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Canada's National History Society recognizes generous donors through its 'in the company of Adventurers' program, which honors those contributing over $50,000. The document highlights various features and articles related to Canadian history, including profiles of notable figures and events. It also includes information about subscription services and the recent Governor General's History Awards, emphasizing the importance of historical education and awareness.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
59 views68 pagesCanada's History 02.03 2025
Canada's National History Society recognizes generous donors through its 'in the company of Adventurers' program, which honors those contributing over $50,000. The document highlights various features and articles related to Canadian history, including profiles of notable figures and events. It also includes information about subscription services and the recent Governor General's History Awards, emphasizing the importance of historical education and awareness.
Uploaded by
PancracioCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
/ 68
CANAD SE INSIDE HEADSTRONG HEIRESS
HISTORY
eT
PETERSON
By Vea LN)
4
SAE
Bey DIOR $.
aa) in the company of
ADVENTURERS
In recognition of your outstanding
support of Canada’s History
Canadais National History Society gratefully acknowledges the exceptional leadership of donors to our
in the company of Adventurers giving, program. Established in 2015 to recognize our most generous
donors, in the company of Adventurers brings enduring recognition to cherished supporters whose
‘cumulative giving has reached or exceeded $50,000 in pledges and contributions.
Your support ensures we can increase and enhance classroom resources for educators across the
country and continue our work promoting Canadian history to the wider public through our
recognition programs and publications.
‘We are grateful for the loyalty and generosity of all subscribers and donors who support our
mission to deliver history education in all its forms.
“Isupport Canadas National History Society because I care about our country and because I share
in the belief that the more we know about our diverse and complex history, the stronger and more
caring we are as a society.”
= Natasha Pashake, Board Chair ——— in the company of ADVENTURERS ————
Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation
Founding Patron and largest private donor to Canada's National History Society
$500,000 +
‘The Molson Foundation
$250,000 -
Colin J Adair Charitable Foundation
W John & Diana Bennett
Canada Life / Canada Vie
Dorothy Hollingsworth in memory of
her husband William Nobleman
Edward & Stella Kennedy
Bruce MacLellan & Karen Girling
‘The Northpine Foundation
—— $100,000 -
James W Burnst
Bill & Judy Caulfeild-Browne
The Jackman Foundation
Johnston Group Inc.
$50,000
E James Arnett
‘The Asper Foundation
James € Baillie
Douglas Barringron
Bell MTS
John Cleghorn and Family
James Cowan & Barbara Johnston
Honor Bonnycastle de Pencier &
Michael de Penciert
Charlotte Gray & George Anderson
Doug Harvey & Jan Shute/
‘Maxim Truck & Trailer
‘TD Bank Group
‘The Winnipeg Foundation
$499,999
Power Corporation of Canada /
Power Corporation du Canada
Richardson Foundation /
La Fondation Richardson
Jim & Leney Richardson
H Sanford & Deborah Riley
River Philip Foundation
The Wilson Foundation
$249,999
‘The Pollard Family Foundation /
La Fondation de la famille Pollard
David Ross & Audrey Loeb
$99,999,
Greg Latremoille
Joe Martin
‘The McLean Foundation
Natasha Pashak
Michael 8 Joy Phelps and Family
Richard W Pound
Michael & Barbara Rea
J Derek Riley
Diane Stampflert
Jean Vogant
Christopher Winn CONTENTS
FEATURES
20 Jazz Man
From humble beginnings to hall
cof fame, pianist Oscar
epitomized both greatness and grace.
bby Jason MacNeil
30 Saving Sweet
and Sour
To halt the destruction of Toronto's
Chinatown, restaurateurs discovered
that the way to a politician's heart is
through his stomach
by Koby Song-Nichols
40 Headstrong
Heiress
Victoria's Kathleen Dunsmuir chased
fame and spent a fortune.
by Moire Dann
46 Cheesy Money
Inthe depths ofthe Great Depression,
2 small town in Saskatchewan cashed
in on ts cheddar.
by Troy Zimmer
From The LIFE Picture Collection/
Shutterstock, this photograph of
‘Oscar Peterson was taken by Eliot
Elisofon for Life magazine during a
1954 performance.
