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Beyond the Ridge

This 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.

Beyond the Ridge

Season Three is Here!

By clicking on the links below, you will find the recordings of every webinar and more educational resources, podcasts included! You can also listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple Podcasts.

Beyond the Ridge

Season 3

The third season of Beyond the Ridge was recorded in 2023 and hosted by Caitlin Bailey and Brintha Koneshachandra.

Colonialism and the First World War with Thomas Vennes (Fr)

December 15, 2023

Colonialism and the First World War with Thomas Vennes (Fr)

Thomas Vennes is a doctoral student in history at the University of Sherbrooke. He is interested in the French colonial conquest movement in West Africa, in particular the political and military action of French officers as well as African armed resistance. During his master's degree, he worked on the Bani-Volta War, a peasant revolt in Burkina Faso between 1915 and 1916 caused by the recruitment of African people for the war effort. Photo: 9-12-15, camp des tirailleurs sénégalais à Fréjus. Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie, EST EI-13 (471)

2SLGBTQIA+ Soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Eng)

November 17, 2023

2SLGBTQIA+ Soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Eng)

Sarah Worthman is a freelance researcher and writer from St. John's, Newfoundland. Sarah received funding from the LGBT Purge Fund to conduct research on the history of LGBT persecution during the First World War. Sarah spent time working with Veterans Affairs Canada where she began her research on the History of LGBTQ+ Soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and is now the Executive Director of the Newfoundland Queer Research Initiative, who have recently launched the NL Digital Queer Archive. Check it out at: http://nlqueerarchive.com/

Public History and The First World War with Jesse Alexander (Eng)

November 10, 2023

Public History and The First World War with Jesse Alexander (Eng)

Jesse Alexander is a Public Historian, Educator, Documentary Film Host, Researcher, and Writer. Jesse is the host of two popular history youtube channels where you may recognize him as the host of The Great War, and Real Time History channels. Through his documentaries and videos, Jesse has made war history accessible to a wide audienence. Jesse also has worked closely with YOUkraine.at, a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting Ukraine during the current conflict. Visit their site to learn more.

The Casualty Identification Program with Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Fr)

November 3, 2023

The Casualty Identification Program with Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Fr)

Dr. Sarah Lockyer is the Casualty Identification Coordinator in Canada's Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Sarah graduated with a PhD in Bioarchaeology from Bournemouth University, and now acts as the Casualty Identification Programs forensic anthropologist. The program works to identify newly uncovered remains of Canadian service members from the First and Second World Wars as well as the Korean War and ensures that these individuals are given a proper burial with their name, unit, and in the presence of their family members.

The Casualty Identification Program with Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Eng)

October 27, 2023

The Casualty Identification Program with Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Eng)

Dr. Sarah Lockyer is the Casualty Identification Coordinator in Canada's Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Sarah graduated with a PhD in Bioarchaeology from Bournemouth University, and now acts as the Casualty Identification Programs forensic anthropologist. The program works to identify newly uncovered remains of Canadian service members from the First and Second World Wars as well as the Korean War and ensures that these individuals are given a proper burial with their name, unit, and in the presence of their family members.

Public History and the First World War with Jesse Alexander (Fr)

October 20, 2023

Public History and the First World War with Jesse Alexander (Fr)

Jesse is the host of two popular history youtube channels where you may recognize him as the host of The Great War, and Real Time History channels. Through his documentaries and videos, Jesse has made war history accessible to a wide audience. YOUkraine.at is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to providing aid to Ukrainians during the current Conflict. Visit their site to learn more.

The Canadian Forces Artists Program with Renée Davis (Eng)

October 13, 2023

The Canadian Forces Artists Program with Renée Davis (Eng)

Renée completed her bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in history at the University of Ottawa is now the Historian of Military Heritage for the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of History and Heritage where she researches the history and culture of the Canadian Armed Forces. Renée also manages the Canadian Forces Artists Program, and works as one of the researchers for the Canadian Casualty Identification Program. To apply, or learn more about the Canadian Forces Artists Program, visit the official page: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/showcasing/artists-program.html

Beyond the Ridge

Season 2

The second season of Beyond the Ridge was recorded in 2021 and hosted by Melanie Ng, Brintha Koneshachandra.

