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Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx
@CraigBaird
Host of the podcast\radio show Canadian History Ehx. Author of "Canada's Main Street: The Epic Story of The Trans-Canada Highway" Sharing Canada's history daily
4 subscribers
Jun 5 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Coming Out was a groundbreaking documentary series that aired in Canada in 1972.
It was the first Canadian television program to target the LGBTQ community.
It became a landmark series that is mostly forgotten today.
This is its story.

🧵1/4 The black-and-white photo captures a group of people participating in a gay rights protest on a city street, likely during a pride event. The crowd holds various signs with messages like "REPEAL ALL ANTI-GAY LAWS," "GLAD TO BE GAY," "MANY OF YOU ARE GAY TOO!," and "CANADIAN GAY PRIDE WEEK," advocating for gay rights and visibility. Some signs feature symbols like the lambda, associated with gay liberation. The protesters are dressed in casual clothing, with some wearing tank tops and others in jackets, reflecting the era's fashion. The background show... In 1972, only three years after homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada, Maclean-Hunter's cable community channel in Toronto launched Coming Out.
The series was targeted specifically to an LGBTQ audience, running for 13 episodes in total.

🧵2/4 The black-and-white photo depicts a group of people marching in a gay rights parade on a city street. The participants carry signs, including one that reads "GAY PRIDE" and another partially visible sign ending in "LINE." The group is diverse, with individuals dressed in 1970s-style clothing such as striped shirts, vests, and jackets, some with fringed details. One person wears sunglasses, and another has an afro hairstyle, reflecting the era's fashion. The background shows brick buildings and storefronts, with signs like "THE WALLACE" visible, indicating an ur...
May 29 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
Canada has over 8,500 named rivers that have helped shape our landscape, culture and history.
Some rivers are short, some are very long, but where do they begin?
Every great river starts as a trickle of water.
These are the sources of some of our major rivers.

🧵1/15 Image The Mackenzie River is the longest river in Canada at 4,241 kilometres long. Its drainage basin is 1.7 million square kilometres, second in North America to only the Mississippi.
That all begins at Great Slave Lake, the source of the Mackenzie River.

🧵2/15 This satellite image shows a section of Great Slave Lake in Canada, with a focus on environmental changes. The main image highlights the lake's icy surface, labeled "Lake ice," and surrounding land. A "Burn scar" is marked in the upper central area, indicating a region affected by a wildfire. The image also shows a river or channel flowing into the lake, with a green box labeled "Detail" zooming in on this area. The inset detail reveals a closer view of the water and land interface, likely showing changes in ice or water levels. The image includes a scale bar i...
May 28 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
For a time in the 1930s, five sisters were the biggest tourist attraction in Ontario, surpassing even Niagara Falls.
But behind the scenes, they were exploited by everyone around them, including the Ontario Government.
This is the story of the Dionne Quintuplets.

🧵1/16 The photo shows five young girls, the Dionne Quintuplets, dressed in matching sailor outfits. They are wearing white uniforms with dark trim and neckties, along with hats labeled "H.M.S. Tiger." The girls are posing together, with some saluting and others standing with arms crossed or hands on hips, against a plain backdrop. The image has a sepia tone, suggesting it is historical, likely from the 1930s when the Dionne Quintuplets were famous as the first known surviving set of quintuplets. On May 28, 1934, five girls (Yvonne, Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie) were born to Oliva-Édouard and Elzire outside Corbeil, Ontario.
Born premature, they were the first known quintuplets to survive infancy.
They were delivered by local doctor Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe.

🧵2/16 This black-and-white photograph, taken in 1934, shows Elzire Dionne lying in bed next to her newborn quintuplets—the Dionne quintuplets. The five babies are tightly swaddled in white blankets and arranged in a neat row next to their mother, each sleeping peacefully. The image captures a historic moment, as the Dionne quintuplets—Annette, Émilie, Yvonne, Cécile, and Marie—were the first known quintuplets to survive infancy. They were born prematurely in Ontario, Canada, and quickly became a global sensation during the Great Depression. The photo reflects the era's medical and photographic ...
May 25 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
Since 1947, the Canadian Rangers have provided a military presence in the Canadian North.
Experts in wilderness survival, they cover areas of Canada that are not practical for conventional Army units.
Considered to be "always on duty", this is their legendary story.

