Let's Find Out
Chris Chang-Yen Phillips
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We take questions from curious Edmontonians about local history. Then we find out the answers together.
Available episodes
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Mar 1, 2023
62 – About Sohan Singh Bhullar Park
Soni Dasmohapatra asks: Who is Sohan Singh Bullar? Why is there a park named after them?
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Feb 1, 2023
61 – How a Park Gets a Name
Mathew Thomson asks: what’s the process for naming a park in Edmonton? We investigate: who has authority, how much do names mean, and what happens when someone goes rogue on Google Maps?
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Jan 4, 2023
60 – A Beautiful Ex-Garbage Dump
Karen Unland asks: When did we stop dumping garbage into river valley spaces and start turning them into parks? In this episode, former historian laureate Shirley Lowe walks us through three stories: how the Grierson Hill dump became Louise McKinney Park, how the Strathcona dump and gravel mine became Hawrelak (aka Mayfair) Park, and how … Continue reading 60 – A Beautiful Ex-Garbage Dump →
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Dec 8, 2022
59 – The Smallest Park
Shelley Jodoin-Chouinard asks what Edmonton’s smallest park is.
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Nov 3, 2022
58 – The MacKinnon Ravine Mystery
Kay Rollans asks who hung two effigies from the 142nd Street Bridge amid 1965 protests against a freeway slated to be built through MacKinnon Ravine. This episode is part of our season exploring the history of parks and natural areas in Edmonton.
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Oct 5, 2022
57 – About Parks
Edmontonians take a lot of pride in our parks and natural areas. But how did they come to be the way they are, and how well do they make space for humans and other species? On September 29, Let’s Find Out hosted a live podcast recording at the Aviary, with short talks and activities about … Continue reading 57 – About Parks →
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Sep 10, 2022
Sep 29 Live Show – Let’s Find Out About Parks
Edmontonians take a lot of pride in our parks and natural areas. But how did they come to be the way they are, and how well do they make space for humans and other species? Join Let’s Find Out host Chris Chang-Yen Phillips and producer Trevor Chow-Fraser for a live podcast recording at the Aviary, … Continue reading Sep 29 Live Show – Let’s Find Out About Parks →
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May 31, 2022
56 – We Made It
As Chris wraps up year one of his history master’s degree, Chris and Trevor do one last regular check-in about the pile of essays, grantwriting, and paddling. After this episode, we’ll be back to doing another season of listener questions! Send us your questions about parks and natural areas around Edmonton. What are you curious … Continue reading 56 – We Made It →
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Apr 20, 2022
April 24: Live Recording at Calgary Expo
Great news! Our first Let’s Find Out live show in a while is coming up this weekend. We’re as surprised as you are. Thanks to the great folks at the Alberta Podcast Network, we’ll be at Calgary Expo this weekend. Have you ever taken a picture of all the pretty bubbles under the ice at … Continue reading April 24: Live Recording at Calgary Expo →
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Mar 29, 2022
55 – Making Space for Fossils
In this episode, we travel to the Burgess Shale: a set of incredible fossil beds in Yoho National Park, preserving 500-million-year-old soft-bodied sea creatures. Today, it is part of a huge World Heritage Site: it has expanded to encompass all of Yoho National Park here in BC, Jasper and Banff, Kootenay, and three BC provincial … Continue reading 55 – Making Space for Fossils →
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Feb 28, 2022
54 – Roadblocks
In this episode, Chris tells Trevor about some of the comic (and cosmic) roadblocks on the road to learning about paleontology and power in Yoho National Park, and just generally the challenges facing students right now. Trevor offers some advice (and a hug). Guest co-host Eliot joins us for hot tips about the best songs … Continue reading 54 – Roadblocks →
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Jan 25, 2022
53 – Right to the Source
What’s the difference between a library and an archive? Why might you want to go into one versus the other? In this episode, Chris talks about some heartbreaking and complicated diary entries he read in the City of Edmonton Archives, what it’s like getting into libraries and archives right now with Omicron, and why it … Continue reading 53 – Right to the Source →
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Dec 14, 2021
52 – With Intent to Destroy a Group
This December, Dr. Andrew Woolford delivered the Western Canadian Lecture, presented by the University of Alberta’s Department of History, Classics, & Religion the 2021 Western Canadian Lecture. Dr. Woolford is a prominent scholar in Genocide Studies who has worked on the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada. His talk was titled: “With intent to … Continue reading 52 – With Intent to Destroy a Group →
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Nov 30, 2021
51 – That’s a Good Question
How do you form a good historical question? In this episode, Chris and Trevor talk about trying to do that for a very specific reason: a Canada Graduate Scholarship grant application.
