Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jun 18, 2023 23 tweets 7 min read Read on X
In honour of #FathersDay, here is a thread about the fathers of our Canadian Prime Ministers!

23. Pierre Trudeau (Justin Trudeau)
Pierre was Canada's 13th prime minister from 1968-1979 & 1980-1984.
Pierre & Justin are the only father and son to serve as PM of Canada. Image
22. Joseph Harris Harper (Stephen Harper)

Joseph Harper was an accountant for Imperial Oil. He had an avid interest in military history & meticulously researched military insignia for his 1992 book Old Colours Never Die. Image
21. Paul Martin Sr (Paul Martin Jr.)

One of Canada's most influential politicians, Paul Martin Sr. was a member of Parliament from 1935 to 1968. He served as a cabinet minister for three prime ministers & was heavily influential in the creation of Universal Healthcare. Image
20. Wellie Chretien (Jean Chretien)

Jean's father was a major influence on him. While the family grew up poor, he wanted his children to escape the working-class life. He made Jean read the dictionary as a young boy. He was also a lifelong Liberal.

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19. George Thomas Campbell (Kim Campbell)

Kim's father was born in Scotland and worked as a barrister. He had served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada during the Second World War.
After Kim's mother left when Kim was 12, George raised Kim & her sister.

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18. Benedict Martin Mulroney (Brian Mulroney)

Benedict Mulroney worked as a paper mill electrician in Baie-Comeau, Quebec. He often worked overtime & also ran a repair business to earn extra money for his children to attend university. Image
17. Leonard Hugh Turner (John Turner)

Leonard, an English journalist, unfortunately died of a botched operation when John was still a toddler. Frank Ross, the future Lt. Governor of British Columbia, became John's stepfather in 1945 when John was 16. ImageImage
16. Charles Clark (Joe Clark)

Charles was a newspaper publisher in High River, Alberta, where he established the High River Times. The newspaper still exists. Joe (pictured here as a baby) worked at his dad's newspaper in several capacities. Image
15. Charles-Emile Trudeau (Pierre Trudeau)

Charles-Emile worked as a lawyer and then grew a fortune by building gas stations around the Montreal area & starting the Automobile Owners' Association.
He died suddenly of pneumonia in 1935 when he was 47. Image
14. Edwin Pearson (Lester B. Pearson)

Edwin was a Methodist, and later United Church, minister. He later became the minister at the Aurora Methodist Church. Edwin is standing to the right. Lester's grandfather Marmaduke, also a minister, is seated. Image
13. William Thomas Diefenbaker (John Diefenbaker)

The son of German immigrants, William Diefenbaker worked as a teacher and had a deep interest in history and politics. Out of the 28 students in his 1903 class, four, including his son, served in Parliament. Image
12. Jean-Baptiste-Moise Saint-Laurent (Louis St. Laurent)

Jean was a prominent person in the village of Compton, Quebec and his home was a social centre. He owned a store in the community, ran for the Quebec Legislature in 1894 & was a staunch Liberal. Image
11. Henry John Bennett (R.B. Bennett)

Henry was a shipbuilder in New Brunswick, but his business did not do well and the family was often short on money. He also attempted to work as a blacksmith, merchant and farmer. He also tried to develop a gypsum mine. Image
10. John King (William Lyon Mackenzie King)

John was a lawyer who had a struggling practice in Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario. Despite barely making ends meet, he employed servants and tutors in the home. King described his father as providing a happy home. Image
9. Joseph Meighen (Arthur Meighen)

Joseph owned a dairy farm near St. Mary's, Ontario and Arthur said his father instilled in him the value of an education & the importance of habits of industry and thrift.

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8. Andrew Borden (Sir Robert Borden)

Andrew was a farmer. He was called by his son, a man of good ability and excellent judgement, who was calm and philosophical. He added he lacked energy & had no aptitude for affairs.

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7. Carolus Laurier (Sir Wilfrid Laurier)

Carolus was bilingual and dynamic. He instilled in Wilfrid an interest in politics from an early age. He had several hobbies including astronomy & mathematics. He also served as mayor of the community and a local inventor. Image
6. Charles Tupper Sr. (Sir Charles Tupper)

Charles was the co-pastor of a Baptist Church in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He was also an accomplished Biblical scholar and wrote two books on Biblical Scriptures.

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5. John Bowell (Sir Mackenzie Bowell)

John emigrated to Canada with his family when Mackenzie was 10. He worked as a cabinet maker and taught that trade to his son.

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4. John Sparrow Thompson (Sir John Sparrow David Thompson)

John made his son recite poetry at school ceremonies and meetings of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute in order to overcome his shyness. He also taught his son shorthand.