🧵1/10 The photo shows a group of individuals standing in a line, all wearing red hoodies and matching red caps. The hoodies feature a logo with the text "CANADA RANGERS" and an emblem including crossed rifles and a maple leaf. They are dressed in green pants and appear to be in a formal or organized setting, possibly a ceremony or group gathering. The background features a scenic landscape with a body of water, mountains, and a cloudy sky, suggesting a remote or northern location. The ground they are standing on appears to be a paved or gravel surface near the water's edge. The origin of the Canadian Rangers dates back to the Second World War and the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers. The PCMR monitored the British Columbia coast for a Japanese attack. The militia was made up of self-sufficient loggers, trappers and fishermen.

🧵2/10 The photo is a black-and-white image of a group of soldiers posing together outdoors in a wooded area. They are dressed in military uniforms typical of the early 20th century, including wide-brimmed hats and coats, and many are holding rifles. The group is arranged in two rows, with some soldiers standing and others kneeling or sitting on the ground. The background consists of bare trees and dense foliage, suggesting a rural or forested setting, possibly during a military campaign or training exercise. The overall mood appears serious and formal, reflecting the era's military context.
May 17 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Elijah Harper was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, little known outside of the province.
But when he refused to accept the Meech Lake Accord and voted against it while holding an eagle's feather, he became an icon of resistance.
This is his story.

🧵1/12 The black-and-white photo shows Elijah Harper seated at a desk, wearing a suit with a patterned tie and a large circular pendant. He holds an eagle feather in one hand, with an earpiece visible, and a microphone on the table in front of him, suggesting a formal or parliamentary setting. Elijah Harper was born on March 3, 1949 at Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba.
As a young man, he studied at the University of Manitoba and then worked as a community development worker and program analyst for the Manitoba Department of Northern Affairs.

🧵2/12 The photo shows Elijah Harper in a suit, with his hair tied back, seated against a backdrop of vertical wooden panels. A microphone is partially visible on the left, suggesting a formal or speaking event.
May 17 • 16 tweets • 6 min read
When King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Canada on May 17, 1939, one of the biggest events in Canadian history began.
This is the story of the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.

Listen to my episode about it here 👇


🧵1/15 pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/tr…The black-and-white photo shows Queen Elizabeth and King George VI in an open car. Queen Elizabeth, wearing a light-colored dress and a wide-brimmed hat, waves with a smile. King George VI, in a suit, sits beside her, looking forward. A top hat and flowers are visible in the foreground. Prior to 1939, various members of the Royal Family had visited Canada but no reigning monarch had ever done so.
The idea for a Royal Tour was started by Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir who saw it as something that could foster Canadian identity.

🧵2/15 The black-and-white photo depicts Lord Tweedsmuir in a formal suit with a tie and a pocket square. His hair is neatly combed back, and he stands against a plain, dark background, giving the portrait a classic, dignified appearance.
May 14 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Until 1969, homosexual acts in private or public in Canada were listed under the Criminal Code as "gross indecency".
A person caught in a same sex relationship faced jail time. That all changed (somewhat) with the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1968/69.

🧵1/12 A black-and-white photograph shows a group of people marching on a wet street, holding banners and signs. Prominent banners read "TORONTO GAY ACTION" and "CANADA TRUE NORTH STRONG & GAY," while another sign says "WE DEMAND FREEDOM TO LOVE." Some participants hold umbrellas, and a large building is visible in the background, suggesting an urban setting during a rainy protest. Since colonization began in Canada, laws prohibited sexual relations between two men. In 1892, a law made what was termed "gross indecency" between men illegal. That included touching, dancing and kissing.
The gross indecency law extended to women in 1953.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white newspaper clipping with the headline "Homosexuals haven't grown up" in bold, large font. The text below reads: "Another cause for worry is homosexuality, which is far more widespread than many older people ever dream. Homosexuals are simply fixated at a more immature stage in emotional development." The font and style suggest an older publication.
May 12 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
While the Prime Minister's residence 24 Sussex has fallen into disrepair and is unoccupied, the residence of the Leader of the Opposition continues to be used.
Maintained yearly by the government, its history dates back many decades.
This is the story of Stornoway.

