Canadahistory.com Fathers of Confederation | Maritime Union | George Brown | Pan Federalism | US Civil War | Canada's Proposals | St Lawrence Cruise | Charlottetown | The Quebec Conference | The London Conference | July 1st 1867 July 1, 1867 was a sunny day right across the country. At midnight of June 30th, the order was given to let the bells loose and the church towers across Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick rang out. In all of the major centres the Queen's proclamation was read out followed by parades and celebrations. An 101 gun salute also shook the area around Ottawa in honour of the occasion. July 1st, 1867 - Canada Ottawa was the site which witnessed the birth of a new country as the ceremonies were initiated in the new capital of Canada, an old logging operation along the Ottawa River which took the name of the River as it's own. The location was a compromise choice which signalled a new beginning for the four provinces which now formed Canada.

The location which was in the Northwest part of the four provinces may have indicated the immense expansion which was to take place over the next 10 years to the Pacific Coast. The New Parliament Buildings Lord Monck became the first Governor General of Canada and as his first official duty he swore in John A Macdonald as the first Prime Minister, William McDougall, E.P. Howland, Tilley, Cartier and Galt as Finance Minister. Macdonald was made a Knight Commander of Bath by order of Queen Victoria and the other were made Companions of the Bath. By noon the official part of Canada on the day of its birth. The celebrations went on well into the evening with lights, lamps, bonfires and fireworks lighting the parties and the sky. The great deal had been done and the colonies had been brought together as one state with responsible government in the form of the Canadian Parliament. George Cartier John A Macdonald The new country consisted of approximately 3,300,00 million citizens. mainly in Ontario, with about 42% being of the Catholic faith. (Mainly of French and Irish descent) Most of the others were of English Protestant descent.

About 81% of the people lived on farms or in the countryside with industry being only a minor part of the overall economy. Montreal was the largest city with about 100,000 people and then came Toronto and Quebec City with about 60,000 each and Ottawa at about 17,000. Ottawa 1867 John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of Canada due to his tireless efforts in uniting the former British Colonies and his unerring ability to glean a compromised solution from the process of creating Canada as he pushed the union along. He was also Knighted by Queen Victoria and took his seat in Parliament as the leader of the party with the majority of members. This was the beginning of Canada and the jumping off point in what was to become known as the Macdonald era in Canadian politics. A time to Celebrate Actual elections were held on September 18th, 1867 and on November 7th, 1867 Parliament convened with John A Macdonald as the victorious Prime Minister.

A Brief History of Canada - 1867 to 1899 1867 to 1899 1867 - Confederation British colonies in North America are united under the British North American Act to become the Dominion of Canada. The Act, drafted by John A. Macdonald and signed on May 8, became effective on July 1, 1867. (See photo of the Fathers of Confederation ) Despite anti-confederation sentiments in Nova Scotia, future prime minister Charles Tupper convinced Nova Scotia to join the Dominion. Sir John A. Macdonald was appointed as Canada's first Prime Minister and won the election in August. (read Macdonald's biography ) Ottawa was named the Capital City of the Dominion. 1868 One of the Fathers of Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, became the first Canadian victim of an assassination on April 7. McGee was a very outspoken enemy of the Fenians (see 1859 & 1866) and died at their hands. 1869 Canada purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company.

The purchase threatened western livelyhood and, in November of that same year, Louis Riel lead the Métis in an attack against Fort Garry (the site of present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba) and occupied it. This protest would come to be known as The Red River Rebellion 1870's Before this decade, the demand for leather goods became greater each passing year. During the 70's, the northern herds of bison were virtually wiped out which ultimately lead to the collapse of the western Aboriginal economy and livelyhood. The Natives, who depended on the bison for everything from food to clothing suddenly found themselves at the mercy of the eastern 'new-comers'. The Red River Rebellion continued to challenge Canadian authority in the northwest. Canada declared a provisional government in January, but the government was ousted by General Wolsely in August. The Manitoba Act created the new province of Manitoba out of the Red River Settlement, effectively suppressing the rebellion. Future prime minister Richard Bennett was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, on July 3. (see 1930) 1871 British Columbia joined confederation on July 20. Prime Minister Macdonald began the construction of the Intercolonial Railroad.

1873 Prince Edward Island joined Confederation. Meanwhile, the new country was hit with a period of economic depression. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald created the North-West Mounted Police (later to become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP) to bring law to the territories. However, the Pacific Scandal in which evidence (stolen from future prime minister John Abbott's office) proved that Sir Hugh Allan had made huge campaign contributions to Macdonald's government in exchange for an exclusive charter to build the Canadian Pacific Railway (a.k.a. Canadian Pacific Railroad), forcing Macdonald's resignation on November 5. Liberal Alexander Mackenzie became Canada's second prime minister. (read Mackenzie's biography ) 1874 PM Mackenzie reformed the electoral system, introducing the secret ballot. He also founded the Royal Military College in present-day Kingston. By an Act of Parliament, the groundwork was set for the academy. The doors opened on June 1, 1876, attended by the first class of 'Old Eighteen' gentlemen cadets. In 1878, Queen Victoria gave her consent to allow the college to add the prefix 'Royal' to its name.

Meanwhile, Louis Riel was elected to the House of Commons in February but was denied the seat as a result of his involvement in the Red River Rebellion. On July 26, Alexander Graham Bell displayed his new invention, the telephone, to his family on the outskirts of Brantford, Ontario. Anabaptists (Russian Mennonites) began to arrive in Manitoba from various Russian colonies on the west coast of North America. Future prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was born in Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario, on December 17. (see 1921 & 1926 & 1935) 1875 Riel was granted amnesty by parliament with the condition that he be banished from Canada for 5 years. PM Mackenzie established the Surpreme Court of Canada. Bell demonstrates the first functioning telephone in Boston in June. Jennie Trout became the first female licensed to practice medicine in Canada. (Emily Stowe had been practicing in Toronto without a license since 1867.) Grace Lockhart graduated from Mount Allison University with the first Bachelor of Arts degree awarded to a female.

1876 The Intercolonial Railway was completed, linking the Maritimes with central Canada. The Pacific Line, which would unite the new nation, was soon begun. The world's first long-distance telephone call took place on August 10, connecting Alexander Graham Bell's home with a boot store in nearby Paris, Ontario. Meanwhile, the Toronto Women's Literary Club, which was actually a front for the women's suffrage movement was founded. (see 1873) 1877 Manitoba provincial legislature created the University of Manitoba, the oldest University in western Canada. Canadian doctor, Dr. Leonora Howard King, opened a hospital for Chinese women and children in Tienstin (now Tianjin), southwest of Beijing, where she worked selflessly for 47 years until her death in 1927. (China's Empress Dowager, the guardian of the infant emperor, awarded her the Imperial Order of the Double Dragon.) 1878 John A. Macdonaldwas re-elected. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, anti-Chinese sentiment escalated, reaching a high point when the government banned Chinese workers from entering the public services.

