Settler living on Treaty 6 land. Host of Canadian History Ehx, From John to Justin & Canada A Yearly Journey. All part of the Curiouscast Network
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Feb 24 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
On this day in 1986, Tommy Douglas died.
Considered one of the most important Canadians of the 20th century, he served as premier of Saskatchewan, led the federal NDP, and was instrumental in the creation of Medicare in Canada.
Let's explore his life :)
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Tommy Douglas was born on Oct. 20, 1904 in Scotland. When he was seven, the family moved to Winnipeg. Around this time, he injured his knee and Osteomyelitis set in. He went through various operations and doctors stated he would lose the leg.
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Feb 21 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
Tonight in Maple Creek, SK, two hockey teams are going to take to the ice to continue a four-decade tradition.
It is a hockey game between the Nekaneet First Nation and local ranchers.
Let's learn more about The Battle of the Little Big Puck!
📸Anthony Janzen
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According to legend, the hockey game dates back to a hot day in July in the mid-1970s when some local ranchers and members of the Nekaneet First Nation were sitting in Maple Creek's Commercial Hotel having a beer together.
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Feb 19 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
On this day in 1942, German tanks and soldiers marched through Winnipeg. The mayor, premier and Lt. Governor were arrested. The city was renamed Himmlerstadt, books were burned and the swastika flag flew around the city.
This is the story of Winnipeg's If Day.
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During the Second World War, Victory Bond Campaigns were held to raise money for the war effort. Civilians could buy the bonds, which matured in 2.5, six or 14 years. In total, 10 Victory Bond campaigns were held during the war.
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Feb 19 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
On this day in 1991, The Tragically Hip released their second studio album Road Apples.
It became their first #1 album in Canada, produced several hit songs and is remembered as one of the best albums of the 1990s to this day.
Let's learn more about it!
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The band released their first album Up to Here in 1989. The album did well, selling 100,000 copies in its first year in Canada and reached #13.
The Hip then toured through Canada and the United States from 1989 to 1990 before beginning work on their next album.
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Feb 17 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Depending where you live in Canada, today is going to be called by something different (Family Day, Islander Day, etc...)
And in some places there is no holiday at all.
Let's take a trip around this beautiful country and see what each province celebrates today and why!
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If you live in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario or Saskatchewan, then today is Family Day!
It was first celebrated in Alberta in 1990. Premier Don Getty wanted to create a holiday for Albertans to spend time with their families.
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Feb 7 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
On this day in 2000, Doug Henning died.
Born in Winnipeg, Henning became one of the world's most famous magicians and helped revive the craft of magic as an art form.
Then, at the height of his career, he left the fame behind.
Let's learn about his life :)
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Henning was born on May 3, 1947 in Winnipeg. As a child watching The Ed Sullivan Show, he saw magician Richiardi Jr. perform. This sparked in him a desire to learn magic. He began to teach himself and perform for friends and family.
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Feb 1 • 19 tweets • 7 min read
On this day in 1972, Neil Young released his fourth studio album, Harvest.
Poorly received when it was initially released, it has since been proclaimed a high-water mark of his career and one of the best albums by a Canadian artist in history.
Let's learn more!
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After releasing solo albums in 1968, 1969 and 1970, along with one album as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1970, Young bought the Broken Arrow Ranch.
While renovating his home, he injured his back which limited his ability to play electric guitar.
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Jan 31 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
During the fur trade era, the Red River Jig emerged as a dance that blended European step-dancing with the traditional dances of the First Nations.
Over time, the dance became an important part of Metis culture.
Let's learn more!
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The origin of the Red River Jig is believed to be a combination of the dancing of the First Nations, French-Canadians and Scottish-Canadians.
The dance tended to be complex, with the foot never rising higher than the ankle.
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Jan 27 • 16 tweets • 6 min read
On this day in 1980, six American diplomats, travelling with valid Canadian passports, escaped Iran.
They were hidden for months by Canadians, who played a massive role in their escape.
Let's learn the real (not the Argo version) story of The Canadian Caper.
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Amid the Islamic Iranian Revolution in 1979, people stormed the US Embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979. Dozens of diplomats were captured and held hostage.
They demanded that the Shah of Iran come back to the country and face trial.
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Jan 26 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
On this day in 1700 CE at approximately 9 p.m. PT, an 8.7-9.2 magnitude earthquake hit the coast of present-day British Columbia.
The Juan de Fuca plate slipped by 20 metres along 1,000 km fault rupture.
Let's learn more about this event
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While there are no written records of the earthquake, much of what happened has been related in the oral histories of the First Nations.
The exact time and day comes from the record of a tsunami that hit Japan hours after the earthquake.
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Jan 25 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
In the summer of 1970, a CNR train journeyed across Canada. On that train was a non-stop party and jam session consisting of Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, Ian & Sylvia, and others who took part in the Festival Express.
