Canada, as we hear time and time again, is a country of immigrants. And though this has been true throughout the history of the nation, today nearly 20% of Canada’s citizens were born outside this country. That means they chose Canada as their new home. Many of these immigrants had to risk almost everything to make that happen.

Promised Land is a truly remarkable 10-part documentary series that closely chronicles the dramatic, heart-wrenching and often perilous migration stories of very special people determined to find a better life in Canada. Join CBC Radio Host Natasha Fatah — herself an immigrant to Canada — as she guides us through these emotional and incredible stories of migration and sacrifice.

Episodes include stories from Idi Amin’s Uganda, Argentina's Dirty War, Auschwitz, Somalia, the U.S., Honduras, and these profiles:

Escape from Vietnam – The story of a family’s three attempts to leave Vietnam includes spectacular failures, prison time, family separation, bribery and pirates.

Escape from Iran – The story of an Iranian revolutionary turned antirevolutionary involves border crossings, imprisonment, forged documents, and stops in Europe and the Soviet Union, before he forces his way out of a plane on the runway at Gander, NL to ask for asylum.

Escape from Czechoslovakia – Young parents and their four-year-old son flee to Italy from Yugoslavia while being chased by soldiers shooting at them with machine guns. It was their third attempt in two weeks.

Escape from Eritrea – Forced to leave his wife and children behind, an Eritrean journalist spends eight years trying to get them out. Their escape involves smugglers, kidnappers and long periods in hiding.

WARNING: Some episodes contain mature themes and disturbing content.