4 peenuany march 2025 CCANADASHISTORYCA Vol 105:1
DEPARTMENTS
The Packet Picture perfect.
Ring of truth, On the border.
Currents Furry fortune
Newsmaker: Elsie MacGil Signpost
Sain-Louis-du+Ha! Hal The Maple Leaf
at sixy. The legacy of photojournalist
Rosemary Gilat Eaton, The dazzling
life of 1960s soul singer Jackie Shane.
Rosemary Sadler on Black History
Month. Made in Canada: paint ole.
PP eC
si a
Trading Post Avweighty
1950s-era cosh register was used at a
Northern store.
i)
Destinations An outdoor
pageant offers stories and songs of
Newfoundland and Labrador. At the
museums: Seeing B.C. First Nations.
Books Annus horribilis. Cold
shoulder. Isolated outpost. Outsized
role, More books: Wartime relics
Hudson Bay communities, Acadian
‘combatants, capital monuments.
Roots How to make friends
and find genealogy answers on
Internet forums.
ory Matters Celebrating
the winners ofthe 2024 Governor
General's History Awards in Winnipeg,
Album Asasiatchewan Kresge
stores staf poses atthe lunch counter
Home aid
‘look back at how the federal
government responded to Canada's
postwar housing crisis
; eared eT FeeRuaRy-maRci 2095 5 SUBSCRIBER
SERVICES
‘TELEPHONE
1-888-816-0997
EMAIL
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ONLINE
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Pease give us several weeks’
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don’t miss an issue.
PRIVACY POLICY.
Occasionally we provide our
subscriber itt carefully
screened external organizations
that have products or services
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do not wish o receive such
communications, please contact
[email protected].
‘Our complete privacy policy
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6 Fepmuaev-mancn 2025
CANADA'S,
HIStORY
President & CEO Melony Ward
Editorial Director France Programs Director Digital Media Diector
Jecquelne Kovacs Adminitaion Decor "Josnna Dawson Tanja ee
Patica Gerow
Senior Editor Progam Coouinater: Online Assistant
wate lime culation & Community Oaresch avon McKoy
Marketing Manager Jean Philippe rou
Astocite Editor Darla Charter Online Engagement
Phi Koch Program Cooidinator: Coordinator
‘Adiiniratve Asizant "Youth & Education Radya Arora
At Director Belle Lau Brooke Campbell
James Giespie Digital Media ntem
MajorGits Associate Program Coordinator Nicholas Hamilton
Graphic Designers ‘lane Bose ile Neoaeen
‘Andre Workman ‘Contbuting Eator
Mathew Schellocbarg ancy Payne
Se
AGP, Cans sor Society ands programs contnues today trough the
includes: Canad Histor magazine, Kayak: Canedb History Mogi for
‘Ki, Conadastistona, and the Govenie Genes History Ard
BOARD OF DIRECTORS NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
Natocin Pacha, Chae A.Chares aie By Moran
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Hugh chase sand@e-Marin Wado Bennet” Richard W Pound
James Coman ce Mt Richard Frost H. Sanford Rey
Michele Dorey Jenner Moore Ratray __Chalote Gray reg Wong,
Eduard Kennedy CCalaPeck Frederic UR Jackman Connie Wyat Anderson
‘Michele Leduc’ John L Thomson Jonathan Lainey
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SUBSCRETION SERVICES ADVERTSING INQUIRES Chartabieagiraton
Canad $3295(6ST ncided) ade Canadastitoyca #1460 aoe C00"
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Gist # 13868 1408 O00! © 2025 Canad Hor Soro gy nga,
Issn 19209804
Canad vividata [Ye sees
coy 805 IMAL A oll a tele (ae
Canada’s History Archive, including The Beaver and
Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids, is available for your browsing pleasure.