1879 Macdonald's National Policy, set forth on March 12, introduced tariffs which would protect Canadian trade goods, a transcontinental railway system, and immigration to the west. Future prime minister Charles Tupper began construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. 1880 First performance of 'O Canada', composed by Calixa Lavallée for the St. Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations. (Detailed history of ' O Canada ') The French lyrics were a poem written by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier and remain unchanged to this day. Emily Stowe was finally granted a license to practice medicine legally in Toronto. 1880-1884 Thousands of underpaid Chinese labourers were hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to lay the tracks through the Rocky Mountains. The work was dangerous and casualties were high. As the story goes, 'There is one dead Chinese for every mile of track.' 1882 Future prime minister Louis St. Laurent was born in Compton, Québec, on February 1. (see 1948) 1883 Louis Riel became an American citizen in Montana.

Augusta Stowe (daughter of Emily Stowe), became the first woman to graduate from the Toronto Medical School. Meanwhile, the Literary Club of 1876 officially became the Toronto Women's Suffrage Association North American railroads adopted Standard Time, created by Canadian Sir Sanford Flemming. (Standard time was soon adopted around the world.) 1884 Louis Rien returned to Canada to lead the North-West Rebellion. 1885 The Métis were defeated at Bacoche, ending a seven-day battle from May 2'nd to May 9'th. Louis Riel was captured and returned to Regina to stand trial for his treason. Riel was hanged on November 16. The last spike of the transcontinental railway was pounded into place in Eagle Pass, British Columbia, on November 7, joining Canada from coast to coast with a 'ribbon of steel'. Canada's first National Park was created at Banff, Alberta. 1887 Wilfrid Laurier was elected by the Liberals as Party Leader. Meanwhile, the first provincial Premiers' conference took place in Québec City.

1890 The Liberals in Manitoba under Thomas Greenway halted public funding of Catholic schools in March, laying the groundwork for the controversial Manitoba Schools Question which would plaque the governments for years to come. (see 1895) Meanwhile, Canadian Isaac Shupe invented a rather curious sheet-metal scrubber that automatically lathered with soap. 1891 Sir John A. Macdonald won his fourth consecutive election in March and died less than 3 months later on June 6 while still in office. Conservative John Abbott was elected prime minister following Macdonald's death. (read Abbott's biography ) The first game of basketball, created by Canadian James Naismith (Almont, Ontario), was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. The final score was 1-0. 1892 Conservative John Thompson succeeded John Abbott as prime minister following Abbott's retirement due to failing health. (read Thompson's biography ) PM John Thompson created the Canadian Criminal Code. Former prime minister Mackenzie King died on April 17. PM John Abbott resigned due to poor health. 1893 The National Council of Women of Canada was founded. Former prime minister John Abbott died on October 30.

1894 Future prime minister Arthur Meighen was born in Anderson, Ontario, on June 16. (see 1920 & 1926) Prime Minister John Thompson died (in office) on December 12 at Windsor Castle in England. Held in fond esteem by Queen Victoria, a requiem mass was held for Thompson in Windsor. Thompson was then returned to Halifax for burial aboard the battleship HMS Blenheim, which had been painted black for the occasion. Conservative Mackenzie Bowell became prime minister following John Thompson's death. (read Bowell's biography ) 1895 In June, PM Mackenzie Bowell drafted legislation which would force Manitoba to reinstate funding of Catholic Schools under the British North America Act, but Cabinet opposition forced Bowell to postpone the issue for 6 months. The Yukon was created as a provisional district separate from the Northwest Territories. (see 1898) Future prime minister John Diefenbaker was born in Neustadt, Ontario, on September 18. (see 1957) 1896 The economic depression came to an end. By January, the Cabinet was questioning PM Mackenzie Bowell's competence.

Seven ministers resigned in order to force Bowell into stepping down as prime minister. The Cabinet also prevented Bowell from replacing his ministers and the government fell into crisis. The Governor General The Earl of Aberdeen intervened and reinstated 6 ministers and Charles Tupper joined the cabinet and assumed virtual control of the party. Bowell resigned in favour of Charles Tupper and remained in the Senate until his death. Conservative Charles Tupper became prime minister following Bowell's resignation. (read Tupper's biography ) However, Tupper was forced to call an immediate election and, despite a vigorous and aggressive campaign, Tupper lost to Liberal Wilfrid Laurier. Tupper's reign as prime minister was the shortest in Canadian history Liberal Wilfrid Laurier won the federal election based mainly on his proposed compromises in the Manitoba Schools Question. Laurier was the first French-Canadian prime minister. (read Laurier's biography ) Gold was discovered in the Klondike on August 16. 1897 Future prime minister Lester B. Pearson was born on April 23 in Newton Brook, Ontario. (see 1963) Laurier's 'Manitoba Schools Question' compromises were initiated. Meanwhile, L. T.

Snow received a patent for a simple mechanical meat grinder he had invented. 1898 Fortune-seakers flocked to the Klondike. Meanwhile, Doukhobours began to settle in Saskatchewan. The Yukon was identified as a separate and new territory. 1899 Canada entered the Boer War in South Africa (October 30) when the first Canadian troops were sent overseas. Meanwhile, Canada's first female lawyer, Clara Brett Martin, began to practice law. Who was the first prime minister of Canada? Who was the first prime minister of Canada? Who was the first prime minister of Canada? Who was the first prime minister of Canada? The first Prime Minister of Canada is Sir John A. Macdonald who was a dominant figure in the Canadian Confederation. He was a businessman, lawyer, politician, and prime minister. Macdonald served as a municipal alderman in Kingston and was a member of the Province of Canada�s Legislative Assembly between 1844 and 1867.

In 1847, he was appointed a Receiver General and was an opposition member of parliament between 1845 and 1854, in 1858, and between 1862 and 1864. Macdonald became Joint Premier and served together with �tienne-Paschal Tach� between 1856 and 1857. He acted as a Joint Premier between 1857 and 1858 and between 1858 and 1862 (serving together with George-�tienne Cartier). Because of the Pacific Railway Scandal, the Conservative government had to resign in 1973. The liberal government of Alexander Mackenzie took over. The Conservatives returned to power in 1878, and Macdonald became Prime Minister. The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed during the Prime Minister�s second administration. In 1879, the country became a high-tariff nation, similar to Germany and the United States. The high tariffs aimed to build and protect the Canadian industry. The machinery and equipment for textile production entered the country free, but the tariff on finished textiles was 34 percent.

