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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
Jun 24
Murray Sinclair was a Senator, judge and university chancellor.
But his greatest contribution was as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the early-2010s.
This is the story of a lifelong champion of Indigenous rights.

🧵 1/12 The photo shows an individual with long, gray hair wearing a dark shirt adorned with a prominent red design featuring abstract, wing-like patterns. The person is also wearing a necklace with a round pendant and a few beads. The background is a plain, textured wall in a neutral color.
Murray Sinclair was born on Jan. 24, 1951 in Selkirk, Manitoba. Raised on the St. Peter's Reserve, he was his class valedictorian and Athlete of the Year at his high school in 1968.
He attended the University of Manitoba but left to care for his grandparents.

🧵 2/12 The photo is a black-and-white image of four children standing outdoors. The child on the far left wears a checkered shirt with overalls. The second child from the left is a girl in a polka-dotted dress with a collar. The third child, standing behind, wears a plaid shirt, and the child on the far right is dressed in a sweater and pants. The background shows a rural setting with trees and a fence. The photo appears aged, with visible scratches and wear.
In 1971, while working at the Selkirk Friendship Centre, he was elected vice president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. He was also the executive assistant to MLA Howard Pawley.
In 1976, Sinclair enrolled at the University of Winnipeg. He then attended law school.

🧵 3/12 The black-and-white photo shows a person wearing a tweed suit jacket over a vest and dress shirt, with a tie. The individual has their hand raised to their chin in a thoughtful pose. The background is plain and light-colored. The image has a classic, vintage appearance.
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 24
Olga Kotelko may be the greatest athlete Canada has ever produced.
She held 30 world records and won over 750 gold medals. And she did it all from her 70s to 90s.
This is the story of this legendary athlete!

🧵 1/10 The photo depicts an elderly woman with gray hair participating in a shot put event. She is wearing a purple athletic shirt, black leggings, and white athletic shoes. She is in the middle of a throwing motion, holding a shot put ball in her right hand, with her left arm extended for balance. The setting appears to be an outdoor track and field area, with a dirt throwing circle and a grassy field in the background. The lighting suggests it might be taken during the evening or under artificial lights.
Olga Kotelko was born on March 2, 1919 in Smuts, Saskatchewan. When she was 22, she graduated from Saskatoon Normal School and taught at a one-room school near Vonda, Saskatchewan.
After her marriage broke up, she raised her two children.

🧵 2/10 The photo shows an elderly woman with gray hair, wearing glasses and a red jacket with the "McGill" logo, standing indoors. She is smiling and has her hands clasped in front of her. In front of her on a wooden table is a gold trophy with a star-topped figure, labeled "Athlete of the Year Master 2018 sponsored by SB1 Insurance Olga Kotelko." The background features a shelf with various medals, ribbons, and framed photos, indicating a collection of awards and memorabilia.
After she retired in 1984, she took up playing softball. At the age of 70, she made a double play. After she gave up her position to a 55-year-old, she started in track and field. She chose that because she had developed her running and throwing skills in softball.

🧵 3/10 The photo shows an elderly person mid-air, performing a long jump on an outdoor track and field. They are wearing a black athletic outfit and white sneakers. The scene is set against a sandy landing pit with a grassy field and a red track surface in the foreground. In the background, there are palm trees, a building, and a bright sun shining in a clear blue sky, suggesting it might be late afternoon or early evening.
Read 11 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 23
On June 23, 1611, Henry Hudson, his son and six others were put into a boat in Hudson Bay by mutineers and cast adrift. From that point, they disappeared from history.
So what happened to Henry Hudson?
Let's explore the mystery

🧵1/14 The image depicts a scene with three individuals on a wooden boat surrounded by icy waters and towering icebergs. The background features snow-covered mountains under a cloudy sky. One person is seated on the left, wearing a fur-lined garment and a red hat, appearing to be in contemplation or conversation with the others. Another individual, dressed in dark clothing, sits in the middle, holding the hand of a child who is seated on the floor of the boat. The child is dressed in warm, colorful clothing.
Henry Hudson was a celebrated explorer during the early-1600s.
In 1607 and 1608, he made two attempts to find the Northeast Passage. His explorations of North America laid the foundation for Dutch colonization of the present-day New York region.

🧵2/14 The image depicts a person dressed in historical attire, specifically from the Renaissance or Elizabethan era. The individual is wearing a dark, possibly black, doublet with buttons down the front and a large, white, ruffled collar, characteristic of the fashion during that period. The background is plain and neutral, which helps to focus attention on the attire.
In 1610, he began a new expedition to find the Northwest Passage. He became the first European to see Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay.
Entering Hudson Bay, he believed he had found the passage to the Pacific. He soon realized this was wrong but by then winter had set in.

🧵3/14 The image is a black and white illustration of a person wearing historical attire from the Renaissance or Elizabethan era. The individual is dressed in a dark doublet with buttons down the front and a large, ruffled, white collar, typical of the period's fashion. The illustration style is reminiscent of old engravings or woodcuts, giving it a classic, historical feel.
Read 15 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 22
On June 22, 1971, Joni Mitchell's magnum opus album, Blue, was released.
It is not only hailed as her best album, but one of the greatest albums ever made.
The album is celebrated to this day by critics and fans alike.
This is the story of Joni Mitchell's fourth album.