🧵1/12 A two-story house with a stucco exterior and red-tiled roof features a prominent entrance with a blue door, white-framed windows, and a small porch. The front yard is well-maintained with green grass, bushes, and potted flowers, surrounded by tall trees under a clear sky. Stornoway was built in 1914 for Ascanio Major. It was not until the second owners, Irvine Gale Perley-Robertson and his wife Ethel, moved in in 1923 that it was given the name of Stornoway. The named honoured the ancestral home of the Perley family in Scotland.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white photo of a two-story house with a gabled roof and a central entrance, flanked by tall bushes and trees. A pathway leads to the front door, with bare trees and shadows suggesting a winter or early spring setting.
May 6 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
Farley Mowat was one of Canada's most successful and beloved authors.
His books have sold more than 17 million copies in 52 languages, but he was also a decorated Second World War veteran and an Arctic researcher.
This is his story.

🧵1/16 The photo shows Farley Mowat sitting outdoors near a body of water, possibly a coastline, with a rocky and driftwood-filled background. He is wearing a dark jacket with a fur-lined hood, which is pulled up around his shoulders. The jacket appears to be designed for cold weather, with a zipper down the front and fur trim around the hood. Mowat has a relaxed pose, with one hand resting on the driftwood beside him. The overall scene suggests a rugged, natural environment, fitting for Mowat's reputation as a writer deeply connected to nature and the wilderness. Farley Mowat was born on May 12, 1921 in Belleville, Ontario. His great-great-uncle was Ontario Premier Sir Oliver Mowat, the longest-serving premier in Ontario's history. His father Angus fought at Vimy Ridge and was an influential librarian in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

🧵2/16 The photo features two black-and-white portraits. On the left, Sir Oliver Mowat, an older man with white hair and a beard, wears glasses and a formal suit with a bow tie. On the right, Angus Mowat, a younger man with short hair and a mustache, is dressed in a suit with a tie and a pocket square.
May 4 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
The story of David Thompson is well known in Canada, but the story of his wife of 58 years, Charlotte Small, is not.
Yet she was integral to his success as a surveyor and explorer.
This is her story.

Listen to my episode about her here 👇


🧵1/10 pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/tr…The photo is a pencil sketch of Charlotte Small, depicting her with a serious expression. She wears a headscarf and has her hair in two braids. She has triangular earrings and is dressed in a high-neck garment. The sketch is signed "Mel Hynes" in the bottom right corner. Charlotte Small was born on Sept. 1, 1785 to Patrick Small and a Cree woman who is unnamed in records. Her father left when she was young to go back east.
This was common for country marriages. The fur trader husband often abandoned his Indigenous wife and children.

🧵2/10 The photo shows a bronze bust of a woman on a wooden pedestal in a museum exhibit. Behind the bust are informational panels titled "La Grande Carte," "Aboriginal Mapping," and "Cartographie Autochtone," discussing cartography and Indigenous contributions. Two wooden crates are on either side, and the background features a large map.
May 1 • 18 tweets • 7 min read
Alberta Separation is once again in the news, but it is far from a new thing.
Separation talk dates back decades, rising and falling with political trends.
Let's learn more about Western Separation Movements!

Listen to my episode from 2019 👇


🧵1/18 pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/tr…The photo shows a hand holding a black passport with "REPUBLIC OF WESTERN CANADA" written on it. The passport features a map of Canada, highlighting the western region. I'm not including Quebec separatist movements in this thread. That will be one of its own.
In our first election in 1867, the Anti-Confederation Movement out of Nova Scotia won 18 seats. They called for Nova Scotia seceding from Canada.
By 1870, the movement had failed.

🧵2/18 The photo shows a framed, weathered flag with a blue border and a triangular design. The flag has the text "THREE CHEERS FOR THE ANTIES." written on it in black letters. The wooden frame has screws at the corners.
Apr 29 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
For 15 years from 1965 until his death in 1980, the man the world knew as Colonel Sanders lived in a modest home at 1337 Melton Drive in the Lakeview area of Mississauga.
He became a fixture of the community and gave his money to charity to help Canadians.

