The Making of Canada: An Epic History in Twenty Extraordinary Lives

Moving beyond the familiar names of Champlain and Macdonald, historian Greg Koabel, creator of the popular Nations of Canada podcast, shines a spotlight on lesser-known figures such as William Weston, the risk-taking merchant who gambled on Atlantic exploration, and Shingwaukonse, the visionary Ojibwe chief who pioneered resource-sharing negotiations with Canada’s government.

From Indigenous leaders to Métis trailblazers and war heroes, Koabel interweaves personal lives with pivotal moments in Canada’s journey, demonstrating how individuals struggles, regional challenges, and cross-cultural exchanges built the foundations of a modern nation. This insightful and delightfully readable book dismantles the linear narrative of Canada’s history and reveals a more complex, diverse, and multi-faceted story, connecting Canada’s past with its present in surprising and thought-provoking ways.