The Prime Minister argued in favour of even higher tariffs during his whole political career. During this period, Canada also sent Sir Alexander Galt as its first diplomatic representative in Britain. The government of Macdonald subsidized the transcontinental railroad project, granting $25,000,000 and 100,000 sq. km of land. The entire railroad project was very expensive for a country of just 4.1 million inhabitants. The railroad was slowly built between 1880 and 1885, but the Canadian Pacific Railway came close to financial ruin more than once. Macdonald was forced to obtain a loan from the Treasury to save the CPR from becoming insolvent. Sir John A. Macdonald died on 6 June, 1891 and was buried in the Cataraqui Cemetery in Kingston. He left a mark on the country�s political scene and is considered one of the most successful Prime Ministers of Canada. Macdonald has a record of 6 majority government victories and served as a Prime Minister for 19 years. By purchasing large territories of vacant land from the HBC, Macdonald succeeded in expanding the territory of Canada.

He built economic barriers as a way of avoiding American influence and linked the provinces by rail. His goal was to keep the federation afloat and stimulate trade. Macdonald also drafted the British North America Acts under which Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec became united into the Dominion of Canada. The Prime Minister drafted two-thirds of the provisions and became known as the Father of Confederation. The British North America Acts are the core of the Canadian Constitution and were enacted by the Parliament of Canada and the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act of 1867 set the framework for the Canadian government, including the House of Commons and its federal structure. Sir John A. Macdonald 1867-1873 1878-1891 Liberal-Conservative "When fortune empties her chamberpot on your head, smile - and say 'we are going to have a summer shower'." Sir John A. Macdonald, circa 1875 Sir John A. Macdonald was to become Canada's first Prime Minister. Private Life Did You Know?

Macdonald was a Private in the militia and participated in the 1837 raid on Montgomery's Tavern, a well-known meeting place for rebels and their supporters against Britain. Ironically, Macdonald the lawyer would later defend several of these rebels in court. Born: Glasgow, Scotland. January 11, 1815. Emigrated to the Province of Canada in 1820. Education: Midland District Grammar School and John Cruickshank School in Kingston, Ontario. Called to the Bar of Upper Canada in 1836. Articled (contracted) with a Kingston lawyer at 15 years of age. Had his own legal practice by age of 19. Marriage: Isabella Clark (1811-1856) in 1843. Two sons born (one died in infancy). Re-Marriage: Susan Agnes Bernhard (1836-1920) in 1867. One daughter born. (She suffered 'hydrocephaly' which left her both mentally and physically handicapped.) Died: June 6, 1891 of heart failure while still in office.

Buried in Cataraqui Cemetery near Kingston, Ontario. Political Career Did You Know? Macdonald's political career was marred by a well-publicized drinking problem. He would often drink throughout meetings and often forgot the proceedings of the day. The Hon. George Brown, founder of The Globe (now Globe and Mail) newspaper, was Macdonald's arch enemy and, whenever Macdonald went on a binge, Brown printed a 'sick' notice in his paper. Introduced to politics in 1843 when he served as city alderman in Kingston, Ontario. Constituencies: Kingston, Ontario, 1867-1878, 1887-1891; Victoria, British Columbia, 1878-1882; Carleton, Ontario, 1882-1887. Elected Conservative representative for Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1844. Receiver General for the Province of Canada, 1847-1848.

Attorney General for Canada West, 1854-1858, 1858-1862, 1864-1867. Joint Premier with Etienne-Paschal Tache for the Province of Canada, 1856-1857. Joint Premier with George-Etienne Cartier for the Province of Canada, 1857-1858, 1858-1862. Minister of Militia Affairs, 1861-1862, 1865-1867. Co-leader of the Great Coalition with George-Etienne Cartied and George Brown, 1864-1865; Co-leader with George-Etienne Cartier, 1865-1867, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, 1867-1873. Prosperous Maritime provinces feared that Confederation would weaken their autonomy. Canada East (Quebec) feared that Confederation would dilute French-Canadian interests.

The American Civil War, and the Fenian Raids of 1866 and an aggressive American foreign policy caused concern about the future of the colony. Allied with his political rival and Opposition leader, George Brown, to finalize Confederation. Drafted the British North American Act which defined the federal system by which Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were united into the Dominion of Canada. BNA signed on May 8, 1867 and became effective July 1, 1867. Appointed Prime Minister of Canada and won the first federal election one month later. Did You Know? The Fathers of Confederation originally wanted to name their new country 'The Kingdom of Canada'. However, the United States still harboured ill-feelings toward the word 'kingdom' following their battle for independence against King George III and 'The Dominion of Canada' was selected instead. Liberal-Conservative Party Leader (forerunner of the Conservative Party), 1867-1891.

To unite the new nation, Macdonald began the Intercolonial Railway which ran from Halifax to the Pacific coast and included Canada's two newest provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, and the North-West Territories in 1871. Initiated tariffs protecting Canadian products from foreign imports, especially from the United States, to boost Canadian economy. Created the North West Mounted Police in 1873. Questionable deals between the Conservatives and the railway syndicate lead to the Pacific Scandal in 1873. Macdonald was forced to resign and lost the election in 1874. Leader of the Opposition, 1873-1878. Re-elected in 1878. Minister of the Interior, 1878-1883. Superintendant General of Indian Affairs, 1878-1887, Created Canada's first national park at Banff, Alberta, in 1885. Poorly-handled North-West Rebellion in 1885 and the execution of Louis Riel outraged French-Canadians. Antagonism between French- and English- Canadians lasted for years.

Minister of Railways and Canals, 1889-1891. Won 4'th consecutive election in March 1891 and died 3 months later on June 6, 1891, while still in office. *(Progressive) Conservative *Liberal *Unionist/Conservative Sir John Macdonald | prime minister of Canada | Britannica.com prime minister of Canada Sir Mackenzie Bowell Sir John Macdonald, in full Sir John Alexander Macdonald (born January 11, 1815, Glasgow , Scotland—died June 6, 1891, Ottawa , Ontario, Dominion of Canada), the first prime minister of the Dominion of Canada (1867–73, 1878–91), who led Canada through its period of early growth. Though accused of devious and unscrupulous methods, he is remembered for his achievements. Sir John Macdonald, lithograph, 19th century The Granger Collection, New York Macdonald emigrated from Scotland to Kingston , in what is now Ontario, Canada, in 1820.