🧵 1/11 The photo is the cover art for the album "Blue" by Joni Mitchell. It features a close-up, blue-toned image of a person with long hair, captured in a contemplative pose with a cigarette near their mouth. The title "BLUE" and the artist's name "JONI MITCHELL" are prominently displayed in white text on the left side against the solid blue background.
The first three albums in Mitchell's career were acclaimed but by 1970 she needed a break from performing.
In the spring of 1970, she set off on vacation in Europe. While in Crete, she wrote some of the songs that appeared on Blue.

🧵 2/11 The photo is the cover art for the album "Clouds" by Joni Mitchell. It features an artistic illustration of a person with long, blonde hair holding a red flower. The background depicts a vibrant sunset or sunrise over a landscape with a lake, trees, and a distant building or castle. The title "Clouds" and the artist's name "Joni Mitchell" are written in black text on the left side, with a stereo logo and catalog number (RI 6341) in the top right corner. The artwork is signed "Joni Mitchell 1969" at the bottom.
Many of the songs on the album were inspired by personal experience including her relationships with Cary Raditz and Graham Nash. Both My Old Man and River are typically credited as being inspired by her troubled relationship with Nash.

🧵 3/11 The black-and-white photo shows Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash sitting close together, likely at a public event or concert. Joni Mitchell is holding an acoustic guitar, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, and is dressed in a dark, loose-fitting outfit. Graham Nash, beside her, has long hair and is wearing a vest over a shirt, with one arm resting around her. The background includes other people, suggesting a crowd or audience setting, typical of the 1960s or 1970s folk music scene.
Read 12 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 15
Tommy Prince was one of the most decorated soldiers in Canadian history through two different wars.
But after his war service finished, he was forgotten by the country he had served.
This is the story of Tommy Prince.

🧵 1/20 The black-and-white photo shows Tommy Prince in a military uniform. He is wearing a beret with an insignia and a jacket with a tie, featuring shoulder stripes and insignia indicating rank or service. The background is plain, emphasizing his formal military attire and composed demeanor.
Tommy Prince's ancestors had served in support of the Crown during the 1870 Red River Resistance, and his father Chief William Prince was a member of the Nile Expedition in 1885. Family members also served in the First World War.

🧵2/20 The black-and-white photo depicts a large group of people standing in front of a grand, historic building with a prominent central tower and Gothic architectural features, such as pointed arches and detailed stonework. The crowd, consisting of men dressed in early 20th-century attire including suits and hats, is arranged in several rows, suggesting a formal gathering or event. The building's facade includes multiple windows and ornate decorations, indicating it may be a significant public or governmental structure.
Tommy Prince was born on Oct. 25, 1915. Growing up, Prince was an excellent marksmen. He also developed tracking and stealth skills.
Prince's father taught him to shoot using a target the size of a playing card at 100 metres.

🧵3/20 The black-and-white photo shows Tommy Prince in a military uniform. He is wearing a beret with an insignia and a jacket featuring a winged badge on the chest and sergeant stripes on the sleeve, indicating his rank. The background is dark and plain, keeping the focus on his formal military attire and confident expression.
Read 21 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 14
Chief Dan George led an amazing life.
A gifted poet. An activist for his people. A movie star.
Remembered as the first Indigenous person to receive an Academy Award nomination, he was so much more than that.
This is his story.

🧵 1/16 The photo shows an individual with long, white hair, wearing a dark shirt and a patterned tie with a beaded medallion necklace. They are holding a carved wooden staff topped with a totem-like figure, featuring a face and outstretched wings, possibly representing an eagle or another significant symbol. The background is an outdoor setting with blurred greenery, suggesting a forest or wooded area. The overall composition suggests a cultural or ceremonial context, possibly related to Indigenous traditions.
Dan George was born Geswanouth Slahoot on the Burrard Reserve on July 24, 1899.
He was a descendant of Chief Wautsauk, who met Capt. George Vancouver when he landed in the area in 1792.
From an early age, he went by the first name Daniel.

🧵2/16 The photo is a black-and-white image of an elderly individual with long, white hair, wearing traditional attire. The person is dressed in a dark, buttoned garment with large white buttons running down the front and a patterned scarf or shawl. They also wear a headpiece made of what appears to be woven material or feathers. The background features an outdoor setting with a wooden building and some trees, suggesting a rural or historical environment.
After he was forced into Residential School at the age of five, his last name was changed to George.
At the age of 16, he left Residential School and began working various jobs. These jobs included as a bus driver, longshoreman and construction worker.

🧵3/16 The photo depicts an elderly individual with long, gray hair, dressed in traditional attire. They are wearing a white garment adorned with colorful embroidery, including floral patterns and red designs, and a bright red bandana around their neck. The background features a lush, green forest with ferns and trees, suggesting a natural, outdoor setting. The individual appears to be gazing slightly upward, exuding a contemplative or serene expression.
Read 17 tweets

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