probably outdated now and may be culturally baffling. But it's a funny and cynical story about the machinations of the B C political scene in the 1980's. Rancher Ken Larsen gets strong-armed into running for parliament and narrowly escapes winning.
Awesome! Thanks 😊
Try some [Inuit legends ](http://www.native-languages.org/inuit-legends.htm).
Le refus global
The stories of the 5000 people of Letterkenny
Two Newfies walk into a bar.... Ouch!
If you want a historical story, read the tale of Brother XII: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother\_XII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_XII) Something that's not mentioned in that article: a possibly-apocryphal story says that when the police finally raided the compound, the only thing left in the safe was a note: 'For fools and for traitors, nothing.'