The NHL likes to call Willie O’Ree the Jackie Robinson of hockey. And no one can deny how significant it was when he became the first Black player on the ice in an NHL game in 1958. But what the league doesn’t like to talk about is what happened next. Because after O’Ree, the NHL didn’t admit another black player for sixteen years. So did the NHL resegregate? And why don’t we talk about the experiences of the players who broke hockey’s second colour line?Featured in this episode:  Bob Dawson, Bill RileyTo learn more:“Mike Marson on challenges he faced as NHL’s second black player” by Wayne Scanlan in SportsNet“Life of Riley; Career of N.S. hockey trailblazer Bill Riley remembered during Black History Month” by Paul Hollingsworth and Allan April in CTV NewsWillie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL's First Black Player by Willie O’Ree with Michael McKinley“How Conn Smythe's racism kept Herb Carnegie from achieving his NHL dream” by Ian Kennedy in Yahoo Sports“The dark history of the NFL’s original sins” by Chelsea Stark-Jones and Lex Pryor in The RingerCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Oxio, Better Help, EcojusticeIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of the estimated 7000 people who have played in the NHL only around 100 of them have been Black. That’s an absurdly low number compared to any other major North American sports league.But what makes that statistic especially shocking is the fact that the modern game has its roots with Black players on Black teams.The Coloured Hockey League wasn’t just a sideshow to the main event of white hockey. And the way that league was targeted by the white establishment is reflective of the racism that Black players faced over the next century.Featured in this episode: Bob Dawson, Darril Fosty, George FostyTo learn more:Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925 Darril Fosty & George Fosty (Author)“1960s college hockey player recalls racism on the ice” by Bruce Deachman in The Ottawa Citizen“The all-Black league that invented hockey as we know it” by Jasper Hutson in DefectorCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Canva, Douglas, Better Help, Slow BurnCanadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS you'll receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hockey is a hell of a lot of fun. But right now, the sport is going through a reckoning. Allegations of racism, corruption, sexual misconduct and so much more are rocking the game to its core.But the truth is that in Canada, hockey is more than just a sport. It’s a civic religion, with a billion dollar business attached to it.Over the next seven episodes, COMMONS will be digging into the cult of hockey, scrutinizing its doctrines and exposing its secrets.Canadaland is turning 10! From May 24 - June 2, sign up for our highest level of ongoing support for only $10 a month. PLUS the first 100 signups will receive a FREE limited edition 10th Anniversary tote bag. Head to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.Editor's Note: a different version of this episode was published on the subscriber-only feed of Commons. No inaccuracies were found in the original version, changes were made by the Editor in Chief for storytelling purposes. Featured in this episode: Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News)To learn more:“How a Toronto hockey league turns kids’ joy into an $8.8m cash cow” by Ian Kennedy and Nathan Kalman-Lamb in The Guardian“Aliu says GTHL rejected organization that would have assured spots for BIPOC players” by Rick Westhead in TSN“Prospective buyer says he was coached to skirt GTHL’s rules on organization sales” by Rick Westhead in TSN“Rinks of dreams: The Little One had style” by Bruce Lowitt in The Tampa Bay TimesCredits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)Additional music from Audio Network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love it or hate it, hockey is inescapable in Canada. But the sport has a dark side.From violence and racism on the ice, to corruption, cover-ups and abuse off of it. In the latest season of COMMONS, host Arshy Mann and producers Jordan Cornish and Noor Azrieh will be bringing you stories from inside the cult of hockey.Our new season launches on May 24th.If you’re a Canadaland supporter, you can get access to episodes a week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last season we sat down with Cory Doctorow, co-author of Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back, to find out how the music industry has become dominated by monopoly power. In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you Arshy’s full interview with Cory, complete with all the nitty gritty details around how and why musicians continue to get screwed by Spotify, music labels, ticketmaster and more.To learn more: Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by ​​Rebecca Giblin and Cory DoctorowSponsors: Canva, Douglas, Truth TellingIf you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with host Arshy Mann to talk about the grocery CEOs testifying at Parliament, their thoughts about the Monopoly season coming to an end, and what listeners can do to make change.Sponsors: USW, Free Lunch, Gardisil If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Loblaws, or any other, modern-day supermarket, is many things. It’s a temple of abundance. A place where a consumer has more choice than the greatest kings, emperors and pharaohs had in their lifetimes. It’s a tech platform, tracking our every taste, transaction and even ailment.And it’s an ideological arena. Where everyday Canadians and grocery CEOs are battling over what’s to blame for our declining standard of living. Featured in this episode: Benjamin Lorr, Vass BednarTo learn more:The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket by Benjamin Lorr“From bakery to ‘tech behemoth’: How Loblaw became a titan of the private health-care industry” in The Toronto Star by Jacob Lorinc“Canada hasn’t had a ‘tech lash’ yet, but consumers should still be wary” in The Globe and Mail by Vass BednarAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, RotmanIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big Tech companies have ushered in a new era of global monopoly. And the most influential, the most powerful of all of them, is Amazon.In this episode, we focus in on two of the fundamental pillars of Amazon’s dominance: its online marketplace and its cloud computing arm.And a former Amazon VP speaks out.Featured in this episode: Matt Stoller, Brad Stone (Bloomberg), Dana Mattioli (Wall Street Journal), Tim BrayTo learn more:Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone“Amazon Prime Is an Economy-Distorting Lie” in BIG by Matt Stoller“Amazon Scooped Up Data From Its Own Sellers to Launch Competing Products” in The Wall Street Journal by Dana MattioliAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Athletic Greens, Free Lunch  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I love the smell of monopoly in the morning”“Forget it, Jake, it’s Cineplex”“The competition commissioner once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti”“Life is like a box of anti-competitive cinema chains that allegedly use their 75% market share to bully their competition, limit consumer choice and charge obscene junk fees. You never know what you’re going to get.”Featured in this episode: Barry Hertz (Globe and Mail), Corinne Lea, Andy Willick, Sonya WilliamTo learn more:“Cineplex’s distribution deal with Lionsgate sends ripples through Canadian film industry” by Barry Hertz in The Globe and Mail“Independent cinemas accuse Cineplex of shutting them out of market for top films” by Maryse Zeidler in CBC News“Indie theatres say they're last in line for movies because of Cineplex” by Joseph Pugh in CBC News“Cineplex's monopolization” by Vass Bednar in Regs to RichesAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas, Free LunchIf you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google, one of the world’s great tech monopolies, wanted to make a “smart city,” full of sensors and robots and self-driving cars.Toronto, one of the world’s most insecure cities, wanted a big tech firm to put it on the innovation map.What resulted was not exactly a match made in heaven.Featured in this episode: Josh O’Kane (Globe and Mail), Kurtis McBrideTo learn more:Sideways: The City Google Couldn’t Buy by Josh O’Kane“Sidewalk Labs document reveals company’s early vision for data collection, tax powers, criminal justice” by Tom Cardoso & Josh O’Kane in The Globe and MailAdditional music from Audio NetworkSponsors: Athletic Greens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.