Happy Canada Day! How We Became Canada!

A little bit of what happened to me and how it all started!!

Well, let’s start with how I got my name?

Between 1534 and 1542, Jacques Cartier made three voyages across the Atlantic, claiming the land for King Francis I of France. Cartier heard two guides speak the Iroquoian work Kanata, meaning “village.” By the 1550’s, the name of CANADA began appearing on maps. Then in 1867, 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.

Then there were a few wars, that were fought on my soil about me! One of the wars was over who was going to control the fur trade in Canada as the market for exporting beaver pelts to Europe was very lucrative business! Then later, there was the problem of which country was going to rule me? That was another issue entirely! I didn’t know who was going to be in control of me? Was it going to be the France? Was it going to be Spain? Was it going to be the Americans or Great Britain? Or was it going to be the First Nations? No matter who was the successor, the only thing I could do was watch! And, not through any fault of my own, my winters are so harsh up here in Canada that, a few poor souls succumb to the conditions of the elements!

Well, on to some good news…I’m proud to say a few important people have brought recognition to me (CANADA) for their contributions for great things! Like, during the war of 1812 when The Duke of Wellington sent some of his best soldiers to defend Canada in 1814. He then chose Bytown (Ottawa) as the endpoint of the Rideau Canal, part of the network of forts to prevent the U.S.A. from invading Canada again. Wellington, who defeated Napoleon in 1815, therefore played a direct role in founding the National Capital.

In 1813, Laura Secord, pioneer wife and mother of five children, made a dangerous, 19 miles, (30 KM), journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack. Her bravery contributed to victory at the Battle of Beavers Dam. She is recognized as a heroine to this day.

Believing it would be easy to conquer Canada, the United States launched an invasion in June of 1812. The Americans were mistaken! Canadian volunteers and First Nations, including Shawnee, led by Chief Tecumseh, supported the British Troops in Canada’s defense. They defeated the American invasion in 1812-1814.

Then there was the Rebellions of 1837-38…another episode of turmoil for me! In the 1800’s, reformers of Upper and Lower Canada believed that progress towards full democracy was moving too slowly. Some believed that Canada should adopt the Republicans values and even join the United States. When the armed rebellions broke out in the area just outside Montreal and in Toronto, the rebels didn’t have enough public support to succeed. They were defeated by the British Troops and Canadian Volunteers. Lord Durham, an English reformer sent to report on the rebellions, recommended that Upper and Lower Canada merge and be give “responsible government”. Some reformers, including Sir EtiennePaschal Tache` and Sir George Etienne-Cartier, later became Fathers of Confederation, as did a former member of the voluntary Militia in upper Canada, Sir John A, Macdonald. Then finally…some great news!! Everyone has been fighting over me…I was really afraid what was going to happen to me!!

So! From 1864 to 1867, representative of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, with British created two levels of government, Federal and Provincial.

The old Province of Canada was split into two 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 over such areas as health and education.

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.

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 practice 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.

Expansion of the Dominion

1867 — Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, 1870 — Manitoba, Northwest Territories (N.W.T.), 1871 — British Columbia, 1873 — Prince Edward Island, 1880 — Transfer of the Arctic Islands (to N.W.T.) 1898 — Yukon Territory, 1905 — Alberta, Saskatchewan, 1949 — Newfoundland and Labrador, 1999 — Nunavut

Look! I want every one of you to have the best time ever celebrating my birthday and I would like everyone to remember that you represent me and respect everyone. I am proud of what I am and who you are! You all should be proud of yourselves too and your ancestors and realize that everyone of your ancestors, and yourselves, had a part in how I came to be what I am today! And as we move forward as a nation remember, “my fate” will forever be in your hands! There is strength in number…so…together we stand for a stronger, the strongest Canada ever!!

Thank you for reading my story…for it’s Your story too!