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Nov 1, 2021
50 – A Community of Scholars
Chris just started a masters in history at the University of Alberta. In this episode we wanted to give you a peek into his day to day life studying to be a historian. Hopefully you’ll understand a little more what it’s actually like in the fall of 2021 to go to grad school when the … Continue reading 50 – A Community of Scholars →
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Sep 28, 2021
49 – First Day(s) in Class
Chris talks to Trevor about what it’s like being on campus in a pandemic (surprisingly great), feelings of FOMO picking classes, and studying with John Acorn the Nature Nut. Plus, a little bit about Tacitus and a lot of thoughts on what we owe each other (and/or the state).
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Aug 31, 2021
48 – Back to School
The next chapter for Let’s Find Out (and Chris). Trevor Chow-Fraser asks Chris Chang-Yen Phillips to talk through his days as a wee student starting school, what the purpose of a university education is, and why he’s headed to the University of Alberta to pursue a Masters’ degree in history. In the next phase of … Continue reading 48 – Back to School →
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Sep 10, 2020
47 – The Adventure of the Golden Mailbag
Chris and Trevor rifle through listener questions and messages.
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Sep 2, 2020
Garden Update
Updates on some pod stuff coming up: A mailbag episode next week! Email your messages to chris@letsfindoutpodcast.com by September 7 and as long as they require absolutely no research, we’ll try to read them out on air. Back by popular demand, we’ll be doing another Ritchie historical walking tour this September, in collaboration with the … Continue reading Garden Update →
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Aug 26, 2020
46 – Marriage and Murder at the Mirama
Part 4 of our miniseries about the Mirama Dining & Lounge dim sum restaurant: what exactly happened at the 2004 fight in the restaurant and what is there to know about Asian gangs in Edmonton around the early 2000s?
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Aug 12, 2020
45 – A Feast for Veterans
Part 3 of our miniseries about the Mirama Dining & Lounge dim sum restaurant: Mike Tulley is a former sound engineer with CJSR. Reporter Nathan Fung talks to Mike about his time working at fundraising events held at the Mirama restaurant, which were organized to help out Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) veterans … Continue reading 45 – A Feast for Veterans →
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Jul 22, 2020
44 – Salad Days at Mirama
Part 2 of our miniseries about the Mirama Dining & Lounge dim sum restaurant: How does Mirama fit in the wider history of Edmonton’s Chinatown? How did business go for Mirama after the alleged gang incident in 2004? And why did Mirama eventually shut down? Reporter Nathan Fung asks Lan Chan-Marples and Games Choi for … Continue reading 44 – Salad Days at Mirama →
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Jul 8, 2020
43 – Mirama Memories
Reporter Nathan Fung asks Grace Law what she remembers of the old Mirama restaurant on 94 St. and Jasper Ave, and what did this old dim sum place mean to her and possibly other Chinese Canadians living in Edmonton. Part 1 of a miniseries about the Mirama restaurant.
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Jul 6, 2020
Coming Soon: Mirama Restaurant Miniseries
Starting July 8, we’re going to be starting a summer miniseries about Edmonton’s lost Mirama Restaurant. The series will be produced by Nathan Fung, and episodes will be out every two weeks.