He was called to the bar in 1836. After the British Parliament united Upper and Lower Canada as Canada West (now in Ontario ) and Canada East (now in Quebec ) in the Act of Union of 1840, Macdonald was elected to the assembly of the Province of Canada as a Conservative for Kingston in 1844. From 1848 to 1854, while his party was in opposition, Macdonald worked at promoting the British America League, designed to unify Canada and strengthen its ties to Great Britain. Growing sympathy for reform led him to bring about a coalition government in 1854 with Sir George Étienne Cartier , leader of Canada East, out of which developed the Liberal-Conservative Party (forerunner of the Conservative Party ), with Macdonald as its leader. He became prime minister of the Province of Canada in 1857. Sir John Macdonald. NFB/National Archives of Canada In June 1864 Macdonald and Cartier joined with their chief opponent, George Brown , in order to further the scheme of confederation of British North America .

After conferences in Charlottetown , Prince Edward Island, in Quebec, and in London, the British North America Act was passed (1867), creating the Dominion of Canada, and Macdonald became its first leader. He was created Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) in that year in recognition of his services to the British Empire . Charlottetown Conference, September 1, 1864. Library and Archives Canada (C-000733) Under Macdonald’s leadership, the dominion quickly expanded to include the provinces of Manitoba (1870), British Columbia (1871), and Prince Edward Island (1873). The Pacific Scandal of 1873, in which the government was accused of taking bribes in regard to the Pacific railway contract, forced Macdonald to resign, but he returned as prime minister five years later and served until his death. Commercial policy was the main issue of the general election of 1878. The Liberals supported free trade, but, after several years of depression, the country preferred Macdonald’s policy of trade protectionism, which he applied swiftly and thoroughly once he had returned to power.

He also aided in the completion of the Pacific railway. During his final years he dealt with challenges to Canadian unity, including a rebellion in the northwest. His guiding principle was always loyalty to the British Empire and independence from the United States . He remained true to his declaration, “A British subject I was born; a British subject I will die.” Reproduction of Canadian Prime Minister John Macdonald’s office. © Library of Parliament (Canada)/Karen Cooper (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Learn More in these related articles: in Canada Prime Ministers of Canada - NFB Prime Ministers of Canada this playlist Discover Canada’s Prime Ministers Since Confederation in 1867, Canada has had no fewer than 22 prime ministers, each of whom has made a distinctive mark on Canadian politics. This unique new playlist, accompanied by educational resources brought to you by Library and Archives Canada and the National Film Board of Canada, offers a rich selection of films about a remarkable group of leaders, providing in-depth perspectives on their varied contributions to Canadian history and society. In addition to its compilation of films made over a span of more than 70 years, the playlist features these comprehensive and engaging resources: downloadable fact sheets, archival records, biographies and an assortment of images.

This invaluable learning tool can be used both inside and outside the classroom—by educators, students, researchers or anyone seeking to learn more about the fascinating lives and legacies of Canada’s prime ministers. Are you an educator? This playlist is perfect for the classroom, and curated just for you. A downloadable educator’s guide, entitled The Prime Minister in Canadian Life and Politics , contains critical challenges, provincial curriculum connections, activities, handouts, resources and evaluation rubrics designed specifically for Canadian classroom use. The films in the playlist are sure to enrich classroom learning, and can be viewed in class or as a homework assignment. Each film is accompanied by a short description. CAMPUS subscribers also have access to classifications by grade level and subject area and a chaptering tool that allows them to break the films up into easy-to-teach sections. (It is always recommended that you preview a film before showing it to your students.) Target grade level: • This film selection and accompanying resources are suitable for students ages 13 +(cycle 1 & 2 in Quebec). Target subject areas: For more information about this selection and resources, visit the LAC website .

About LAC and NFB The National Film Board of Canada is proud to collaborate with Library and Archives Canada to bring engaging films, images, archival documents and educational resources to Canadians via NFB.ca and CAMPUS. Our aim is to make the best possible films and resources available in one place, accessible on the Web, around the world, 24/7. We will work together to achieve this aim by combining our vast and diverse collections into thematic modules, and by making them available online to educators in Canada and around the world. Donald Brittain 1978|57 min In Part 1 of this 3-part documentary series, director Donald Brittain chronicles the early years of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque. From their university days in the 1950s to 1967 when Lévesque left the Liberal Party and Trudeau became the federal Minister of Justice, Brittain attempts to get at the heart of what makes these men so fascinating.

Donald Brittain 1978|55 min Part 2 of this 3-part documentary series about Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque covers the years between 1967 and 1977, a colourful decade that saw Trudeau win three federal elections, the 1970 October Crisis and the sweeping rise to power of the Parti Québécois. Donald Brittain 1986|1 h 27 min The final instalment of this 3-part documentary series about Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque spans the decade between 1976 and 1986. The film reveals the turbulent, behind-the-scenes drama during the Quebec referendum and the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution. In doing so, it also traces both Trudeau's and Lévesque's fall from power. William Canning 1981|26 min This documentary short is a portrait of Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and 13th prime minister of Canada, John George Diefenbaker (1895-1979). Diefenbaker's political career spanned 6 decades.

When he died in 1979, his state funeral and final train trip west became more a celebration of life than a victory for death. Interweaving scenes from past and present, the film crafts a tribute to an illustrious Canadian and records how a nation paused to pay homage to "The Chief." Erna Buffie 1991|31 min From the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, Mackenzie King tried to avoid conscription. Most English Canadians thought young men should be sent to fight, while most French Canadians vehemently disagreed. This same division had nearly torn the country apart during the First World War. King had to make a decision in the final year of the war. This docudrama combines archival footage with excerpts from The King Chronicles, a dramatic series written and directed by Donald Brittain. Some scenes contain graphic language. Elise Swerhone 1986|58 min This feature documentary traces the political career of T.C. (Tommy) Douglas, former premier of Saskatchewan and leader of the New Democratic Party, who was voted the Greatest Canadian in 2004 for his devotion to social causes, his charm and his powers of persuasion.