A Teo cent ne)
BEAUTIFUL WOVEN SILK TIES | MAPLE LEAF SOCKS | MAGAZINE SLIPCASES
ORDER TODAY AT OR PHONE HIStORY EDITOR'S NOTE
Senator Murray Sinclar outside his Parliament Hil office in Otawa in September 2016
A legacy of leadership
Cos National History Society,
publisher ofthis magazine, recently
hosted the Governor Generals History
‘Awards in Winnipeg. The awards rec-
‘ognize excellence in teaching, museums,
community programming, scholarly
research, and popular media and always
prove to be an inspirational event.
This year's ceremo-
nies were particularly pss
poignant, as they were}
held two weeks after che fy
passing of the Honour- x
able Murray Sinclair, he
former lawyer, judge,
senator, and chair of the
Truth and Reconciliation
Commission of C
A member of Pegus First,
Nation, Sinclair was tireless in deepen-
ing awareness of te painfl legacy ofthe
residential school system. He was also
commited to building a better country
—one that recognized and accepted the
cruths oft pas.
‘As the chaie ofthe Truth and Ree-
onciliation Commission of Canada,
Sinclair gathered crucial church and
government documents and listened 0
thousands of First Nations, Métis, and
Inuie witnesses who testified about the
systemic abuses within the residential
school system. The commission's work
has helped to shift many Canadians
understanding of our country’ history
8 FeBmuaey-mancn 2025,
and to forge a respect way forward
Canadas History Society had the
honour of recognizing Sinclair’ incred-
ible contributions to the work of ree
onciliation with the 2021 Governor
General's History Award for Popular
‘Media The Pierre Berton Award,
'Tm thankful that some of that work
hha been recognized for its
seeps) importance including the
“9 _ work ofthe Aboriginal Jus-
°F tice Inquiry and the Truth
and Reconciliation Com-
mision? Sina sid of
the award. "My ambition
My Canadians also know that
history and undervand
100 has shaped us all in being who we
are and beleving what we do
“Tireless in his work to shed light
on our histor, Size published bis
memoir — Who We Are: Four Questions
‘for a Life and a Nation — in Septem-
ber 2024, shortly before his passing
1s emblematic of his commitment to
continuing the conversation. As Sinclair
himself said: "We have described for you
‘a mountain, we have shown you the
path to the top. We cll upon you to do
the dimbing”
poke Kwa
B] Moira Dann wrote
"Headstrong Heiress”
Dann has worked asa
senior editor for CBC
News andthe Globe and
Main 20%6, she earned
‘an MFA.in creative nonfiction fom
Jniverst of King’s College in Halifax.
President of the board at Craigdarroch
Castle, she wrote Craigderrach Castle in
21 Treasures, which won an honourable
mention forthe 2021 B.C. Lieutenant
Governor's Medal for Historial Wrting,
Jason MacNeil isthe
author of Jazz Man”
Originally from Cape
Breton, Nova Scotia,
MacNeil spent wo
decades in Toronto free
lancing fr the Toronto Sun's music sec:
tion while also contributing to Hufing
ton Pos, ilboard, All Music Guide, and
Britain's New Musical Express, among
many othoroutlots. Ho has intonviowed
everyone from the late Gordon Light
foot and Dally Parton to Adele and
Rihanna. The dighard Philadelphia Flyers
fan currently resides in Cape Breton.
Koby Song-Nichols
isthe author of
“Saving Sweet and
Sour” He has writen
articles on food and
Asian Canadian hie
tory for Food, Culture
8 Society, Chinese America: Histoy &
Perspectives, and Canadian Food Studies!
La Revue canadienne des études sur
Flimentation. Hei currently rvshing a
PhD. inistory and food studies atthe
University of Toronto His esearch focuses
lon Chinese diasporic food histories and
how food connec us tothe pas.
