Season 1

Genius, enigma, hypochondriac: a life shrouded in mystery. Mark Kingwell shows how rock star of classical music Glenn Gould was in fact a great philosopher and innovator, and in this intimate portrait, Kingwell looks beyond the eccentricities to the man behind the music.

From working to revolutionize health care in Canada, to saving thousands of lives in the revolutions of Spain and China, Bethune’s life is devoted to a single purpose: socialized medicine. Adrienne Clarkson looks at the life of this great man, shedding light on his remarkable humanism, and the battles he fights until his dying days.

Join Lewis DeSoto as he travels through the life of Emily Carr and her beloved landscape of British Colombia. From childhood talent through struggles for acceptance in a male-dominated art world, Carr’s drive to paint, and her unique vision shine through these works, and her life story.

A tragedy viewed rather as a triumph of will. Rudy Wiebe tells the story of one of the greatest leaders Canada has ever known. Non-violent, a believer in discussion and diplomacy, Big Bear (Mistahi-maskwa) is the earliest forerunner of the traits Canadians today pride themselves on.

Margaret MacMillan shows us the other side of Canada’s first funny man. World-famous satirist and professor of Political Economy Stephen Leacock is a keen commentator on human nature. The first true champion of Canada, he showed us how to be proud of being Canadian.

A brilliant entrepreneur and self-made millionaire, the great merger manipulator Max Aitken had a life of great success and bitter disappointments. David Adams Richards tells the story of one of the most powerful men of the 20th century, from his humble beginnings in small-town Ontario, to his becoming a lord and politician in the U.K.

From humble prairie farm girl to winning women’s right to vote, McClung’s whirlwind career as women’s suffrage and temperance activist set her place as one of the most important women in Canadian history. Charlotte Gray tells the story of this funny, frank, and charismatic woman, through victories and family struggles to attain the rights of personhood for all Canadian women.

Andrew Cohen opens up the many lives of Lester B. Pearson to the viewer. Talented athlete, brilliant student, teacher, diplomat, and politician, this Liberal leader and Prime Minister of Canada saved the world during the Suez Crisis, was an unstoppable man of action and a true Canadian.

The creator of the most famous literary orphan in the world, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s life was not as rosy as her stories. Jane Urquhart combs through Montgomery’s diaries and novels to reveal the deep depression that plagued her throughout her life, and the strength of spirit that led her to create some of the most beloved characters of all time.

The literary biography of Canada’s most loved satirical writer, this episode takes you to the Montreal of Mordecai Richler’s childhood, and reveals the truth behind this man of fiction, who universalizes the Canadian Jewish experience for all.

Who is the real Pierre Elliott Trudeau? Join Nino Ricci as he weaves together the life of a man bred to lead a separatist Quebec, but who ultimately becomes the greatest voice for a united and egalitarian Canada.

One a fatherless French Canadian settler, the other a Toronto blue blood: John Ralston Saul leads us through the exciting story of how these two unlikely allies united to bring us the democratic and non-violent Canada we know today.