Navigating the Heartache WWI Brings
Canada passed the Wartime Elections Act in September 1917. The act was part of the Conservative government’s efforts to win the federal election later that year. The act, however, was not without controversy. The act followed the nation’s conscription crisis that split the country between those of English decent, who favored conscription, and everyone else,…
The United States has the Founding Fathers. Canada has the Fathers of Confederation. Unlike the Founding Fathers, whose new nation gained independence thanks to war, the Fathers of Confederation took a quieter, more methodical approach. Fathers of Confederation refers to 36 men who represented their colonies at one or more conferences that were held to…
Many of the soldiers who fought for the British Empire in World War I, including those in Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, were veterans of the Boer War, also known as the South African War or the Anglo-Boer War. What is the Boer War? It was two wars that occurred in South Africa involving the Boers,…
The Canadian Corps served admirably in World War I. One thing, however, marred its reputation: the Kinmel Park riots. After Armistice, there was no official policy to send the troops home. The Canadian army and government disagreed over the best course of action. The government wanted a “first over, first back” system while Gen. Arthur…
Canada, near the end of World War I, devised an idea to keep its soldiers occupied during their down time, steering them away from vice, and preparing them for postwar life. This idea was Khaki University. The program, originally called Khaki College, was the brainchild of Dr. Henry Marshall Tory. The National Council of the…
Those fears were heightened during the American Civil War. After the war’s end, Canada was attacked on multiple occasions in what became known as the Fenian Raids. Who were the Fenians? The Fenians were Irish emigrants and patriots living in the United States. Their goal was to achieve Irish independence by invading and taking control…
Canada’s federal election of 1917 was a vicious, heated contest. This speaks volumes considering the 1911 election had enough rhetoric, half truths and mudslinging to make a 21st century politician feel right at home. The election was fought primarily with one issue in mind: conscription. For this reason, it also is known as the Khaki Election.…
World War I hit North American shores on Dec. 6, 1917. It didn’t come in the form of an invading army, or even a naval battle. Instead, it came in the form of an event known as the Halifax Explosion. Halifax played an important role during World War I. It was command centre for the…
During World War I, soldiers and sailors on both sides of the conflict used animals for transportation, manual labor, companionship and as mascots. Such was the case for the Fort Garry Horse cavalry regiment, whose mascot was a bear cub named Winnie. The cub was purchased by soldier and veterinarian Harry Colebourn in White River,…
Many people are aware of the U.S. Japanese internment camps during World War Two. Internment camps, however, are not unique to that conflict. There were camps during the Boer War. During World War I, the Canadian government established enemy alien camps. Who was considered an enemy alien? The bulk were Ukrainians (referred to at the…