Known as the "Father of Medicare," this one-time champion boxer and fiery preacher entered politics in the 1930s and never looked back. Peter Raymont 1979|56 min This documentary examines the media's coverage of the federal election of May 1979. Filmed over a 3-week period, it takes a fascinating look at journalists in action and the politicians who attempt to manipulate the media. Jacques Godbout 2000|1 h 22 min This feature documentary is a portrait of Adélard Godbout, the largely forgotten man who was Premier of Quebec from 1939 to 1944. During his office, Godbout helped lay the groundwork for the Quiet Revolution of the 1950s and 1960s: instituting compulsory education, giving women the vote, creating Hydro-Québec and trying to free the province from domination by the clergy. Yet, during the conscription crisis, he favoured sending volunteers to fight Hitler: a sin for which many would never forgive him. Filmmaker Jacques Godbout takes a fresh look at his great-uncle's legacy.

Robert Duncan 1982|1 h 33 min This feature documentary retraces the century of haggling by successive federal and provincial governments to agree on a formula to bring home the Canadian Constitution from England. This film concentrates on the politicking and lobbying that finally led to its patriation in 1982. Five prime ministers had failed before Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau took up the challenge in the early 1970s. Principal players in this documentary are federal Minister of Justice Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister Trudeau, 10 provincial premiers and a host of journalists, politicians, lawyers, and diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic. Maurice Bulbulian 1987|57 min A documentary about the Conferences on the Constitutional Rights of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada (1983-85), focusing on the concept of self-government. Maurice Bulbulian 1987|50 min The sequel to Dancing Around the Table, Part One, this film deals with the constitutional negotiations with Canada's Native peoples that took place between 1983 and 1985. It documents the fourth and final meeting between Canada's Native leaders and the first ministers.

Intercut between the speeches and debates of the conference are images and portraits of various Native people, highlighting the crucial importance this meeting has for their struggle for self-government. Clément Perron 1960|29 min This short documentary looks at Governor General Georges Vanier: his military service in two world wars, his diplomatic service between the wars and his investiture as Canada's 19th Governor General. John Kramer 1998|1 h 38 min This feature documentary is a portrait of Herbert Norman, the Canadian ambassador to Egypt who leapt to his death in 1957. During his remarkable career, Norman had been a trusted aide of General MacArthur in post-war Japan and later played a key role in the Suez crisis. But for years, a US Senate subcommittee probed his past while the FBI accumulated a huge file on him, refusing to accept an RCMP investigation that cleared him of being a communist spy. Interviews with key players and dramatizations help reconstruct Herbert Norman's life. David Paperny 2007|52 min This raw exposé examines William Sampson’s harrowing experience while imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for a crime he didn’t commit.

Sampson was working as a businessman when he was suddenly arrested and charged with a terrorist bombing and murder. He was tortured and held for 31 months. He is still fighting to hold the Saudi government accountable. He also asks, Where was the Canadian government? David Bairstow , Roger Blais , … 1951|51 min A documentary account of the five-week visit of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to Canada and the United States in the fall of 1951. Stops on the royal tour include Québec City, the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Trenton Air Force Base in Toronto, a performance of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Regina and visits to Calgary and Edmonton. The royal train crosses the Rockies and makes stops in several small towns. The royal couple boards HMCS Crusader in Vancouver and watches Native dances in Thunderbird Park, Victoria. They are then welcomed to the United States by President Truman. The remainder of the journey includes visits to Montreal, the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, a steel mill in Sydney, Nova Scotia and Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. For more background information about this film, please visit the NFB.ca blog .

Allen Stark 1953|48 min This documentary depicts the colour and pageantry of the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Canada's participation in this momentous event. The Royal Visit 1939|1 h 27 min This feature documentary offers a complete record of the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The film opens as the royal couple makes a stop in Québec city, where Premier Duplessis greets them. They then visit Montréal and meet mayor Camilien Houde. A visit to Ottawa brings them to Parliament, where Prime Minister MacKenzie King is present. The visit continues throughout Ontario, the prairies, and western Canada. The Royal couple also makes a brief stop in Washington and meets President Franklin Roosevelt. They then stop in on the Maritime provinces before boarding a Royal yacht for the journey back to England. Ian McLaren 1974|27 min This documentary short is a cinematic recording of Tales from a Prairie Drifter, a stage comedy about the Northwest Rebellion during the opening of the Canadian West. Highlighting the roles of Louis Riel, the rebel leader, prime minister Sir John A.

Macdonald and General Middleton, who was sent to quell the uprising, the play defines the Indian and Métis cause more succinctly than many history books. Here, the play is performed by the Regina Globe Theatre before an audience of Indians and Métis, whose reactions are recorded. Julian Biggs 1970|56 min This feature-length documentary paints a lively portrait of Father of Confederation and first premier of Newfoundland Joseph Roberts Smallwood, or "Joey," as he is known to most Canadians. Following one of Canada’s most colourful political figures during a two-and-a-half-month period that included a stormy Liberal leadership convention, the film reveals a man misunderstood even by his close associates. Robin Spry 1973|1 h 27 min This feature-length documentary looks at those desperate days of October 1970 when Montreal awaited the outcome of FLQ terrorist acts. Using news reports and clips from the time, the film reflects upon the October Crisis and reveals the relief, dismay and defiance people felt when the Canadian army stepped in.

Patricia Kearns 1998|1 h 1 min Maude Barlow is a crusading warrior for social justice and the leader of Canada's largest citizens' rights group, the Council of Canadians. This feature film portrays Barlow's progress from young Ottawa housewife, quietly reading Germaine Greer alone at home, to outspoken activist, locking horns with such formidable opponents as media magnate Conrad Black and Thomas D'Aquino of the Business Council on National Issues. On the front lines in the battle against the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), Barlow cautions against "the rise of corporate rule”, arguing that such agreements enhance the international mobility of corporations at the expense of Canadian social programs and jobs. Nicola Zavaglia 1997|48 min This documentary introduces us to Italian-Canadians whose lives were disrupted and uprooted by seclusion in internment camps during the Second World War. On June 10, 1940, Italy entered WWII. Overnight, the Canadian government came to see the country's 112,000 Italian-Canadians as a threat to its national security.

The RCMP rounded up thousands of people it considered fascist sympathizers. Seven hundred of them were held for up to three years in internment camps, most of them at Petawawa, Ontario. None were ever charged with a criminal offence. Remarkably, the former internees are not bitter as they look back on the way their own country treated them. John A Macdonald | Alexander Mackenzie | John Abbott | John Thompson | Mackenzie Bowell | Charles Tupper | Wilfred Laurier | Robert Borden | Arthur Meighen | William Lyon Mackenzie King | RB Bennett | Louis St Laurent | John Diefenbaker | Lester Pearson | Pierre Trudeau | Joe Clark | John Turner | Brian Mulroney | Kim Campbell | Jean Chretien | Paul Martin | Stephen Harper The first Prime Minister of Canada was truly a founding father. Instrumental in the politics of Upper and Lower Canada he helped bring the provinces of Upper and lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick together in 1867 to form Canada. He then brought British Columbia, PEI, and the great North West Territories into the Canadian Federation.