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3. Joseph Abbott (Sir John Abbott)

Joseph was a prominent Anglican missionary and he wrote two books, one about emigrating to Canada and another that was his memoirs.
His great-great grandson was Christopher Plummer. Image
2. Alexander Mackenzie Sr. (Alexander Mackenzie)

Alexander was a carpenter and ship's joiner who moved frequently for work during the Napoleonic Wars. He died suddenly when his son was only 13, forcing Alexander to end his education to support the family.

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1. Hugh Macdonald (Sir John A. Macdonald)

Hugh was an unsuccessful merchant in Glasgow, forcing a move to Upper Canada when John was a child. Hugh then operated a series of businesses in Upper Canada & became the magistrate for Midland District.

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More from @CraigBaird

Oct 18
Today is Persons Day.
This day honours The Persons Case, which ended in a victory for The Famous Five on Oct. 18, 1929. The ruling declared women to be persons under the law and qualified to sit in the Senate.
This is the story of that case.

🧵 1/12 A group of bronze statues depicting five people in a park setting, with some standing and others seated around a table, set against a snowy background with bare trees and a clear blue sky.
When the British North America Act of 1867 was passed, it used the word "persons" to refer to more than one person, and "he" to refer to one person.
It was argued that only a man could be a person, which excluded women from many things.
Enter The Famous Five.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white painting depicting a large group of men in formal attire seated and standing around a long table in a room with three large arched windows, engaged in what appears to be a formal meeting or conference.
Henrietta Edwards was born in 1849.
She was a Red Cross leader during the First World War, a founding member of the Victorian Order of Nurses and helped create Canada's first YWCA.

Learn more in my Deep Dive 👇


🧵3/12canadaehx.com/2023/01/24/hen…
Read 13 tweets
Oct 4
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Avro Arrow was unveiled with the intention of it being the RCAF's primary interceptor in the 1960s.
Less than two years later, the program was abruptly cancelled and 14,528 Avro employees were put out of work.
This is the story of the Arrow.

🧵 1/12 A black-and-white aerial view of the Avro Arrow, a delta-winged jet aircraft marked with "RL-201" and a Canadian maple leaf insignia, displayed on a tarmac surrounded by a large crowd of people and a stage with officials, near a building and parked cars.
In the 1950s, with the dawn of the nuclear era, there was a concern that the Soviet Union would attack North America with bombers over the Canadian Arctic.
To deal with this possibility, the RCAF commissioned Avro Canada to build an all-weather nuclear interceptor.

🧵 2/12 A black-and-white photo of the Avro Arrow, a delta-winged jet aircraft marked with "RL-201," flying above the clouds with a clear sky in the background.
It needed to fly higher and faster than any aircraft of its class. With the Arrow contract, Avro quickly expanded and had 20,000 people working for it by 1957. Nine models, one-eighth the size of the finished plane, were tested in rockets over Lake Ontario.

🧵 3/12 A black-and-white photo of a rocket marked with the number "8" being prepared on a launch platform, with several people working around it. One person stands on a scaffold adjusting the rocket, while others on the ground assist, under a partly cloudy sky.
Read 13 tweets
Sep 28
In 1885, Montreal was ravaged by smallpox.
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.

🧵 1/10 An old-fashioned illustration depicting a group of people in a train compartment. A man in a suit is assisting a woman who appears to be unwell, adjusting her clothing or providing aid. Other passengers, including a woman seated and a child standing nearby, observe the scene. The setting includes detailed period clothing and interior design, with luggage and fabric draped around.
On Feb. 28, 1885, George Longley, a conductor with the Grand Trunk Railway, arrived in Montreal feeling sick. After visiting a doctor, he was diagnosed with smallpox. While he survived, the disease quickly began to spread throughout the city, infecting thousands.

🧵 2/10 An old-fashioned illustration of a hospital ward with several beds, each occupied by a patient covered with blankets. Nurses or caregivers in long dresses attend to the patients, with one standing near a table holding medical supplies. The room features large windows allowing natural light, and the scene is rendered in a detailed, cross-hatched style typical of historical engravings.
At first, the City of Montreal did not pay to provide vaccinations to fight the epidemic. In response, Sir William Macdonald donated $25,000 to pay for the vaccines.
Through the spring and summer, the disease killed upwards of 100 people per week in the city.

🧵 3/10 A black-and-white photograph of an elderly man with a bald head and white beard, dressed in a formal suit with a bow tie and vest, posing against a dark background.
Read 11 tweets
Sep 28
Today is British Home Child Day.
This is the annual day that Canada acknowledges and honours the over 100,000 children who were sent from the UK to Canada to work on farms and in homes.
They were separated from siblings and many were abused.
This is their story.