🧵1/10 Colonel Sanders, in a white suit with a black tie and holding a cane, stands in front of a KFC restaurant with a red and white striped awning and signs reading "Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken" and "Bucket Break." By the mid-1960s, Colonel Harland Sanders was famous around North America as the image of Kentucky Fried Chicken. With franchises rapidly growing, and Sanders in his early-70s, he sold the company for $2 million in 1964 in a deal that did not include Canadian operations.

🧵2/10 A black-and-white photo shows Colonel Sanders, with white hair and glasses, wearing a bow tie, smiling and interacting with four women in striped uniforms, likely at a KFC event, against a dark background.
Apr 27 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
Throughout the federal election campaign, I am looking at elections from Canada's past.
Today, it is the 1993 election!
One of the most significant elections in Canadian history, it completely changed the political landscape of the country forever.

🧵1/16 Image After the 1988 election, the Progressive Conservatives and their leader Brian Mulroney turned their attention to the Meech Lake Accord. The purpose was to persuade Quebec to symbolically endorse the 1982 constitutional amendments. This failed to pass in 1990.

🧵2/16 Image
Apr 26 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Throughout the federal election campaign, I am looking at elections from Canada's past.
Today, it is the 1988 election!
This election was fought on the issue of free trade with the USA. It was also the first election for the Reform Party.

🧵1/12 A color photo of Brian Mulroney, smiling broadly. He wears a dark suit, white shirt, and green tie, standing in front of a Canadian flag and a wooden-paneled background, suggesting an official or governmental setting. Both John Turner and Brian Mulroney continued to lead their respective parties, the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives.
Turner had stayed on as leader and spent the previous four years rebuilding the body after the historic collapse in the 1984 election.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white photo of John Turner (center) smiling and interacting with a group of people outdoors. Turner wears a suit and tie, while one person sports a shirt reading "Canada: Nobody’s Colony, Keep It That Way!" with a maple leaf pin. The background shows tall buildings, suggesting an urban setting.
Apr 25 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
Throughout the federal election campaign, I am looking at elections from Canada's past.
Today, it is the 1984 election!
There were new leaders for the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, and this election saw a record-setting number of seats won by a party.

🧵1/16 A black-and-white photo shows Brian Mulroney engaging with a crowd, smiling as he shakes hands. Supporters hold signs with his image, and a bus with his name is in the background, capturing a lively campaign event from the late 20th century. After Pierre Trudeau led the Liberals to a majority government in 1980, the Liberals governed for the next four years.
During that time, Canada took control of its own constitution and implemented the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982.

🧵2/16 A color photo captures Queen Elizabeth II, dressed in a teal outfit and hat, signing a document at a table while Pierre Trudeau stands nearby, watching. Several formally dressed individuals surround them on a red carpet, with velvet ropes marking the area, during a ceremonial event.
Apr 24 • 17 tweets • 7 min read
On this day in 1942, Lucy Maud Montgomery died.
One of Canada's most prolific authors, she wrote 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems and 30 essays.
But she is most famous for her book Anne of Green Gables.
This is the story of her life.

🧵1/16 This black-and-white photo of Lucy Maud Montgomery shows her with dark, curly hair in an updo, wearing a high-necked blouse with intricate lace detailing. She has a slight smile and is gazing slightly to the side, reflecting an early 20th-century style. Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in New London, Prince Edward Island on Nov. 30, 1874.
Her mother, Clara, died of tuberculosis when Montgomery was 21 months old. Her father moved to Prince Albert when she was seven and she was raised by her grandparents.

🧵2/16 This black-and-white photo of Lucy Maud Montgomery depicts her as a young girl with her hair parted in the middle and pulled back. She rests her chin on her hands, wearing a dark dress, with a furry blanket or rug in the foreground. The setting appears to be from the late 19th century.
Apr 23 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
Tom Sukanen went through a lot of pain and heartache after he came to North America.
One day he decided to build a ship by hand on his Saskatchewan homestead. He hoped he could use it sail home to Finland.
This is the tragic story of the man they called The Crazy Finn.

