Who was Darwin? What is his argument? And what is its relationship to the brutal social Darwinism that, in some ways, led to the First World War?
Subjects: History
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Whistler Mountain – From Wilderness to World Class
This documentary chronicles the plight of the Vancouver Island Marmot – the rarest mammal in North America – and the efforts of the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team. With as few as 100 animals left, this distinct species of marmot (that only exist on Vancouver Island, BC) is an Endangered Species in Canada. Shot on the mountains of Vancouver Island, the program travels with the recovery team biologists as they observe, trap and tag animals for a captive breeding program at the Toronto Zoo. The film includes rare footage of marmots in their natural sub-alpine habitat. One of the colonies profiled is now extirpated. The natural sub-alpine colonies have all but vanished.
There is an update at the end of the film that explains the current status of the animals and lets people know how they can get involved by adopting a marmot, and where to find them on the internet. -
Grande Olde Ride
A musical journey with Juno Award winning artist, Gary Fjellgaard. Fjellgaard joins 44 covered wagons and 120 riders as they retrace part of the old Edson Trail in North Western Alberta. The CD “Grande Olde Ride” has a distinctive “cowboy flavor” and with the wagon trek images as a backdrop, it’s an enjoyable, entertaining half hour. The trek was sponsored by the Alberta Bison Association and as they travel through herds of buffalo, the history of the species and the area is reviewed. Watching the program is like stepping back into time: a time of wagon treks and trail rides, pioneers and homesteaders.
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The Cowichan River Story
This is the story of a heritage river and the man who has spearheaded the campaign to have the river corridor set aside as park. Joe Saysell has lived on the Cowichan River all his life and along with people like federal politician David Anderson, he realized in the seventies that if something wasn’t done the fishery in the river would be lost. We drift the river with Joe and find out what makes the Cowichan River special. The history of the river is also featured: from the first wealthy European fly fishing tourists, to the early settlements and growth of the forest industry. This is the story of a river that has beaten the odds and the man who made it happen.
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Canadian Pioneers: The Peace River Country
Narrated by country music artist, Gary Fjellgaard, this program is about the last great agricultural frontier in North America: the Peace River Country; and how brave men and women overcame adversity on the historic Edson Trail (before rail and road finally opened things up). It features interviews, archival stills, and aerial shots as we follow the Alberta Bison Association on their commemorative wagon trek along the old route.
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Dr. Teller’s Very Large Bomb
A historical documentary that tells the dynamic story of Edward Teller, the Manhattan Project lead physicist who was already obsessively working on inventing the Hydrogen Bomb while everyone else at Los Alamos was trying to complete the atom bomb project. Teller was directly or indirectly responsible for much of the Cold War and armaments race that followed World War II, and continued to influence government policy all the way up to the Strategic Missile Initiative (Star Wars), an idea he first whispered in Ronald Reagan’s ear back in 1983, and which continues to affect us today. Includes exclusive never-before-seen interviews with Dr.Teller.
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1916: Seachtar na Cásca
“They gave their lives for Ireland.” The 1916 Easter Rising changed the course of Irish history and at the heart of the story of the Rising are the seven men who put their names to the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. By signing the Proclamation each man knew they were committing themselves to bloody rebellion, and in all likelihood signing their own death warrant.
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“No Price Too High: Canadians and the Second World War” Collection
This highly-acclaimed six-part series pays tribute to the Canadians who participated in World War II – young Canadians whose collective courage and spirit led to victory. The series traces Canada’s role from the pre-war years when Prime Minister Mackenzie King found himself charmed by the “appealing and affectionate look” in Adolf Hitler’s eyes, to the development of the A-bomb that finally put an end to the most destructive conflict in history.
Narrated by Arthur Kent and produced by Norflicks, No Price Too High chronicles Canada’s role in the major events of the war, including The Battle oF Britain, Dieppe and D-Day. Incorporating the personal letters, photographs and diaries of many Canadians including those at home, No Price Too High reflects the hopes, dreams, heartbreaks, fears, and terrors of young men and women suddenly swept into a world of destruction, conflict and chaos.
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“Test of Will: Canada in Korea 1950-1953” Collection
A series focusing on Canada’s role in the Korean War. Archival photographs, film footage, and radio reports are combined with letters, speeches, articles, and reports from the time read by off-camera actors who assume the identity of the author of the written material. It is the little known story of the Canadian involvement in Korea, the first war in which Canadian troops served directly under foreign (American) command as part of a United Nations force. It is a neglected war, largely because the number of soldiers involved and casualties suffered paled when compared with the much larger national engagement in the two World Wars. Test of Will: Canada in Korea is not only the history of the Canadians; it is also the history of world events, illustrating the struggle between democracy and communism taking place at the time. It is also very much a story of the Korean people themselves; of incredible suffering and loss, but also of incredible courage and strength.
The series also includes A War for Peace, which explores the experiences of a group of Canadian youth who travel to Korea, developing a deeper respect for what Canadian Veterans went through to help protect South Korea.