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Apr 2, 2020
The Covid Call-In Show
With Covid-19 rolling through all of our lives right now, we had a really basic question: how are you holding up? For this bonus episode, we held a live call-in show to find out. Karen Unland, Marlena Wyman, Jaya Chauhan, and Allan Farrell called in.
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Mar 24, 2020
Mar 26 – Live Call-In Show
How are you doing? We’re hosting a live call-in show this week to find out. It’ll be Thursday March 26 from 10 AM – 11 AM Mountain Time, and we’ll share it later on the podcast. Join by clicking the Zoom meeting link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/897659176
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Jan 29, 2020
42 – Icons of Ritchie
We’re back with another historical walking tour of Edmonton’s Ritchie neighbourhood, presented by the Ritchie Community League. In this bonus episode, we explore the history of meatpacking, German immigration, and iconic local species in the neighbourhood.
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Dec 11, 2019
41 – How We Make Nature
The way we think about a thing can totally change the way we behave. We talk about nature as if it’s something outside of us. Separate from us. In this live episode wrapping up our season on humans and nature, we present three short talks to help you shake up your ideas about what’s natural … Continue reading 41 – How We Make Nature →
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Nov 28, 2019
40 – Is Jasper a Wild Place?
Dylan Hall and Chris Chang-Yen Phillips take a road trip to the Rockies, to figure out whether Jasper National Park is a wild place.
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Nov 10, 2019
December 1 Live Show: How We Make Nature
Join us for an afternoon of short talks at a live recording of Let’s Find Out. Throughout this season of the podcast, we’ve answered listener questions about how humans and nature have shaped each other in Edmonton. At this event, we’ll share stories that’ll really make you think about how we create nature where we … Continue reading December 1 Live Show: How We Make Nature →
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Oct 30, 2019
39 – The Most Edmonton Species
Marlena Wyman asks what wildlife species are so adapted to city life that they depend on the city to survive. We decided to answer with a gameshow, pitting a cockroach, a magpie, an elm, and a hare against each other to claim the title of The Most Edmonton Species.
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Sep 24, 2019
38 – Leaving Bruderheim
Dustin Bajer asks whether we have a responsibility to help local species adapt to climate change by helping them migrate.
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Aug 29, 2019
37 – The Case of the Capilano Apricots
Brooklin Schneider asks us to help her find out who planted the Capilano apricots – three apricot trees growing beside the road on 75 Street.
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Aug 19, 2019
September 8: A Ritchie Tour with Oumar Salifou
Coming up on Sunday, September 8 we’re offering another historical walking tour of Edmonton’s Ritchie Neighbourhood. This year’s walk will be led by Oumar Salifou. Grab your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ritchie-historical-walking-tours-tickets-66142380641
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Jul 31, 2019
36 – The Climate-Proof Farm
Denise Chang-Yen (yes, Chris’ mom) asks whether climate change will end up being a net benefit for farms in our area.
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Jun 26, 2019
35 – Bear Country
Shelley Jodoin-Chouinard asks if the proliferation of lawns in Edmonton has anything to do with the absence of bears in the city. More on this story: http://letsfindoutpodcast.com/2019/06/26/episode-35-bear-country/
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May 29, 2019
34 – The Dredge Report
Allan Farrell asks what’s up with a picture of a gold dredge he saw on a plaque downtown, and where the gold in the North Saskatchewan River comes from.
