Heritage Minutes

The Heritage Minutes collection is a bilingual series of history-focused public service announcements. Each 60-second short film depicts a significant person, event or story in Canadian history. First released in 1991, the Heritage Minutes have been shown on television, in cinemas and online. They have become a recognizable part of Canadian culture.

Features

Bora Laskin

New!
One of Canada’s greatest legal scholars, Bora Laskin overcame antisemitism to become the first Jewish Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

Heritage Minute: Edwin A. Baker

New!
After losing his sight during the First World War, Edwin A. Baker co-founded the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Mary Riter Hamilton

New!
Mary Riter Hamilton painted the battlefields after the First World War as a testament to its devastating cost. She would suffer mental and physical illnesses as a result of documenting the experiences of Canadian soldiers.

All (104) Episodes

A Heritage Minute Salute to Canada Day

2025

Bora Laskin

2025

Heritage Minute: Edwin A. Baker

2024

Mary Riter Hamilton

2024

Norman Kwong

2024
Norman Kwong Heritage Minute

Mary “Bonnie” Baker

2023
Heritage Minute: Mary “Bonnie” Baker

Paldi

2023
Paldi Heritage Minute

Jackie Shane

2022
Jackie Shane

Chloe Cooley

2022
Chloe Cooley

Tom Longboat

2022
Tom Longboat

Oscar Peterson

2021
Oscar Peterson

The Discovery of Insulin

2021
The Discovery of Insulin

Liberation of the Netherlands

2020
Liberation of the Netherlands

Elsie MacGill

2020
Elsie MacGill

Vancouver Asahi

2019

D-Day

2019
D-Day

Acadian Deportation

2019
Acadian Deportation

Lucy Maud Montgomery

2018
Lucy Maud Montgomery

Jim Egan

2018
Jim Egan

Edmonton Grads

2017
Edmonton Grads

"Boat People" Refugees

2017
"Boat People" Refugees

Kensington Market

2017
Kensington Market

Viola Desmond

2016
Viola Desmond

Chanie Wenjack

2016
Chanie Wenjack

Naskumituwin (Treaty)

2016
Naskumituwin (Treaty)

Kenojuak Ashevak

2016
Kenojuak Ashevak

Nursing Sisters

2015
Nursing Sisters

Terry Fox

2015
Terry Fox

Winnipeg Falcons

2014
Winnipeg Falcons

Queenston Heights

2013
Queenston Heights

Richard Pierpoint

2012
Richard Pierpoint

Andrew Mynarski

2005
Andrew Mynarski

Dextraze in the Congo

2005
Dextraze in the Congo

Home from the Wars

2005
Home from the Wars

Vimy Ridge

2005
Vimy Ridge

Juno Beach

2005
Juno Beach

Mona Parsons

2005
Mona Parsons

Osborn of Hong Kong

2005
Osborn of Hong Kong

Tommy Prince

2005
Tommy Prince

J.S. Woodsworth

2003
J.S. Woodsworth

Lucille Teasdale

2000
Lucille Teasdale

Stratford

1997
Stratford

Expo '67

1997
Expo '67

John Humphrey

1997
John Humphrey

Frontier College

1997
Frontier College

Marion Orr

1997
Marion Orr

Syrup

1997
Syrup

Jackie Robinson

1997
Jackie Robinson

Nat Taylor

1997
Nat Taylor

Hart & Papineau

1995
Hart & Papineau

Paris Crew

1995
Paris Crew

Pauline Vanier

1995
Pauline Vanier

Water Pump

1995
Water Pump

Bluenose

1995
Bluenose

Myrnam Hospital

1995
Myrnam Hospital

La Bolduc

1993
La Bolduc

Sam Steele

1993
Sam Steele

Joseph-Armand Bombardier

1993
Joseph-Armand Bombardier

Inukshuk

1993
Inukshuk

Maurice Ruddick

1993
Maurice Ruddick

Maple Leaf Gardens

1993
Maple Leaf Gardens

Emily Carr

1992
Emily Carr

Baldwin & LaFontaine

1992
Baldwin & LaFontaine

Joseph Casavant

1992
Joseph Casavant

Rural Teacher

1992
Rural Teacher

Jean Nicollet

1992
Jean Nicollet

Vikings

1992
Vikings

Peacemaker

1992
Peacemaker

Joseph Tyrrell

1992
Joseph Tyrrell

Governor Frontenac

1992
Governor Frontenac

Saguenay Fire

1992
Saguenay Fire

Basketball

1992
Basketball

Agnes Macphail

1992
Agnes Macphail

Emily Murphy

1992
Emily Murphy

Midwife

1992
Midwife

Responsible Government

1991
Responsible Government

Jacques Cartier

1991
Jacques Cartier

John Cabot

1991
John Cabot

Superman

1991
Superman

Wilder Penfield

1991
Wilder Penfield

Halifax Explosion

1991
Halifax Explosion

Valour Road

1991
Valour Road

Orphans

1991
Orphans

Soddie

1991
Soddie

Underground Railroad

1991
Underground Railroad

Jacques Plante

1991
Jacques Plante

Jennie Trout

1991
Jennie Trout

Nellie McClung

1991
Nellie McClung

Étienne Parent

1990
Étienne Parent

Flags

1990
Flags

Grey Owl

1990
Grey Owl

Winnie

1990
Winnie Heritage Minute

Sitting Bull

1990
Sitting Bull

Paul-Émile Borduas

1990
Paul-Émile Borduas

Marconi

1990
Marconi

Marshall McLuhan

1990
Marshall McLuhan

Sir Sandford Fleming

1990
Sir Sandford Fleming

Avro Arrow

1990
Avro Arrow

John McCrae

1990
John McCrae

Nitro

1990
Nitro

Le Réseau

1990
Le Réseau

Maurice "Rocket" Richard

1990
Maurice "Rocket" Richard

Laura Secord

1990
Laura Secord

Les Voltigeurs de Québec

1990
Les Voltigeurs de Québec