A Scottish highlander, and proud of it, he was a master of recognizing the human condition and dealing with it in whatever form was required. His wisdom in politics and his passion for Canada served to drive him and his ambitions for the country at an astounding pace. His main accomplishments as Prime Minister of Canada also include the building of the Trans-Canadian railroad, his deft handling of relations with the United States, rising to the challenge of the Northwest rebellion and his balancing of French and English interests in acceptable terms for most. His private life was full of tragedy and sorrow. He watched for more then a decade while his first wife, desperately ill, died slowly. His son died as a baby and his daughter was born with Hydrocephalus which caused a swelling of the brain and brain damage. He would return late at night from a session in the commons to hold and rock his little baby girl to sleep. It is little wonder, in his day and age, that he sometimes turned to the bottle for solace. The public however was quite tolerant of his indulgence and Macdonald himself often claimed that the public quite frankly preferred John A. drunk to his enemies sober.

During a campaign speech, after a particularly long evening he was unable to hold his own and threw up on the back of the platform. His opponent pointed and said "Is this the man you want running your country, a drunker." Macdonald pulled himself together and stood up for his rebuttal and quietly said " I get sick sometimes not because of drink or any other cause, except that I am forced to listen to the ranting of my honourable opponent." Macdonald’s family left Glasgow Scotland in 1820 and emigrated to Kingston Ontario. He grew up under stressful financial circumstances and by fifteen was out working and soon thereafter was articling at a law firm. He answered the call in 1837 when William Lyon Mackenzie lead the march on York and tried to upset the family compact. In 1840 when Upper and Lower Canada set up a joint legislative assembly, Macdonald opposed this union and also spoke out against expanding the union to the Maritimes. He joined the joint Canadian parliament in 1843 and supported the conservative forces in the house. Macdonald realized that the governing power in the joint Canada House would have to be a wide coalition of interests and beliefs.

Macdonald’s great opponent, George Brown led the Clear Grits, "all sand and no dirt, clear all the way through." He was an anti-papist and hence never gained much support from Lower Canada. Macdonald was very open to dealing and ruling with the Lower Canadian population, be they English or French. He developed a great ally in George Etienne Cartier who led the Lower Canadian section of their party supporters. By 1864 the forces, which would lead to the greater Canadian Confederation, were well under way. The American Civil War raged across the great landscape of the United States and the political philosophy of American federalism was becoming well established. It also presented the British Colonies in North America with a frightening specter of a huge standing army south of the boarder that could easily roll into Canada and the Maritimes and swallow them up with little trouble. There were many in the United States who felt that this should be done and that it was the ‘Manifest Destiny’ of the United States to take over all of North America. In 1864 Macdonald’s conservative government was defeated in the house and the Governor, Lord Monck, was ready to dissolve the assembly.

George Brown at that point rose to the occasion and offered Macdonald the opportunity to forma coalition government. The offer was accepted under the leadership of Sir Etienne Tache and the movement towards confederation had begun. The leaders of the movement, with John A Macdonald at the forefront sailed to Prince Edward Island in 1864 and meet with the maritime leaders who themselves were looking at their own union. With Champaign and banqueting as their allies, Macdonald and company managed to convince enough of those assembled at Charlottetown that a grander Canadian Union would be the answer. They agreed to reassemble at Quebec City and the Quebec resolutions were hammered out which would form the basis of the new Canadian Confederation or the British North America Act. Although Macdonald was a late convert to federalism he did become its main supporter. Macdonald’s influence is reflected throughout the documents and most of it is in fact written in his hand. He and his colleagues tried to learn from the American experience what not to do and come up with a better option.

In 1865 Macdonald, Brown and several other of the fathers of confederation set sail for England where they meet with the Queen, partied often and worked to get the required acts passed in Westminster. In the meantime an Irish group known as the Fenians invaded Canada from the United States on June 1st, 1866. They were determined to recruit the Canadians to their cause and create an anti-British nation in North America. These invaders were quickly forced back across the boarder but the result of their invasion was to so infuriate Canadians and inflame anti-American feelings that New Brunswick and Nova Scotia quickly approved of the move towards confederation and during the spring of 1866 the British Parliament passed the British North America Act and set July 1st, 1867 as the date when the new nation would come into being. Macdonald was chosen as the obvious man to become the first Prime Minister and was proclaimed Knight Commander of the Bath and hence became Sir John A. Macdonald. On July 1st, 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald and his wife led the ceremonies which official oversaw the birth of Canada in the sleepy lumber tow of Ottawa.

During the summer of 1867 Sir John A. Macdonald easily won the national election against his rival George Brown. In November of 1867 Macdonald at the age of 52 opened the first Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. Macdonald’s first year was spent overcoming the anti-federalism of Joseph Howe and winning them over to the idea that Canada was going to make it. He recruited Howe into his cabinet and secured the support of the Maritimes for the great Canadian experiment. William McDougall set in motion a process whereby Canada formally requested that Rupert’s land be awarded to Canada as a part of the new nation. The United States was anxious to purchase the land which had belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Company since 1670 and offered the British Government $10,000,000 for it. The Canadian Government eventually did buy it for £300,000 and Sir John A. Macdonald found himself and his country with an additional 1/3 of the North American continent added to Canada. Macdonald appointed William McDougal as the Lieutenant Governor of the huge territory and he set out for the Red River settlement to establish his authority.

The Métis in the settlement did not accept the transaction of their land by the British government to Canada and decided to set up their own government. This action was lead by the fiery Métis leader Louis Riel. This situation developed into one of the most challenging of Macdonald’s political career. He refused to deal with Riel and instead of recruiting him into the great Canadian experiment, Macdonald dealt with him as a rebel and thus the Red River Rebellion began. The interest of the United States in the area forced the Canadian Government to act and Macdonald sent Donald Smith west to offer inducements to the settlement and its leaders to join Canada on a friendly basis. Unfortunately events out ran the arrival of Smith and an Anglo Saxon settler named Thomas Scott tried to strangle Riel and was sentenced to death for his act. He was shot by a firing squad. The population of Ontario reacted immediately and about 12,000 volunteers headed west to capture the Métis rebels and serve them with frontier justice. Riel fled and the settlement was safely cooped into Canada and in 1870 the province of Manitoba was officially formed.