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Apr 25, 2019
33 – Kalyna Country
Alison Brooks-Starks asks how folks from Ukraine settled where they did in Canada – was it because the landscapes here looked like places in the Ukraine? To explore her question, we dug into a stack of academic research. We also went to the University of Alberta’s Pembina Hall to meet Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies … Continue reading 33 – Kalyna Country →
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Mar 27, 2019
32 – Dam Complicated
Amandah van Merlin asks how have dams changed our relationship with the North Saskatchewan River. To explore her question, we brought Amandah to the Provincial Archives of Alberta, to dig for files on the two dams upstream of Edmonton: the Brazeau Dam and the Bighorn Dam. We also met up with local writer Billie Milholland, … Continue reading 32 – Dam Complicated →
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Feb 27, 2019
31 – How Nature Shapes Us
This year, we’re embarking on a new season of Let’s Find Out, exploring these ideas. We kicked things off with a live show at The Almanac this February. It featured short talks about humans and natural history in the Edmonton area, and games for audience members to play. In this episode, you’ll hear from Marlena … Continue reading 31 – How Nature Shapes Us →
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Jan 9, 2019
Live Event Feb 9 – How Nature Shapes Us
From clearing the prairies with fire to planting elm trees along our streets, humans have been shaping the land in the Edmonton area for millennia. And it’s been shaping us right back. Join us Saturday, February 9 at 2 PM for an afternoon of short talks and a live recording of Let’s Find Out! Ever … Continue reading Live Event Feb 9 – How Nature Shapes Us →
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Oct 31, 2018
30 – The Class Photo Enigma
In our second episode, we wondered about the name of a black student in an Edmonton Technical School class photo from 1932. In this episode, Kyle Muzyka explains how he found out the answer.
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Oct 24, 2018
29 – About the Green Onion Cake Man
Earlier in 2018, we hosted a live panel dedicated to one of the most important questions in Edmonton’s food history: how the heck did green onion cakes get so popular in Edmonton? These delicious, flaky, greasy little circles of fried goodness didn’t just magically worm their way into our hearts. This episode, we’re getting a … Continue reading 29 – About the Green Onion Cake Man →
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Oct 17, 2018
28 – The Not-So-Absent Gravestone
Back in 2017, Sheila Thomas asked why there was no headstone to mark the grave of Frank Beevers – the first Edmonton police officer killed in the line of duty. This episode, we find out what it’s like to actually see your idea turn into cold, hard, granite reality.
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Sep 26, 2018
27 – The Cree Calendar
With geese flying south in August and snow in September, it sometimes feels like winter in Edmonton spills far outside its season. What if instead of getting frustrated with the weather though, we tweaked the way we measured the year? Ben Freeland learned that the Cree calendar divides the year into six seasons. So he … Continue reading 27 – The Cree Calendar →
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Aug 29, 2018
26 – The High Rise Inquisition
How is the proliferation of tall buildings in Edmonton affecting training and planning by Edmonton Fire Rescue? Susan Padget asked that question on Taproot Edmonton‘s story garden. Finding out the answer taught us about a surprisingly tangible transition the city is making.
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Jul 25, 2018
25 – The City That Wanted To Be Prairie
How did Edmonton come to be known as a prairie city? Dustin Bajer asked that question on Taproot Edmonton’s story garden. Finding out the answer – and figuring out whether this area is aspen parkland, or prairie, or forest – challenged our ideas about the land we live on.
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Jun 27, 2018
24 – Back To Ritchie
We’re back in the Ritchie neighbourhood for a second set of locals’ questions and a live history walk exploring their answers. Karen Wall wanted to know how one neighbourhood could support two independent cobblers. Nicole Anderson wanted to know the history of her home in Ritchie. And Scott Harris wanted to know what the story … Continue reading 24 – Back To Ritchie →
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May 30, 2018
23 – The High Level Inquisition
Susan Padget asks whether it’s true that workers died during the construction of Edmonton’s High Level Bridge. Oodles of extra content on our website: http://www.letsfindoutpodcast.com
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Apr 25, 2018
22 – The Glyde Mural
When Kelsey Chief took an orientation tour at the University of Alberta in 2015, one of the stops took her to a mural in Rutherford Library: Henry Glyde’s painting, “Alberta History.” In this episode, Kelsey talks about the anger she felt seeing that mural. And University of Regina artist and professor David Garneau shares a … Continue reading 22 – The Glyde Mural →
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Mar 28, 2018
21 – About Green Onion Cakes
Daniel Emberg wanted to know why green onion cakes took hold in Edmonton when they did. He flew in from Winnipeg to join us for a live panel at the Mercury Room to find out the answer. Featuring special guests Linda Tzang, Siu To, and Marty Chan.