🧵 1/12 The black-and-white photo shows a large group of children and a few adults posing for a group photograph in front of a large industrial building with a "No Smoking" sign. The children, mostly girls, are dressed in coats, scarves, and hats, typical of early 20th-century attire, and are arranged in several rows, with some standing on the building's steps. The setting appears to be outdoors, possibly at a school or institution, with a utilitarian structure in the background.
The Children's Friend Society was founded in London in 1830 to suppress "juvenile vagrancy" through "reformation and emigration". In 1833, 230 children were sent to Toronto and New Brunswick.
It was a few decades before more children were sent to Canada.

🧵2/12 The black-and-white photo depicts a group of children working in a field, harvesting crops. They are dressed in early 20th-century rural attire, including overalls and hats, and are using tools such as sickles and baskets to gather the harvest. The background features an open field with trees and hills under a clear sky.
In the 1860s, philanthropist Annie MacPherson was appalled at the conditions children were forced to work in at factories in London. She decided to help them and believed sending them away from the cities and even Britain was the best option for a better life.

🧵3/12 The black-and-white photo shows a formal portrait of a woman, identified as Annie Macpherson, dressed in Victorian-era clothing with a high-collared dress adorned with a floral brooch. Her hair is styled neatly and pulled back. Below the image, there is handwritten text that reads, "Yours very faithfully, Annie Macpherson."
Read 13 tweets
Sep 22
On Sept. 22, 1994, a show debuted on CTV featuring a street-wise Chicago cop and a Mountie on the trail of the man who killed his father.
The critically-acclaimed hit reshaped Canadian television and made a star out of Paul Gross.
This is the story of Due South.

🧵 1/14 Sepia-toned promotional still from the TV series Due South, showing two men seated inside a rusted metal shipping container with open doors. On the left, a bald man in a gray pinstripe suit, white shirt, and red dotted tie sits with hands clasped, looking pensive. On the right, a man in a red Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform with gold buttons and shoulder epaulets holds a beige cowboy hat on his knee, glancing sideways with a subtle smile, a wristwatch visible on his arm. Faded labels and chains hang on the container walls, with dim light filtering from outside.
The idea for Due South came from one of the biggest movies of the 1980s. In 1986, Crocodile Dundee debuted and was a massive hit. Robert Lantos, chair of Alliance Communications, saw that success and spoke with CBS President Jeff Sagansky about creating a similar show.

🧵 2/14 Color promotional still from the film Crocodile Dundee, showing actor Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee grinning confidently while seated on a muddy riverbank, one arm draped over the massive open jaws of a snarling saltwater crocodile with visible sharp teeth and scaly skin. He wears a wide-brimmed cork hat, sleeveless tan leather vest with multiple pockets over bare chest, beaded necklace, leather wristbands, khaki cargo pants, and rugged boots. The background features shallow blue-green water with lily pads, lush green overhanging foliage, and misty tropical haze.
Lantos wanted something involving a stereotypical Canadian working with Chicago Police. Sagansky liked the idea and took it to Paul Haggis and told him to make a series about a Mountie or trapper, or something Canadian like that. From there, Due South was born.

🧵 3/14 Color promotional still from a film featuring a man in a red Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform with gold accents and a wide-brimmed Stetson hat, raising his right hand in a gesture while standing outdoors. His uniform includes a black leather strap across the chest and gold insignia on the shoulder. The background shows a blurred outdoor setting with green trees and a stone wall under a soft, golden-hour light.
Read 13 tweets
Sep 11
It was one of the most psychedelic, bizarre and beloved Canadian children's shows ever made.
Structured like a sketch comedy show around the comedic genius of Billy Van, it is well remembered even to this day.
This is the story of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein!

🧵 1/19 A colorful poster for "The Frightenstein Frightmare," featuring a collage of various monster and character faces, including a prominent green-faced figure with fangs, a werewolf, a Frankenstein-like figure, a superhero, and other eerie and whimsical characters, with the title in bold yellow and red text at the bottom.
The story begins with Riff Markowitz, who was working for CHCH-TV in Hamilton in the late-1960s. He wanted to produce new shows for the station.
To come up with ideas, he held a brainstorming and spaghetti party at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto.

🧵2/19 A person with white hair, wearing a light-colored tuxedo with a black bow tie and a white pocket square, holds a microphone and a book or paper while standing on a stage with a dark, cloudy background and floral decorations.
From that session, the idea of a children's show set in a vampire's castle emerged. The show would blend surreal humour and psychedelics.
The main character would be Count Frightenstein, the 13th son of Count Dracula who preferred pizza to blood.

🧵3/19 A black-and-white photo featuring a person dressed as a vampire with a dark cape, bow tie, and exaggerated makeup, raising one hand with a pointed gesture and smiling widely, set against a stone-walled background, with another person in a costume facing them.
Read 20 tweets

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