Note: This video was researched and recorded before the recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including the joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran that began in late February 2026 and the subsequent broader conflict that has continued into March 2026.

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More than a century ago, soldiers from across the British Empire were buried in the sand outside Gaza after the battles of the First World War. Among them were 23 Canadians, laid to rest in what is now known as Gaza War Cemetery (22 peacekeepers and one airman from WWII).

Today that cemetery sits in the middle of one of the most contested places on earth.

In this episode of Dead Canadians, Stephanie Allen explores the history of the cemetery, the Canadians buried there, and the principles that govern the protection of war graves during armed conflict. Under the Geneva Conventions, burial sites and cemeteries are protected locations even in wartime. The dead are to be treated with dignity, their graves preserved and marked wherever possible.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was created after the First World War to ensure exactly that — that those who died in service would remain buried together near the place where they fell, their graves maintained in perpetuity.

But what happens when war returns to a war cemetery?

Recent reporting has raised troubling questions about possible damage to Gaza War Cemetery, leaving uncertainty for families and historians alike. Were the graves disturbed? Can the site be restored? And what does it mean when a place meant for remembrance becomes part of a modern battlefield?

War graves are meant to provide a fixed place for mourning — an anchor for grief far from home. When that stability is shaken, the sense of loss can feel newly reopened.This episode looks at the history of the cemetery, the Canadians buried there, and the enduring promise that the fallen would never be forgotten.

Sources:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorialCommonwealth War Graves Commission. Gaza War Cemetery.https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/news/update-on-cwgc-gaza-cemeteries/https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/71701/gaza-war-cemetery/CBC News. Coverage of Gaza War Cemetery and CWGC concerns, 2024–2025.Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols on protection of graves and cultural sites.Longworth, Philip. The Unending Vigil: The History of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Jean Wilson (speed skating) and Barbara Ann Scott (figure skating) didn’t just win medals — they shifted culture.At the 1932 Winter Olympics, Jean Wilson helped prove Canadian women could compete internationally, even before women’s sport was fully recognized. Sixteen years later, Barbara Ann Scott’s Olympic gold in 1948 gave a post-war country something it deeply needed: joy.

From Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto to Lake Placid (1932), St. Moritz (1948) and beyond, this episode explores how women’s athletic excellence moved from novelty to national pride.

Time Stamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:52 *Jean Wilson*

1:16 Biography

1:43 1932 Olympic Games in Lake Placid

2:40 Death and legacy

3:50 On-location at Jean Wilson's grave at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery, Toronto

5:10 *Transition* WWII

5:40 *Barbara Ann Scott*

6:02 Biography

6:45 1948 Winter Olympics at St, Moritz, Switzerland

7:55 Turning Professional, Legacy and Death

8:40 *Interview* with Eleanor Scott who recalls the social impact of Barbara Ann Scott in 1947

12:52 "Barbara Ann Scott came along at the right time"

13:13 *Conclusion* One expanded what was possible and one carried it forward

Keywords: Jean Wilson, 1932 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, Barbara Ann Scott, 1948 Winter Olympics, St. Moritz, Canadian Olympic history, Women in Canadian sport, Mount Hope Cemetery Toronto, Canadian speed skating history, Canadian figure skating history, Women in sport history, Rawdon Quebec history, Dead Canadians podcast, Stephanie Allen, Canadian cemetery history, Women and the Olympics, Canadian athletes, Canadian sports history

Exploring the Islington Burial Ground: A Journey Through Toronto's Forgotten HistoryThis episode delves into the history of the Islington Burial Ground in Etobicoke, Toronto. Established in the 1830s, this small cemetery is often overlooked amidst the busy city life. The episode covers its origins, the Mississaugas of the Credit’s connection to the land, and its evolution through the centuries. Notable figures such as John Graves Simcoe, Thomas Montgomery, and Reverend Dr. Stewart East are highlighted, showcasing their contributions to the community. The cemetery's preservation efforts and its significance in Toronto's cultural heritage are also discussed, reminding viewers that history is closer than they think.

00:00 Introduction to Islington Burial Ground (Pioneer Cemetery)

01:17 Historical Background of the Land

03:08 Development of Islington Village

03:59 The Mystery of Early Burials

04:28 Cemetery Management and Preservation Efforts

07:30 Notable Figures and Families

10:11 Modern Recognition and Heritage Conservation

10:48 Conclusion: Reflecting on the Past

#TorontoHistory

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It’s a melody that sounds peaceful and gentle, but it was born in a world of upheaval, epidemics, and war. In this episode of Dead Canadians: Carved in Stone, Stephanie Allen uncovers the history and the mystery of the Huron Carol. We trace the life of Jean de Brébeuf—a French Jesuit who arrived in the 1620s with a sincere admiration for the Wendat people, but a mission that would ultimately contribute to the collapse of their world.

From the frozen forests of Wendake to the ritualized torture and scattering of Brébeuf’s bones across continents, we explore how a 17th-century theological "bridge" became a modern Christmas staple.

History doesn’t offer tidy saints; it offers people. This is the story of one of Canada’s most complicated legacies.

Timeline & Highlights:

0:00 – The song that feels like it comes from another world.

3:41 – Meet Jean de Brébeuf: The scholar-missionary from Normandy.

4:25 – 1626: Arriving in the Wendat Confederacy.

05:25 – The Dark Turn: Disease, epidemics, and fracturing communities.