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Mar 2, 2018
20 – If It Hadn’t Been For You Meddling Kids
Mariam Macabanding and Laila Elbery help us investigate how climate change could affect the ways Indigenous peoples around here connect to nature. We’ve been working with a group of students from Hazeldean Elementary and Queen Elizabeth high school. They gave us some questions about climate change in our area. Then we brought them to CJSR … Continue reading 20 – If It Hadn’t Been For You Meddling Kids →
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Feb 28, 2018
19 – And I Would Have Gotten Away With All Those Wildfires Too…
Rasha Chebli and Nuha Taha help us investigate whether climate change is affecting wildfires in Alberta. We’ve been working with a group of students from Hazeldean Elementary and Queen Elizabeth high school. They gave us some questions about climate change in our area. Then we brought them to CJSR (Edmonton’s campus and community radio station) … Continue reading 19 – And I Would Have Gotten Away With All Those Wildfires Too… →
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Jan 31, 2018
18 – The Case Of The Christmas Train
Glen Carlson asks us to help him figure out whether the Bay store downtown really used to have a Christmas train on the rooftop. Get the full story on our website: https://letsfindoutpodcast.com/2018/01/31/episode-18-the-case-of-the-christmas-train/
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Dec 27, 2017
17 – The Avalanche Of Garbage
Nicole and Jason Harcus ask whether the hill in Gallagher Park used to be a dump once upon a time.
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Nov 29, 2017
16 – Keep Everything
What should we keep, and what should we throw away? We use a case study of three boxes that Chris’ parents asked him to finally sort through. And we bring in expert witnesses: a private records archivist from the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and two people connected to letters we published in a previous episode.
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Oct 25, 2017
15 – The Sign Of The Ferry
Raymond Matthias asks if he’s found the remains of John Walter’s ferry. We take a live history walk into the river valley to examine the debris he found and get to the bottom of his question.
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Sep 27, 2017
14 – The Land At Hand
Lauren Crazybull asks what parallels we can see between broken treaties and gentrification in Edmonton. Our journey starts on a hill at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery with Papaschase First Nation’s Chief Calvin Bruneau.
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Aug 30, 2017
13 – The Multiplication Of Evil
Tess Dehoog asks whether it’s true that the German Nazi party came to Edmonton to learn about Alberta’s eugenics program.
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Jul 26, 2017
12 – A Rather Queer Roadtrip
Kory deGroot asks where we can learn about queer history in Edmonton. Answering that takes us through old love letters at the U of A Archives, a sneak peek at some research Fort Ed is doing, and hearing a story about coming out late in life.
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Jun 28, 2017
11 – About Ritchie
Ritchie is a beloved older neighbourhood near Mill Creek Ravine. In this episode, we gathered residents’ questions about a school, a meatpacking plant, and some trees in the area. And then we took a walk to find out the answers together.
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Jun 1, 2017
10 – The Dinosaurs At Danek
What are paleontologists digging up at Edmonton’s Danek Bonebed? We head down into the ravine to answer that question and a whole lot more questions about dinosaurs from Edmonton kids.
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May 22, 2017
Long Weekend Update
I’m looking for questions about the Ritchie neighbourhood for a historical walk. And we’re hiring! More details on the website: Long Weekend Update
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May 4, 2017
9 – A Lesson In Protocol
Nathan Smith asks what food plants have been important to Indigenous peoples in the Edmonton area. A simple question opens up a deep process of learning how to ask questions across cultures, and who knowledge belongs to.
