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Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
@CraigBaird
Jun 9, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X
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It is #PrideMonth and this is the story of Operation Soap.

On Feb. 5, 1981, Toronto Police raided four gay bathhouses in Toronto. Nearly 300 men were arrested in the largest mass arrest since the 1970 October Crisis.
The event is often called Canada's Stonewall.

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Tensions with Toronto Police and the gay community was especially bad at the time.
In 1979, the Toronto Police Association newsletter published an essay called "The Homosexual Fad" that portrayed gay men as militant deviants who recruited children into their lifestyle.

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In the raids, undercover police wore red dots on their clothing so police could "know who are the straights."
When the men were arrested, police used homophobic slurs & references to gassing homosexuals in Nazi death camps.

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Police compiled personal data on the men including who were married, their jobs, work superiors and the names and phone numbers of wives.
Of the 286 arrested, only 20 were charged. The bathhouses also suffered $50,000 in damages from police during the arrests.

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The next evening, 3000 people marched through Toronto to protest the arrests. As they approached Queens Park, they were met by 200 police officers. Violence broke out, leading to 11 arrests and several injuries on both sides.
Public outcry of the arrests continued.

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Despite the public outcry, the raiding of bath houses in Toronto did not stop.
Further raids would occur in 1981, 1983, 1996 and 2000.
Despite this, the Toronto Pride community continued to grow & be accepted. Today, Pride is one of Toronto's biggest annual celebrations.

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More from @CraigBaird

Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 23
In 2001, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner was released.
It was the first feature film written, directed and acted entirely in the Inuktitut language.
Today, it is considered by many critics to be the greatest Canadian film ever made.
Let's learn more about it :)

🧵1/15 The image is a promotional poster for the film "Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner." The poster features quotes from critics praising the film, such as "A masterpiece. A work of visual beauty" from A.O. Scott of the New York Times and "An extraordinary excursion into an unknown world" from Duncan Campbell of the Manchester Guardian. The title is presented in both the Inuktitut script and English. The film is directed by Zacharias Kunuk and features a cast including Natar Ungalaaq, Sylvia Ivalu, and others. The poster also lists various production companies and partner...
The film is set around 1000 CE and retells an Inuit legend that has been passed down through generations via oral tradition.
Director Zacharias Kunuk (pictured) and writer Paul Angilirq and production team members all heard the legend when they were young.

🧵2/15 The image shows a person with graying hair, wearing glasses, and dressed in a dark-colored shirt. The background is plain, suggesting a neutral or studio setting. The individual appears to be mature, with a calm demeanor.
The story tells of two brothers who are betrayed by their wives. As their rivals attempt to kill them, the fast runner escapes across the ice, naked and barefoot. After being rescued, he sets up his own ambush and kills those who tried to kill him.

🧵3/15 The image shows two individuals with long hair, one of whom is wearing a headband. Both appear to be shirtless, and they are outdoors under a clear blue sky. The setting seems to be a natural environment, possibly a desert or a similar arid landscape. The two individuals are looking at each other and smiling, suggesting a moment of camaraderie or shared amusement.
Read 16 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 20
While we tend to think of the K*K*K as something that only existed in the United States, there was a period of time in the 1920s when the group was very large, and politically powerful, in Western Canada.
Let's learn more about this dark time.

🧵1/12 The image is a black-and-white photograph of an individual dressed in a ceremonial robe and hat, associated with a specific organization. The person is standing outdoors, with a background that includes trees and possibly residential buildings. The attire includes a long robe with a distinctive pattern on the hem and a hat with a cross emblem. The text at the bottom of the image reads, "Dr. W. K. Blair, Imperial Klaziff, Knights of Ku Klux Klan, Vancouver, B.C." This indicates the individual's rank and affiliation with the Knights of Ku Klux Klan, a historical organization known f...
Throughout this thread, I will refer to the group as K3 since the other name may get flagged.
When K3 sprang up in Canada, it was a bit different from the American version.
Rather than focusing on Blacks, it focused mostly on French-Canadians, immigrants and Catholics.