6:58 – The Death of a Saint: Captured and the ritual of 1649.

07:45 – The Relics: Why Brébeuf’s bones are scattered across the globe.

8:39 – The creation of the Carol: Translation as a "path to salvation."

10:00 – The "Middleton" Myth: Why the English lyrics are a 20th century invention.

11:00 – Saint or Symbol? Navigating the colonial legacy today.

Connect with us: Subscribe for more deep dives into the people who shaped Canada’s history.

Visit us at DeadCanadians.ca

Follow on Socials: @DeadCanadians

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#Cemetery

We explore the life and death of a forgotten Canadian hero. He survived the horrors of WWI only to die in a freak accident in his Toronto home.

Captain George Fraser Kerr, VC, MM & Bar was one of Canada’s most decorated soldiers of the First World War—yet his story remains remarkably under-told. Born in Deseronto, Ontario in 1895, his early life was unremarkable on paper. But in September 1914, at just nineteen, Kerr enlisted in the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force, beginning a journey that would carry him from civilian life into the brutal battles of the Western Front. His courage under fire earned him multiple gallantry awards, culminating in the Victoria Cross for exceptional bravery during the Hundred Days Offensive.

This episode visits Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, where Kerr is laid to rest, and reflects on how ordinary Canadians shaped and were shaped—by the Great War. His stone, like so many across the country, preserves a legacy of sacrifice.

If you travel through Toronto, Deseronto, or Cambridge, you’ll find plaques and memorials honouring Kerr’s service. Each one invites us to pause, reflect, and remember the thousands of Canadians whose courage never made headlines, yet changed history.

His medals are on display in the Canadian War Museum.

Timecode Description

0:00 Introduction

0:47 Who Was George Fraser Kerr?

Early Life in Deseronto and Toronto/Galt

2:18 Joining the Fight: Enlisting in the CEF (3rd Battalion) in 1914

2:53 The Western Front: The Start of an Incredible Military Career

3:34 June 1916: Military Medal for Leadership at Mount Sorrel

4:13 August 1917: The Battle of Hill 70 (Canadian Operational Skill)

5:01 Oct-Nov 1917: Passchendaele (Endurance Under Unimaginable Conditions)

5:49 August 1918: Military Cross for Action at Amiens (The 100 Days Offensive Begins)

6:42 Sept 1918: Bar to the Military Cross at the Drocourt-Quéant Line

7:33 The Victoria Cross: Heroism at Bourlon Wood (Single-Handedly Taking a Stronghold)

8:51 The Highest Honour: the Victoria Cross for Conspicuous Bravery

9:29 Homecoming: A Decorated Officer Living an Ordinary Life in Toronto

10:35 A Sudden Tragedy: The Unexpected Death of a War Hero

11:08 The Final Resting Place: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto

12:27 Conclusion & How to Visit Captain Kerr's Grave

Connect with us: Subscribe for more deep dives into the people who shaped Canada’s history.

Visit us at ⁠DeadCanadians.ca⁠

Follow on Socials: @DeadCanadians

⁠See other episodes⁠

#VictoriaCross #GeorgeFraserKerr #CanadianHistory #RemembranceDay #WorldWarOne #FirstWorldWar #WWI #WW1 #MountPleasantCemetery #DeadCanadians #CanadianMilitaryHistory #CemeteryStories #OntarioHistory #Deseronto #CambridgeOntario #GreatWar #CanadianHeroes #HistoryPodcast #Bagpipes #FlowersOfTheForest

The Pioneer Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Tillsonburg area. The cemetery was established in 1838 and closed in 1870. Many of Tillsonburg's earliest settlers, including members of the Tillson family, are buried there.Join Dead Canadians researcher and museum professional Stephanie Allen as she visits this pioneer cemetery which has had a total restoration of the one-acre site in 2015. Restoration work included monument cleaning and the addition of a large index stone.

Local historians have done extensive research into the individuals and families buried in the cemetery.

To learn more about pioneer graveyard tours and events at the cemetery, contact Annandale National Historic Site.

Host: Stephanie Allen, MMSt

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Join Dead Canadians researcher and museum professional, Stephanie Allen, as she explores this abandoned pioneer cemetery in Norval, Ontario. There are no grave markers remaining as many were removed to a nearby cemetery. Oral traditions suggest there are the unmarked graves of cholera victims from the 1854 epidemic which swept through the area. Further oral tradition suggests this was an Indigenous burial site for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.The land was granted to John Charles McNab in 1819 and he called the settlement "McNabville" until about 1838 when it was changed to Norval with the introduction of the Post Office. His brother James and Alexander also settled in the area at that time.There are no extant grave markers. Some were moved to a nearby cemetery and the rest have been lost, damaged or repurposed.References:Ontario Genealogical Society: https://vitacollections.ca/ogscollect...McNab Pioneer Cemetery: Halton Peel Branch Ontario Genealogical Society: https://haltonpeel.ogs.on.ca/mcnab-pi...Norval Pioneer Cemetery a possible native burial site: https://www.theifp.ca/news-story/8137...Council passes motion to add McNab Cemetery to the Heritage Registry: https://www.theifp.ca/news-story/8313...Archives Association of Ontario: https://www.archeion.ca/mcnabb-burial...Equipment:iPhone 11Rode lavalier GO (I should have added a dead kitten wind muff)Joby Gorillapod 3kMusic:Simoom Sounds http://simoomsounds.com/Host: Stephanie Allen