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Mar 29, 2017
8 – How We Know What’s True (Live)
Under an avalanche of fake news and misinformation, it seems more important than ever to understand how we know what’s true. On March 11, 2017 we brought out a panel of speakers to The Needle Vinyl Tavern in Edmonton. They answered audience questions about how they know what’s true in their field. Our panelists: – … Continue reading 8 – How We Know What’s True (Live) →
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Mar 1, 2017
7 – The Absent Gravestone
Constable Frank Beevers was the first Edmonton police officer to be killed in the line of duty. Sheila Thomas asks: why is his grave unmarked?
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Feb 16, 2017
March 11 – Let’s Find Out Goes Live At The Needle!
Have you been digging listening to Let’s Find Out? Then come bring your history questions to an all-ages live taping! We’ve got an amazing panel of speakers coming out to The Needle Vinyl Tavern in Edmonton on March 11: – Dr. Kisha Supernant (Métis Anthropology Professor & Archaeologist) – Dave Cournoyer (Writer/Political Watcher at daveberta.ca) … Continue reading March 11 – Let’s Find Out Goes Live At The Needle! →
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Jan 25, 2017
The Talking Teacup
This month, I have something a little different for you. It’s a one-off podcast I did in June 2016 to capture a little taste of the 2016 Edmonton Chinatown Conference. The 2016 Edmonton Chinatown Conference ran from June 11-12 at the University of Alberta. It was a gathering of city planners, business people, history nerds, … Continue reading The Talking Teacup →
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Dec 29, 2016
6 – The Great Apartment Caper
This episode: The Great Apartment Caper. Pamela Learmond asks me to help her verify whether her grandpa really had an entire apartment building moved down 97 Street. [Editor’s note: This episode has been slightly edited to remove some personal details]
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Dec 1, 2016
5 – The Ravine Reveal
What has archaeologist Haeden Stewart been digging up in Mill Creek Ravine? I followed him down to the dig site itself. And along the way, I learned about a neighbourhood you might never have known existed, how Edmonton industrialized in the early 20th century, and what caragana can tell you about where to dig.
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Nov 23, 2016
Mini-Update – The Klan Query
We found out the name of the building where the Ku Klux Klan published their newspaper, The Liberator, in the 1930s.
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Oct 24, 2016
4 – The Klan Query
Rebecca Jade asks whether we can put a plaque where the KKK used to publish their newspaper in Edmonton – The Liberator. Along the way we learn about the mayor and premier who lent support to the KKK, a fiery picnic, and what the point of a plaque is anyway. The Edmonton Historical Board’s Barbara … Continue reading 4 – The Klan Query →
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Sep 28, 2016
3 – The Story Of The Sheppard House
This episode: The Story of the Sheppard House. Christy Boulter asks what exactly is the story behind her home, and its original owner William Sheppard. Investigating that question gave us a surprising look at booze, the behind-the-scenes machinations around prohibition, and what your dining room says about you.
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Aug 29, 2016
2 – The Trustee Enigma
This episode: The Trustee Enigma. Bashir Mohamed asks whether Edmonton has ever had a black public school trustee. Looking for an answer takes us to the Edmonton Public School Board’s archives, a conversation with a current trustee, and to the centre of the conversation about modern-day racism in Edmonton. This episode contains some explicit language. … Continue reading 2 – The Trustee Enigma →
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Aug 29, 2016
1 – The Snow Goose Case
The first episode of Let’s Find Out, where we take your questions about Edmonton’s history and find out the answer together. This episode: the Snow Goose Case. How did the Snow Goose Festival become the Snow Goose Chase? The answer reveals something fascinating about us, and what we can get used to, and how quickly … Continue reading 1 – The Snow Goose Case →
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Jul 11, 2016
Episode 0
Episode 0 by Chris Chang-Yen Phillips
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