Let's learn more!
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When the Transcontinental Pop Festival, better known as the Festival Express, was being planned there were planned concert stops in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
The festival was developed by Ken Walker and promoted by Eaton-Walker Associates.
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Jan 19 • 15 tweets • 6 min read
Over the course of centuries, Canadian English developed as its own distinct form of the language.
It takes elements from French, First Nation languages and United States English to form something completely unique.
Let's learn more about Canadian English!
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There are several varieties of Canadian English.
There is Standard Canadian English, spoken from British Columbia to Ontario.
There is also Quebec English, Atlantic Canada English, Newfoundland English and Indigenous English.
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Jan 18 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
Today is Winnie-The-Pooh Day. It commemorates the birthday of A.A. Milne, who wrote Winnie-the-Pooh.
But without Canada, there would have never been a Winnie, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, or the Hundred Acre Wood.
Let's learn more about Winnie the Pooh and Canada!
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On Aug. 24, 1914, a train stopped in White River, Ontario on its way to Camp Valcartier in Quebec. The train contained members of the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps. One soldier on that train was Captain Harry Colebourn.
He was on his way to serve in France.
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Jan 13 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
In 1901, 15 Metis families moved to southwest Winnipeg where six other families had relocated to years earlier. This was the beginning of what became known as Rooster Town.
Half a century later, the City bulldozed the community.
Let's learn more.
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The Metis families wanted to live close together, while also being near the city for employment.
The lots they settled on belonged to the City of Winnipeg. The city had bought the land from speculators who had failed to make a profit on the land.
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Jan 12 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
From 1928 to 1972, the Alberta Eugenics Board was in operation. It imposed sterilization on individuals that it deemed "mentally defective".
During that time, 2,832 sterilizations, most without consent, were performed.
Let's learn more about this dark chapter.
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During the early 20th century, eugenics was a concept growing in popularity. Several influential Canadians including J.S. Woodsworth, Emily Murphy and Nellie McClung supported eugenics and believed it would better the gene pool.
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Jan 11 • 16 tweets • 5 min read
On this day in 1934, Jean Chretien was born in Shawinigan, Quebec.
He was a Parliamentarian from 1963 to 1986 and 1990 to 2003. He served as Prime Minister from 1993 to 2003, winning three straight majority governments.
Let's look at his life in pictures.
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Jean Chretien as a child, rocking a bow tie and a bit of an angry look on his face.
📸Jean Harnois
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Jan 4 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
On this day in 1998, an ice storm developed over southern Ontario and Quebec.
The storm left millions without power, killed 34 people and caused $5-7 billion in damages.
Let's learn more about the Ice Storm of 1998.
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Ice storms and freezing rain are nothing new to the region. Warm air from the Mississippi Valley rises up and overruns a shallow layer of cold air near the surface. This cold air damming usually happens in the St. Lawrence Valley and Ottawa Valley.
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Jan 1 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
On this day in 1947, the Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect.
This Act created the legal status of Canadian Citizenship, which defined who citizens were by making them separate and independent from the status of British subjects.
Let's learn more about it :)
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Prior to 1910, people living in Canada were considered to be British Subjects.
In 1910, the Immigration Act first created the status of Canadian citizen as someone who was a British subject that was born, naturalized or domiciled in Canada.
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Dec 31, 2024 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
On this day in 1966, the community of Bowsman, Manitoba held a parade of outhouses through the streets.
Then they burned the outhouses in a giant bonfire to celebrate the arrival of indoor plumbing.
This is the story of The Biffy Burn :)
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The village, located about 500 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, had spent the previous year installing a sewage treatment plant and hooking up every house to the plant.
Once that was done, the residents didn't need outhouses anymore.
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Dec 27, 2024 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
On this day in 1847, Elizabeth McMaster was born in Toronto. You likely don't know her name, but McMaster changed the world.
Insulin, Pablum, a sharp decline in infant mortality, all can be traced back to her.
Let's learn more about this amazing person :)
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Elizabeth Wyllie was the daughter of a dry-goods merchant. Her family was upper middle class, as her father's business did well in the city.
In 1865, she married Samuel McMaster, the nephew of Senator William McMaster. The marriage gave her financial security.
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Dec 26, 2024 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
It is the start of the World Juniors today!
Since 1977, Canada has won 20 gold medals, more than any other nation. But one of the most famous incidents at the tournament happened in 1987.
Let's learn more about the Punch-up in Piestany!
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On Jan. 4, 1987, Canada and the Soviet Union faced off at Zimný Štadión Piešťany in Piešťany, Czechoslovakia.
The Soviets had been eliminated from medal contention by this point, but Canada was still playing for a medal finish when the game started.