🧵2/12 The image is a black-and-white photograph depicting a group of individuals dressed in robes and tall, pointed hats, associated with the Ku Klux Klan. The scene appears to be an indoor gathering or ceremony, with several Klan members standing in a line at the front, some holding flags bearing the Union Jack. Behind them, a large Union Jack banner is draped across the wall. The room is filled with an audience seated in chairs, observing the event. The setting and attire suggest a formal or ceremonial occasion, likely from the early to mid-20th century, reflecting the historical presence and a...
The K3 began farther to the east in Canada at first in the early-1920s.
In 1926, dynamite was detonated in a catholic church in Barrie, Ontario.
The man caught said he was ordered to blow up the church by K3.

🧵3/12 The image is a black-and-white photograph showing three individuals dressed in robes and tall, pointed hats associated with the Ku Klux Klan. They are standing outdoors in front of a building with a circular facade and columns, possibly an official or historical structure. Two of the individuals are holding a large flag bearing the Union Jack. The attire and flag suggest a formal or ceremonial context, likely from the early to mid-20th century. The setting and the presence of the Union Jack indicate this photograph might have been taken in a Commonwealth country where the Klan had a presenc...
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 18
On this day in 1882, The Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan, Frances Gertrude McGill, was born.
She went on to influence the development of forensic pathology and solved several unsolved crimes.
Let's learn more about her :)

🧵1/12 The image is a black and white photograph of a person working at a desk with scientific equipment. The person is holding a human skull and appears to be examining or working on it with tools. There are various items on the desk, including what looks like a microscope on the left, several small containers, and other scientific instruments. The setting suggests a laboratory or research environment focused on anthropology or forensic science.
Born in Minnedosa, Manitoba, both of her parents died from typhoid fever in 1900 after visiting a county fair and drinking contaminated water.
As an adult, McGill studied medicine at the University of Manitoba. She earned her degree in 1915 and worked in Winnipeg.

🧵2/12 The image is a black and white portrait of an older woman with short, wavy hair, wearing glasses. She is dressed in a dark-colored top with a light-colored blouse or shirt underneath. The photograph has a classic, vintage feel, likely from the mid-20th century, given the style of clothing and the quality of the photograph. The woman is looking directly at the camera with a slight smile.
In 1918, she joined the Saskatchewan Department of Health just as the Spanish Flu was raging across Canada.
Two years later, she became a provincial pathologist in Saskatchewan. In 1922, she became the director of the provincial laboratory.

🧵3/12 The image is a black and white photograph of an individual wearing a white lab coat, holding a test tube or similar laboratory glassware. The person appears to be in a laboratory setting, indicated by the equipment and setup in the background. The photograph has a vintage quality, suggesting it might be from the mid-20th century. The individual is focused on the task at hand, possibly conducting a scientific experiment or analysis.
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 17
Bluenose was such an icon of Canada that it now appears on our dime.
A champion schooner, she became the pride of Canada.
But then she was sold to work to work as a freighter, and left to rot on a reef near Haiti.
Let's learn more about her :)

🧵1/16 The image depicts a vintage photograph of a large sailing ship with multiple masts and sails fully unfurled, navigating through the water. The ship has the number "2" on its sail, indicating it might be participating in a race or regatta. The background shows a distant shoreline with some buildings and possibly other boats, suggesting it is near a coastal area. The photograph has a sepia tone, giving it an old, historical feel.
The story of Bluenose begins in 1920 when she was designed by William James Roue to both fish and race.
Initially, she was designed with a waterline length of 36.6 metres, which was 2.4 metres too long for competition. She was redesigned to fix that problem.

🧵2/16 The image is a sepia-toned photograph of a sailing ship with multiple masts and sails, captured at a tilted angle, possibly due to strong winds or rough seas. The ship appears to be navigating through choppy waters, with waves visible in the foreground. In the background, there is a distant shoreline with some structures or buildings, indicating the ship is not far from land. The overall scene suggests a historical maritime setting, possibly from the late 19th or early 20th century.
Built of Nova Scotian pine, spruce, birch and oak, her masts were made from Douglas fir.
During the keel-laying ceremony, the Governor General, the Duke of Devonshire, drove a golden spike into the timber.
In all, she cost $35,000 to build.

