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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Mar 23 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
I have covered many aspects of Canada's border history in the past week.
Today, I am exploring why the Canadian border with Alaska extends so far south along the Pacific Coast and how the decision led to a desire for greater Canadian independence from Britain.
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The issue of the border dates back to 1825 when Russia (who owned Alaska at the time) signed the Treaty of Saint Petersburg with Britain. The treaty only focused on the coastal area as the interior was mountainous and of little interest to either country.
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Mar 17 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
We have looked at the USA-Canada border through the Great Lakes and along the 49th Parallel.
Today, it is time to find out why there is an odd blip west of Lake Superior and east of Manitoba.
This is the story of the Northwest Angle.
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The Northwest Angle is farther north than any part of the Contiguous United States.
The area covers 197 square kilometres, and it all comes down to treaties negotiated between the United Kingdom and the United States centuries ago.
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Mar 16 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
On this day in 1985, hockey great Eddie Shore died of liver cancer.
He was such a legend that he was name-dropped in Slap Shot. Shore was one of the greatest NHL players ever...and one of the meanest on the ice.
Let's learn more about the Edmonton Express!
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Shore was born in Fort Qu'Appelle and grew up in Cupar, SK. Shore played his first organized hockey with the Cupar Canucks and then the Melville Millionaires.
In 1926, he started his professional career with the Regina Capitals, before playing for the Edmonton Eskimos.
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Mar 16 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
Before the dynasties, Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur and Roy, the Montreal Canadiens were in trouble.
The team nearly moved to Cleveland, and then nearly folded. But one man helped save them...Conn Smythe.
Let's learn how Montreal almost lost the Canadiens!
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In the early-1930s, the Canadiens were riding high. From 1927-28 to 1931-32, the team finished first four times and won two Stanley Cups.
At the time, the team was stacked with Hall of Famers such as Howie Morenz, Aurèle Joliat, Sylvio Mantha and George Hainsworth.
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Mar 15 • 14 tweets • 5 min read
A few days ago, I looked at how the international border through The Great Lakes was determined.
But what about the border west of Lake Superior?
It took decades to determine and wasn't just "drawn with a ruler by some guy".
Let's learn more!
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The 49th parallel border begins west of the Northwest Angle, a blip on the border that gives Minnesota part of the Lake of the Woods.
That 197 sq-km area came about due to treaties and a limited understanding of the geography west of Lake Superior.
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Mar 12 • 17 tweets • 6 min read
From 1973 to 2022, Canada and Denmark were at war.
Over the course of the war, several soldiers on both sides were wounded....by hangovers. And it was all fought over a tiny island the size of a city block.
Let's learn about The Whisky War!
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Hans Island is a tiny island, 1.3 square kilometres in size, located between Ellesmere Island and Greenland.
It has no trees, no grass and is not inhabited.
The island is in the territory of the Inuit, who have visited it periodically over the centuries.
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Mar 11 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
The Great Lakes hold 23 quadrillion litres of water and 20% of the world's fresh surface water supply.
But how did Canada and the USA determine the border between the Great Lakes and also agree on the use of the lakes?
Let's learn about the treaties!
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When the Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the American Revolutionary War, the treaty set out the boundary between the USA and British North America.
That border went through the Great Lakes but it was not officially surveyed.
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Mar 8 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
On this day in 1919, Bob Homme was born.
While he was born in the United States, he adopted Canada as his home. To generations of Canadians, he was The Friendly Giant.
Let's look up...waaaaay up...and learn about his life!
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Bob Homme was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin where his parents were teachers at the high school.
After he graduated from school, he attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a degree in economics.
He joined the Air National Guard in 1939.
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Mar 4 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
In 1890, the Tariff Act came into place in the United States. It placed tariffs on imports of up to 50%.
While touted as a way to build American industry, there was also the hope it would force an annexation of Canada. It backfired.
Let's learn more.
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Put forward by William McKinley, who was a Congressman at that point, the Tariff Act put duties across imports ranging from 38% to 49.5%.
McKinley was called the Napoleon of Protection. While some items had tariffs eliminated, most had tariffs increased.
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Mar 3 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
On this day in 1920, James Doohan was born in Vancouver.
He became famous for playing Scotty on Star Trek, but before he was chief engineer on a starship he was fighting for Canada in the Second World War.
Let's learn more about that time of his life!
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Doohan was the youngest of four children born to Irish immigrants.
Early in Doohan's life, the family moved to Sarnia where he attended the Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School. He enlisted with the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in 1938.
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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.