Enjoy Canada’s ‘150’
With 2017 being Canada's 150th birthday this year is special and we will honour our country in many ways. We can celebrate this wonderful milestone by reflecting on our past beginnings. Our heritage is certainly like no other, and is full of explorations and adventures. In celebrating the last 150 years we need to look beyond 1867, Canada’s confederation year.
Perhaps the first mention of Europeans arriving to our shore is John Cabot, who, in May 1497, sailed from Bristol, England. In June that year Cabot landed in North America and claimed part of the East Coast for Henry VII. Where Cabot landed was believed to be Newfoundland, but oddly it did not join the rest of Canada until 1949. The Canadian Postal Service depicts Canada’s many historic moments through the design of their stamps. It was Sir Sandford Fleming who, in 1851, designed a three penny postage stamp for the first time, showing the famous beaver. The stamp was reissued in 1982. Since then, our postal service has become a vital part of our nation, and has shown us how necessary it is to maintain it, even though at times correspondence might have been a little late.
As Canadians we will remember those serving our country overseas, and how our friends at home were eagerly waiting for letters. Many of us remember when the mail used to be delivered and picked up more than once each day — except holidays and weekends.
The railways were perhaps the mainstay in our early days of growth. It was Sir John A. Macdonald in 1880 who gave approval for a rail line to be built. A new company was formed, Canadian Pacific Railway, with William Van Horne driving it westbound to Vancouver. The line was finally joined up in the Selkirks at Eagle Pass on Nov. 7, 1885.
The beaver is not only shown on many stamps as the CPR logo. It also appears on several divisions of Canadian Pacific. This company, working just like a beaver, has branched out into many areas, such as a first class passenger service with transcontinental trains, telecommunications, telegraphs, ships, hotels and road service — all part of a well run operation.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, under the authority of commissioner G. A. French, was Canada’s force that supervised 300,000 square miles of wilderness and laid the foundation for the growth of the Northwest Territories. Their commitment included the establishment and maintenance of law and order, the vigilant protection of the native Indians, and the supportive assistance to incoming settlers, many of whom were without experience in wilderness survival.
We should not overlook the years 1873 to 1973, and not forget how the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had already made its mark on the landscape as early as 1860.
It was that year when a settlement was located on the Red River outside Winnipeg. This consisted of mostly met/mixed race Aboriginals, but soon became known as Fort Garry — the main trading post in Manitoba.
This period was the start of forming the North West Mounted Police by John A. Macdonald in 1873.
In later years it was obvious that a total reorganizing policy was necessary. The NWMP and the RCMP somehow had to be amalgamated as a federal body working together across the country. Finally in 1921 new divisional districts were created in all provinces except Newfoundland. By 1939 the role of the RCMP in Canada was complete just in time to take on the impending approach of the Second World War.
We can be proud of our boys performing the work they have always done — and yes, he did catch his man!
Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & Stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com.