🧵3/16 The image is a black-and-white photograph of a historical scene at a harbor. It features a large sailing ship named "Bluenose" from Lunenburg, docked at the pier. Several individuals are on the deck and in the foreground, some wearing hats typical of early to mid-20th century fashion. The background shows an urban landscape with buildings and a sign that reads "Cunard Line" indicating a shipping company. The photograph captures a moment of maritime activity, possibly from the early 20th century, given the style of the ship and attire of the people.
Read 17 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 15
Sometimes referred to as Main Street Ontario, Yonge Street is one of the most famous streets in Canada.
Running from the Holland River to Queens Quay, the street is 86 km long.
Let's learn more about its construction :)

🧵1/13 Wiki Commons - ZarlokX This is an aerial photograph of a cityscape, likely Toronto, Canada, given the prominent CN Tower visible in the distance. The image captures the urban environment with numerous high-rise buildings and skyscrapers, surrounded by green areas of trees and parks. The city extends in a linear fashion, with a mix of residential and commercial buildings, and the photograph is taken from a high vantage point, showing the contrast between the dense city center and the more spread-out suburban areas. The lighting suggests it might be taken during the golden hour, with shadows...
In 1793, during the War of the First Coalition, Upper Canada Lt. Governor John Simcoe worried that the United States would attack Canada in support of France. Wanting a more defensible capital, he established York, present-day Toronto.

🧵2/13 The image depicts a historical portrait of a man dressed in an elaborate military uniform. The uniform is red with gold epaulettes on the shoulders, and it features intricate gold braiding and buttons. He is wearing a white cravat and holding a cane or sword in his right hand, which is adorned with lace cuffs. The background is dark, which contrasts with the bright colors of the uniform, highlighting the figure's attire.
With the new settlement, Simcoe planned to construct two connected roads. One would run from York to Lake Simcoe, the other connecting Lake Simcoe with Georgian Bay.
The road from Lake Simcoe to York became known as Yonge Street.

🧵3/13 This image is a historical painting depicting a colonial settlement, likely from the 18th or early 19th century. The scene shows a fort or blockhouse with a flag flying, possibly the Union Jack, indicating British colonial presence. The fort is situated on a raised embankment, with a wooden palisade or fence surrounding the settlement. In the foreground, there's a river or lake with several small boats and people engaging in activities like fishing or transporting goods. The settlement consists of several small buildings or houses, with a dirt road or path leading up to the fort. The landsc...
Read 14 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Nov 13
In the mid-1500s, noblewoman Marguerite de La Rocque was marooned on the Isle of Demons in the Gulf of St. Lawrence by her relative who wanted her fortune.
She survived for years on her own before she was rescued.
Let's learn her story :)

🧵1/9 The image depicts a woman standing on the shore of a body of water in a forested area. She is wearing a red dress and holding a long gun, possibly a rifle. The background shows a misty or cloudy sky, with dark, tall trees and a fallen log or driftwood in the foreground. The overall atmosphere is serene yet slightly mysterious, with the woman appearing contemplative or on guard.
It is not known when or where Marguerite was born. It is believed she was born around 1515 somewhere in France.
Her relative (some sources say cousin, others brother or uncle) Jean-Francois de La Rocque de Roberval was made Lt. Governor of New France in 1541.

🧵2/9 The image is a sketch of a man facing slightly to the left. He has a beard and mustache, and is wearing a soft cap that covers part of his head. His attire includes a high-collared garment with a tie or clasp at the neck. The sketch is done in a realistic style, capturing the texture of his hair and clothing with fine lines and shading. The background is plain, focusing attention on the subject's face and upper body.
On the voyage over to France with her relative, Marguerite became romantically involved with a man on the ship. Roberval was displeased at Marguerite, who was unmarried, and decided to leave her on the Isle of Demons in the St. Lawrence River as punishment.

🧵3/9 The image is a section of an old map depicting a coastal area with various elements. The map includes text in what appears to be an old European script. Key features include: The coastline is detailed with waves and ships sailing along the water. There are several islands and landmasses labeled with names such as "TERRA DE LABORADOR" at the top, "ISO LA DE MONI" in the center, and "TERRA NIOVA" at the bottom left. The word "LEVANTE" is visible on the right side, possibly indicating a direction or region. The map features various illustrations, includ...
Read 10 tweets

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