The First World War and the Ukrainian Canadian Community (ENG)

March 31, 2022

The First World War and the Ukrainian Canadian Community (ENG)

In this last episode of season 2, Melanie Ng (U. of T.) meets Sera Tulk, VPA 2021 recipient, who talks about the Newfoundland regiment at Gallipoli and Prof. Bohdan Kordan (University of Saskatchewan), specialist in Canada-Ukraine relations, who will introduce us to the internment of ‘enemy aliens’ in Canada during the First World War. | Host: Melanie Ng | Guests: Sera Tulk & Bohdan Kordan | Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare | Sound editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté| Directors: Melanie Ng, Guillaume Bouchard Labonté

Pacifism, Jewish communities and the First World War (FR)

January 12, 2022

Pacifism, Jewish communities and the First World War (FR)

In this installment, Brintha Koneshachandra, our host, and Christine Chevalier-Caron (historian) discuss the history of the Canadian Jewish communities. Manuel Sauvé Chevalier, VPA 2021 recipient, also tells us about pacifism before and during the First World War! | Host: Brintha Koneshachandra | Guests: Christine Chevalier-Caron & Manuel Sauvé Chevalier | Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare | Sound editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté | Directors: Brintha Koneshachandra & Guillaume Bouchard Labonté.

Punjab's Brothers-in-arms in Flanders Fields (ENG)

November 5, 2021

Punjab's Brothers-in-arms in Flanders Fields (ENG)

In this episode, we learn, with Steven Purewal, about how the Punjab's Lahore Division came to fight alongside Canadian troops in Canada's "baptism of fire" at Ypres in April 1915. Ultimately more than 74,000 South Asians were killed across the various theatres of war in First World War. We also learn about the Treaty of Versailles with Olive Tao, BVP 2020 recipient. | Host: Melanie Ng | Guests: Olive Tao & Steven Purewal | Sound artist: Sylvain Bellemare | Sound editor: Guillaume Bouchard Labonté | Directors: Melanie Ng, Guillaume Bouchard Labonté

The War and the Black Community (FR)

July 15, 2021

The War and the Black Community (FR)

In this episode, 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! | Host: Brintha Koneshachandra | 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 21, 2021

The War and the First Nations (FR)

In this episode, Brintha Koneshachandra (UdeM), and Éric Pouliot-Thisdale (UQAM), discuss the First Nations at war and civil rights. Pascale Ouellette, BVP 2020 recipient, also tells us about women and vote rights after the First World War. | Host: Brintha Koneshachandra | 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 19, 2021

The War and the Japanese Canadian Community (ENG)

In this new episode, 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

Beyond the Ridge

Season 1

The First season of Beyond the Ridge was created in 2020, in partnership with The National Film Board and Veterans Affairs Canada.

The making of Return to Vimy (FR)

October 15, 2020

The making of Return to Vimy (FR)

The sixth 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.

Veterans & Commemoration (ENG)

September 17, 2020

Veterans & Commemoration (ENG)

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.

War Measures Act (FR)

August 20, 2020

War Measures Act (FR)

Listen to the 4th in our podcast series Beyond the Ridge, a partnership with the NFB. This time, with the collaboration of the Canadian War Museum, we are looking (in French) at the War Measures Act with Mélanie Morin-Pelletier (Canadian War Museum), and Yaman Awad (BVP 2017). Directed by: Alexandru Stratulat.

War and the Environment (ENG)

July 23, 2020

War and the Environment (ENG)

Listen to the 3rd in our podcast series Beyond the Ridge, a partnership with the NFB. In this episode, created in collaboration with the Toronto Zoo, we are looking at war and the environment with Dolf DeJong (Toronto Zoo), and Rose He (Beaverbrook Prize, 2019). Directed by Alexandru Stratulat.

Women at war (FR)

June 18, 2020

Women at war (FR)

In this second instalment, created in partnership with the Montréal University Club, we explore the role of women during the First and Second World Wars with Chloé Raymond-Poitras (UQAM) and Andelina Habel-Thurton (BVP 2019). Directed by Alexandru Stratulat.

Soldiers, Nurses, and the 1918-1919 Pandemic (ENG)

May 21, 2020

Soldiers, Nurses, and the 1918-1919 Pandemic (ENG)

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.

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