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Dark Poutine - True Crime and Dark History

Halloween 2025: A Brief History of Witch Trials in Canada

Dark Poutine - True Crime and Dark History

Curiouscast

True Crime, Society & Culture, History, Documentary

4.8 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode 390: When most Canadians think of occult-related witch trials, their minds drift south to Salem, Massachusetts, or across the ocean to medieval Europe. The popular narrative suggests that Canada, with its reputation for tolerance and peace, remained untouched by the supernatural hysteria that gripped other nations. This perception, deeply embedded in the Canadian consciousness, paints our country as somehow above the dark chapters of witch-hunting that stained other societies. Even Dark Poutine listeners, well-versed in the country’s hidden crimes and forgotten tragedies, might be surprised to learn the truth. The reality is far different from this comfortable myth. Canada has a complex and largely forgotten history of witchcraft accusations, trials, and legal persecution spanning over 350 years—from the earliest days of New France to as recently as 2018. From demonic possessions in Quebec City to fraudulent psychics in modern Ontario, the Canadian witch trial story is one of fear, prejudice, and the persistent human tendency to blame the margins of society for inexplicable troubles. Sources:CBC Radio: “Quebec Demon Possession & Witchcraft in 1660”JSTOR / McGill-Queen’s University Press: The Possession of Barbe HallayCanada’s History: “Sorcery in New France”Kenton de Jong Travel: The Possession of Barbe HallayDictionary of Canadian Biography: Daniel VuilAcademia.edu "Sixteen and Possessed" PDFCanada’s History: Book feature, The Possession of Barbe HallayThe Medium: On Demonic Infestations in 17th century QuébecMysteries of Canada: Poltergeists in Canada, Part IIIJean Campagna, The Sorcerer74 – JEAN CAMPAGNA, THE SORCERERProcès de Jean Campagna, prisonnier, 45 ansJean Campagna (abt.1640-aft.1685) | WikiTree FREE Family TreeQuebec 1685: Part 8- The Charge is SorceryThe Kimble Witch TrialView of Backward Seasons and Remarkable Cold: the Weather over Long Reach, New Brunswick, 1812-1821 | Acadiensis“Native Witchcraft Beliefs in Acadian, Maritime and Newfoundland Folklore” – EruditConcerns move Indigenous ceremony meant to contact 'spirit realm' outside Quebec community | CBC NewsFolklore of Nova ScotiaMi'kmaw Shamans and Acadian Sorcerers: A Study in Cultural Transmissions, Transferences and TransformationsWitchcraft Act 1735Bill C-365 (Historical)Woman Charged With Fake Witchcraft, Days Before Canada Scraps Old Law‘Psychic’ charged with being a fake fights case after Canada decriminalises witchcraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, Mike here.

0:01.0

I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Dark Poutine early and ad-free on Amazon Music, included with Prime.

0:34.7

Music Welcome back to dark Putin. I am Mike Brown.

0:39.0

One chocolate cake.

0:42.8

That's all I need to put on all the weight that I've lost.

0:45.8

Welcome back to Dark Poutine.

0:49.6

I am Mike Brown, as I said, and that is Matthew.

0:51.1

We're in spooky season.

0:52.5

We're in spooky season. And before we begin, I want to say that this is our annual Halloween episode marking our eighth anniversary.

1:00.5

So I want to say thank you to everyone who's listened to Dark Poutine, whether tuning in for the first time or sticking with the show since those early episodes,

1:11.4

when Dark Putine began on October 31st, 2017, there was no way to predict the twists, roster

1:18.8

changes, thank you, Matthew, and rough spots we'd hit, let alone a global pandemic.

1:24.4

Through it all, your support messages, the community we've built, and your loyalty have

1:28.9

kept this show going. Every story told is made possible because of listeners like you. And here's

1:35.0

to many more tales, strange, dark and true that lie ahead. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the

1:40.1

bottom of my cold dead heart for filling your ears with dark foodine that's great and

1:46.8

just think of all the amazing people you've met like i've been i've been about half time on this

1:50.9

show four four of those years we were just saying yeah i can't believe it yeah i'm just i am so

1:58.2

blown away that i've gotten to do this for this long.

2:01.6

And, uh, I am so grateful.

2:04.5

I am just so grateful.

2:06.4

Thank you, folks.

...

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