Macdonald offered Riel £1000 to stay away but he did return and in 1874 was elected to the Canadian Parliament. Macdonald considered him a clever fellow and Riel even managed an appearance in Ottawa at the House of Commons. Macdonald’s next step was to bring British Columbia into Confederation. BC had been inundated with American prospectors during the Barkerville gold rush in the 1850’s and quick action by Governor Douglas brought the colonies of Vancouver Island and the mainland together as the British Colony of British Columbia in 1866. BC was cut off from the rest of Canada by the mountains and a large number of its inhabitants were pushing for joining the United States. Macdonald, as shrew as he could be, offered the people of BC a link to the east by railroad as an inducement to joining Canada. The deal was done and the railway issue became the one overwhelming project of the remainder of his career. Macdonald’s personal problems once again began to overtake his political challenges. By this time it had become quite clear that their child Mary was retarded and she would never be able to lead a normal life.

Macdonald deeply in debt and not sure if he would be able to support his family began to drink heavily again. In 1870 Macdonald had to pull himself together to once again face the problem of living next to the United States. The British North America Act had granted Canada the right to control its internal affairs, but foreign affairs were still handled by the British Authorities. The United States decide to cancel the reciprocal across-the-boarder trade agreement, Canada responded by cancelling U.S. fishing rights in Canadian waters. That year saw four small Canadian vessels seize several hundred American fishing boats for trespassing in Canadian waters. This crisis lead to a conference in Washington where all of the issues left over from the Civil War were to be resolved. Sir John A. was included as a member of the British delegation and quickly become disliked by the American and British delegates because of his protection of Canadian interests. He won compensation from the British for the Fenian raids and conceded fishing rights to the Americans in Canadian waters for ten years. The pursuit of an investor's group which would be able to build a trans-Canadian railway led to the development of questionable relationships with a consortium which also contributed heavily to the Conservative party and Macdonald's Quebec lieutenant Cartier.

The resultant scandal forced Macdonald to call an election in 1874 which he lost to the Liberal party under Alexander Mackenzie. Luckily for Macdonald the Liberal term of office coincided with a difficult recession in Canada. By 1878, the country was again ready to give Macdonald a chance and the Conservatives were re-elected with a clear majority. Macdonald quickly took advantage of this second chance at power to once again ask for bids to build the railroad across the country. The Canadian pacific was awarded to right to build the railway in 1880 and were given 10 years to complete it. By November 1885 the last spike of the railway was driven at Cragellachie by Donald Smith. Macdonald won re-election 3 more times and developed a what has become know as the national policy which rested on the three themes of the transcontinental railway, immigration form Europe for Manitoba and the North West Territories which would buy supplies from Eastern Canada and the growth of the farms in the West which would sell their foodstuffs to Eastern Canada. By 1891 Macdonald conducted his last campaign and won a majority for the Conservatives.

The election had however, taken to much out of him and on June 6th, 1891 he passed away in Ottawa and the Father of Canada was universally mourned by Canada and the British Empire. Discover Canada Discover Canada The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Canada’s History Duration: 41 minutes, 09 seconds. Read by Richard Margison and The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson . Download this chapter: MP3 You can also download all of Discover Canada as a single file. The audio may take a moment to load. In order to maximize the functionality of this page, please turn on Javascript . Help playing and downloading audio files . Aboriginal Peoples When Europeans explored Canada they found all regions occupied by native peoples they called Indians, because the first explorers thought they had reached the East Indies. The native people lived off the land, some by hunting and gathering, others by raising crops. The Huron-Wendat of the Great Lakes region, like the Iroquois, were farmers and hunters. The Cree and Dene of the Northwest were hunter-gatherers. The Sioux were nomadic, following the bison (buffalo) herd. The Inuit lived off Arctic wildlife.

West Coast natives preserved fish by drying and smoking. Warfare was common among Aboriginal groups as they competed for land, resources and prestige. The arrival of European traders, missionaries, soldiers and colonists changed the native way of life forever. Large numbers of Aboriginals died of European diseases to which they lacked immunity. However, Aboriginals and Europeans formed strong economic, religious and military bonds in the first 200 years of coexistence which laid the foundations of Canada. The First Europeans The Vikings from Iceland who colonized Greenland 1,000 years ago also reached Labrador and the island of Newfoundland. The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site. European exploration began in earnest in 1497 with the expedition of John Cabot, who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast. Indian encampment, [ See larger version ] Struggle for a Continent In 1670, King Charles II of England granted the Hudson’s Bay Company exclusive trading rights over the watershed draining into Hudson Bay. For the next 100 years the Company competed with Montreal-based traders.

The skilled and courageous men who travelled by canoe were called voyageurs and coureurs des bois, and formed strong alliances with First Nations. English colonies along the Atlantic seaboard, dating from the early 1600s, eventually became richer and more populous than New France. In the 1700s France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. In 1759, the British defeated the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Québec City — marking the end of France’s empire in America. The commanders of both armies, Brigadier James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm, were killed leading their troops in battle. The Province of Quebec Following the war, Great Britain renamed the colony the “Province of Quebec.” The Frenchspeaking Catholic people, known as habitants or Canadiens, strove to preserve their way of life in the English-speaking, Protestant-ruled British Empire. A Tradition of Accommodation To better govern the French Roman Catholic majority, the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act of 1774. One of the constitutional foundations of Canada, the Quebec Act accommodated the principles of British institutions to the reality of the province.

It allowed religious freedom for Catholics and permitted them to hold public office, a practice not then allowed in Britain. The Quebec Act restored French civil law while maintaining British criminal law. United Empire Loyalists In 1776, the 13 British colonies to the south of Quebec declared independence and formed the United States. North America was again divided by war. More than 40,000 people loyal to the Crown, called “Loyalists,” fled the oppression of the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec. Joseph Brant led thousands of Loyalist Mohawk Indians into Canada. The Loyalists came from Dutch, German, British, Scandinavian, Aboriginal and other origins and from Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, Quaker, and Catholic religious backgrounds. About 3,000 black Loyalists, freedmen and slaves, came north seeking a better life. In turn, in 1792, some black Nova Scotians, who were given poor land, moved on to establish Freetown, Sierra Leone (West Africa), a new British colony for freed slaves. The Beginnings of Democracy Democratic institutions developed gradually and peacefully.

