Found in every province and territory of the country, the Canada Jay has inspired countless stories in many different cultures from coast to coast. Hear how this one little bird is a camp companion, a hero, a hunter, a star in the sky, and even a vessel for the souls of the dead.

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

The story of Anson Minor is a classic campfire tale that has been terrifying Canadian campers for decades. The spooky tale is most commonly heard from the lakeshores and backwoods of Ontario, and while, on the surface, it might seem like any other summer camp legend, this story is special because it can help us understand how urban legends are made, and the nature of summertime scares. So, grab a snack and get cosy to learn all about the Legend of Anson Minor.

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Bell Island, Newfoundland is said to be one of Canada's most haunted places, with more than its share of tragic deaths and mysterious phenomena. But one story stands out above the rest. "Taste what I tasted. Smell what I smelled." These are the haunting words of the Ghost of Dobbin's Garden, more commonly known today as the Swamp Hag of Bell Island. Said to be the restless spirit of a woman who died tragically, she is doomed to roam the island forever, looking for victims to share in her torment. Join me as we learn the legend and review the history of this terrifying icon of Canadian folklore.

Learn more at FiresideCanada.ca

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

"You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but the lips have got to touch the toe." So goes the prime directive of the Exalted Order of the Sourtoe, a cocktail club dreamed up in the 1970s to celebrate Discovery Day in Dawson City. Essentially a shot of liquor garnished with a preserved, severed human toe, the Sourtoe Cocktail is one of Canada's most legendary (and disturbing) traditions that has been served to over 100,000 curious drinkers in a Dawson City bar. This is its story.

For show notes and more, visit FiresideCanada.ca

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

For period of 16-18 months between 1975 and 1976, a mysterious red light was routinely seen flying through the skies of Southern Manitoba. The unidentified flying object appeared so often and to so many people that it was given the name "Charlie Redstar." At the time, the event was one of the biggest UFO flaps to have ever occurred, yet few people have ever learned about the sightings or ever heard the name of "Charlie Redstar." In this episode, we'll piece together some of the stories from various interviews, newspaper articles, and police reports, and consider what the this strange phenomenon call tell us about Canadian culture.

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

On Monday, July 9, 1928, four cold-blooded murders were committed on the Booher family farm, just outside the small village of Mannville in central Alberta. The crime shocked the nation, and the police made headlines when they decided to employ a self-proclaimed "mind reader" to help them find the missing murder weapon. It has been called the first criminal case to have ever been solved by a psychic or clairvoyant, but that's not entirely true. In this episode, blending true crime and folklore, we'll look at the legend, the history, and the facts of the case that show how the truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction.

Read the show notes and learn more at FiresideCanada.ca

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

It's the plot of a 1996 Hallmark movie, the focus of a few paragraphs in history books, and the subject of countless social media posts: the tragic story of James Mink, one of early Toronto's wealthiest citizens, and his daughter Mary, sold into slavery by her own husband. It's a great story that's found in history books and Black History Month features across the country. There's just one problem: it's all based on one malicious lie.

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

It's one of the most famous and best-documented lake monsters in the world, and predates Nessie by over 80 years. It's mentioned in centuries-old journals and modern-day reports, and appears in grainy film footage, razor-sharp photos, and cheesy tourist t-shirts. But long before there was Ogopogo, there was nx̌ax̌aitkʷ, the Syilx name for the sacred being in the lake. In this episode, we'll hear the legends, explore the evidence, and discuss the cultural impact of one of Canada's most famous mysteries.

See the entire show notes and more at FiresideCanada.ca

Fireside Canada is a podcast about Canadian legends, lies and lore. Focused on both the storytelling and the historical aspects of folklore, each episode includes a creative retelling or story inspired by the folklore as well as an exploration and analysis of its history and cultural significance: the story behind the story. You can learn more at FiresideCanada.ca.

David Williams is the host, writer and researcher behind the show. You can find him on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).