🧵1/14 The photo of Tom Sukanen is a black-and-white image showing a person wearing a high-collared shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred natural background. The image has a vintage, grainy texture. Tom Sukanen was born in 1878 in Finland. In 1906, he married Sanna Rintala. Two years later, he sailed to the United States to start a homestead in Minnesota. He left the pregnant Sanna in Finland. She joined him at the homestead a year later.

🧵2/14 The black-and-white photo shows a rustic sod house with a thatched roof, a wagon with large wheels in front, and a small animal nearby. The setting appears rural, with open land around.
Apr 23 • 18 tweets • 6 min read
Lester B. Pearson was born on this day in 1897.
He served as Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968, so let's look at his life in pictures!

Pearson (bottom right) with brothers Marmaduke and Vaughan, mother Anne, father Edwin and grandfather Marmaduke.

🧵1/18 A vintage black-and-white photo shows a family of seven posing outdoors in front of a brick building. An older man sits in the center, surrounded by two women, three boys, and a man, all dressed in early 20th-century clothing. The group appears formal, with some standing and others sitting on the grass. Lester B. Pearson during his time as a soldier in the First World War. He served as a flying officer in the Royal Flying Corps. His instructor called him "Mike" as he believed "Lester" was too mild a name for a pilot.
Mike remained a nickname for the rest of his life.

🧵2/18 The black-and-white photo shows Lester B. Pearson in a long, belted aviator coat and cap, standing in front of an early biplane with visible wings and struts, likely from the early 20th century.
Apr 20 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Throughout the federal election campaign, I am looking at elections from Canada's past.
Today, it is the 1968 election.
This election saw new leaders for the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives but it is best known for what is now called Trudeaumania.

🧵1/12 A black-and-white photo shows Pierre Trudeau, wearing a striped shirt and jeans, smiling as he reaches out to a large, enthusiastic crowd of people, many of whom are reaching back toward him. The background includes a residential area with houses and a fence. After Canada's Centennial Year of 1967, Lester B. Pearson announced he was retiring.
A leadership race was held and on April 6, 1968, which was won by Pierre Trudeau on the fourth ballot.
Trudeau was the former Minister of Justice, who was first elected in 1965.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white photo captures Pierre Trudeau in a suit, smiling and waving with both hands to an excited crowd holding signs that read "Pierre Elliott Trudeau" and "We Love Trudeau." Supporters reach out with microphones and buttons, creating a lively atmosphere.
Apr 17 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
For many Canadians, when they are not feeling well, Canada Dry Ginger Ale is part of the recovery and always within arm's reach.
But who created Canada Dry, why does it have a crown, and why is it called "Canada Dry"?
This is the story of the ginger beverage!

🧵1/9 A can of Canada Dry Ginger Ale sits on a surface with a scenic backdrop of snow-capped mountains and a clear blue sky. The can is green with white and red labeling, displaying "CANADA DRY" and "SODA GINGEMBRE." The story of Canada Dry begins with John J. McLaughlin, a pharmacist from Enniskillen, Ontario. He was the son of Robert McLaughlin, founder of the McLaughlin Carriage and McLaughlin Motor Car.
In 1890, John was working at a soda factory in Brooklyn, New York.

🧵2/9 A pencil sketch of a bald man with a mustache, wearing a suit and tie, against a plain greenish background. A small pin with a symbol is on his lapel.
Apr 16 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
On this day in 1992, David Milgaard was released from prison.
He spent over two decades imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. His mother Joyce never gave up on him and fought for his release.
This is the story of the man who inspired the song Wheat Kings.

🧵1/18 This black-and-white photo depicts David Milgaard. He wears a long-sleeved shirt with rolled-up sleeves, his arms crossed, and gazes directly at the camera. Two small posters are pinned on the wall behind him. David Milgaard was born on July 7, 1952 in Winnipeg.
In January 1969, he was in Saskatoon with his friends Ron Wilson and Nichol John on a trip across Canada.
While visiting their friend Albert Cadrain, 20-year-old nursing student Gail Miller was found dead nearby.

🧵2/18 This black-and-white photo shows a person with short, dark hair wearing a collared shirt with a buttoned neckline. The image has a grainy texture, suggesting it may be from an older time period.