The first representative assembly was elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1758. Prince Edward Island followed in 1773, New Brunswick in 1785. The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada (later Ontario), which was mainly Loyalist, Protestant and English-speaking, and Lower Canada (later Quebec), heavily Catholic and French-speaking. The Act also granted to the Canadas, for the first time, legislative assemblies elected by the people. The name Canada also became official at this time and has been used ever since. The Atlantic colonies and the two Canadas were known collectively as British North America. The first elected Assembly of Lower Canada, in Québec City, debates whether to use both French and English, January 21, 1793 [ See larger version ] Rebellions of 1837–38 In the 1830s, reformers in Upper and Lower Canada believed that progress toward full democracy was too slow. Some believed Canada should adopt American republican values or even try to join the United States.

When armed rebellions occurred in 1837–38 in the area outside Montreal and in Toronto, the rebels did not have enough public support to succeed. They were defeated by British troops and Canadian volunteers. A number of rebels were hanged or exiled; some exiles later returned to Canada. Lord Durham, an English reformer sent to report on the rebellions, recommended that Upper and Lower Canada be merged and given responsible government. This meant that the ministers of the Crown must have the support of a majority of the elected representatives in order to govern. Controversially, Lord Durham also said that the quickest way for the Canadiens to achieve progress was to assimilate into English-speaking Protestant culture. This recommendation demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of French Canadians, who sought to uphold the distinct identity of French Canada. Some reformers, including Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché and Sir George-Étienne Cartier, later became Fathers of Confederation, as did a former member of the voluntary government militia in Upper Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald. Responsible Government In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada.

Reformers such as Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine and Robert Baldwin, in parallel with Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, worked with British governors toward responsible government. The first British North American colony to attain full responsible government was Nova Scotia in 1847–48. In 1848–49 the governor of United Canada, Lord Elgin, with encouragement from London, introduced responsible government. This is the system that we have today: if the government loses a confidence vote in the assembly it must resign. La Fontaine, a champion of democracy and French language rights, became the first leader of a responsible government in the Canadas. Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine, a champion of French language rights, became the first head of a responsible government (similar to a prime minister) in Canada in 1849 [ See larger version ] Confederation From 1864 to 1867, representatives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, with British support, worked together to establish a new country. These men are known as the Fathers of Confederation. They created two levels of government: federal and provincial.

The old Province of Canada was split into two new provinces: Ontario and Quebec, which, together with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada. Each province would elect its own legislature and have control of such areas as education and health. The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867. The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as “Dominion Day” to commemorate the day that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Today it is officially known as Canada Day. The Fathers of Confederation established the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867, the birth of the country that we know today [ See larger version ] Challenge in the West When Canada took over the vast northwest region from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1869, the 12,000 Métis of the Red River were not consulted. In response, Louis Riel led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. Canada’s future was in jeopardy. How could the Dominion reach from sea to sea if it could not control the interior?

Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870. Riel fled to the United States and Canada established a new province: Manitoba. Riel was elected to Parliament but never took his seat. Later, as Métis and Indian rights were again threatened by westward settlement, a second rebellion in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan led to Riel’s trial and execution for high treason, a decision that was strongly opposed in Quebec. Riel is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba. After the first Métis uprising, Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted Police ( NWMP ) in 1873 to pacify the West and assist in negotiations with the Indians. The NWMP founded Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other centres that today are cities and towns. Regina became its headquarters. Today, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP or “the Mounties”) are the national police force and one of Canada’s best-known symbols. Some of Canada’s most colourful heroes, such as Major General Sir Sam Steele, came from the ranks of the Mounties.

(From left to right) Fort Garry, 1863: the flag of the Hudson’s Bay Company flew over Western Canada for 200 years before Confederation Sir Sam Steele: A great frontier hero, Mounted Policeman, and soldier of the Queen Métis Resistance: Gabriel Dumont was the Métis’ greatest military leader [ See larger version ] At the time of Confederation, the vote was limited to property-owning adult white males. This was common in most democratic countries at the time. The effort by women to achieve the right to vote is known as the women’s suffrage movement. Its founder in Canada was Dr. Emily Stowe, the first Canadian woman to practise medicine in Canada. In 1916, Manitoba became the first province to grant voting rights to women. In 1917, thanks to the leadership of women such as Dr. Stowe and other suffragettes, the federal government of Sir Robert Borden gave women the right to vote in federal elections — first to nurses at the battle front, then to women who were related to men in active wartime service.

In 1918, most Canadian female citizens aged 21 and over were granted the right to vote in federal elections. In 1921 Agnes Macphail, a farmer and teacher, became the first woman MP . Due to the work of Thérèse Casgrain and others, Quebec granted women the vote in 1940. (From left to right) [ See larger version ] The D-Day Invasion, June 6, 1944 In order to defeat Nazism and Fascism, the Allies invaded Nazi-occupied Europe. Canadians took part in the liberation of Italy in 1943–44. In the epic invasion of Normandy in northern France on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, 15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach from the German Army, a great national achievement shown in this painting by Orville Fisher. Approximately one in ten Allied soldiers on D-Day was Canadian. The Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands in 1944–45 and helped force the German surrender of May 8, 1945, bringing to an end six years of war in Europe.

The Second World War The Second World War began in 1939 when Adolf Hitler, the National Socialist (Nazi) dictator of Germany, invaded Poland and conquered much of Europe. Canada joined with its democratic allies in the fight to defeat tyranny by force of arms. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders (Newfoundland was a separate British entity) served in the Second World War, out of a population of 11.5 million. This was a high proportion and of these, 44,000 were killed. The Canadians fought bravely and suffered losses in the unsuccessful defence of Hong Kong (1941) from attack by Imperial Japan, and in a failed raid on Nazi-controlled Dieppe on the coast of France (1942). The Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ) took part in the Battle of Britain and provided a high proportion of Commonwealth aircrew in bombers and fighter planes over Europe. Moreover, Canada contributed more to the Allied air effort than any other Commonwealth country, with over 130,000 Allied air crew trained in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

The Royal Canadian Navy ( RCN ) saw its finest hour in the Battle of the Atlantic, protecting convoys of merchant ships against German submarines. Canada’s Merchant Navy helped to feed, clothe and resupply Britain. At the end of the Second World War, Canada had the third-largest navy in the world. In the Pacific war, Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, attacked a lighthouse on Vancouver Island, launched fire balloons over B.C. and the Prairies, and grossly maltreated Canadian prisoners of war captured at Hong Kong. Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945—the end of four years of war in the Pacific. Regrettably, the state of war and public opinion in B.C. led to the forcible relocation of Canadians of Japanese origin by the federal government and the sale of their property without compensation. This occurred even though the military and the RCMP told Ottawa that they posed little danger to Canada. The Government of Canada apologized in 1988 for wartime wrongs and compensated the victims.

Question: In 1867 who became the first Prime Minister of Canada?
Answer: John A Macdonald