Troy Zimmer wiote
"Cheasy Money” An
avid coin collector and 2
ary ofthe Regina
in Chub, immer
has writen numerous
articles for publications such asthe
(CN Jour, Timber Talk, Numismatics
(Canada, andthe Canadian Banking
Momorabila Society Bulletin. His 2018
article “Whiskers and Straight Whiskey"
won the Royal Canadian Numismatic
‘Assocation Jarome H Remick Literary
‘Award for best numismatic article in a
Canadian publication, Picture perfect
1 was visiting my son and two grandchildren and thought youd be amused by the
following incident. Alice, aged five and a half, who loves drawing and painting, asked
sme what she should draw. I happened to have the October-November 2024 issue
of Cada History magazine with the tipi on the cover, so I showed it to Alice and
suggested she draw tpis. The next time [looked a her, she had not only drawn a tpi
but also written “Canada’s History’ across the top of the page. Then she announced
that she was making a magazine and drew page after page co place behind the cover.
‘What surprised me was the fac chat I had never told her the name of the maga-
zine but had simply put ion the table. However, when her father and older brother
came to see what she was doing, Alice announced, “Tim making Canad History
smagazi
kindergarten
Ring of truth
1 enjoyed reading the informative article
“Home on the Pains’ (Ocrober-Novem-
ber 2024), by Todd Kristensen and
Emily Moff. The atcle provides many
insights ineo the practical engineering,
use, and spiritual significance of tips,
‘A possibly overlooked source of
information about tipi rings are the
observations of archaeologist Alice
Kehoe (Hunters of the Buried Years:
he Prehistory of the Prairie Provinces,
1962). Kehoe documents, with pho-
tographs, the fact that the stones in
tipi rings were used to hold down the
tent liner in Mary Ground! tipi on
the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in
Montana. The outer wall of the tent
‘was pegged down. I expect that, ifany
of the numerous tipis in the photo-
graphs used stones on the outside,
Kehoe would have recorded that.
Tam not an engineer, but I expect
that very large stones would have to
have been used to hold down the edge
of a tipi, or any tent, in severe wind.
Also, rainwater would pool around
and under the stones and tent edge,
increasing the likelihood of soaking
and damage to the hides in che tipi
wall. Possibly. prehistoric tipi walls
were also pegged down and the rings
of stones held down the liner as used
in modern tipis on Blackfoot reserves.
Tim Schowalter
Delia, Alberta
"Ic looks like Alice has decided on a career path even though she's only in
Elizabeth Masson
‘Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
On the border
‘Asa cartography buff, I enjoyed read-
ing “Drawing the Line” (October
November 2024) but was surprised
that the portion dealing with the see-
tion from Sault Ste. Marie to Lake
of the Woods failed to mention the
most illogical (to me) aspect of the
border. 'm referring, of course, o the
Northwest Angle, where the bound-
ary takesa curious bend through Lake
of the Woods, leaving a tiny section
of Minnesota isolated from the rest of,
the American mainland. This results,
presumably, in residents of that poi
tion of the United States having co go
through Canada to access their prop-
erties and, I presume, having to cross
the border just to buy groceries, visit
a doctor, go to schoo! ill up with gas,
and so on,
did read some time ago about
the origin of this mystery, but i just
didn’t make sense, I'd certainly wel-
come a follow-up article elaborat-
ing on the questionable rationale for
drawing this part ofthe boundary and
the effect it has on the residents
Bob Martindale
Ajax, Ontario
My specific interest in “Drawing the
Line” lies in the history of the bor-
der from Lake Superior to Lake of
the Woods. Although I enjoyed being
enlightened on the resolution of the
THE PACKET
‘Alice and her lovely drawing ofthe fall cover
eastern part of the border, | must say
that I was disappointed with the lack
of discussion regarding the puzzling
Minnesora intrusion into Canada on
the west side of Lake of the Woods
Why did the United States desire this
seemingly illogical water-locked ter-
rain, and why did Canada and Britain
agree? There is an intriguing puzzle
there.
Donald G. Cook
Victoria
Errata
Jn our October-November 2024 issue, in
the story “The right plays.” we referred
to Malcolm X as being the leader of the
Black Panther party when he was, in
fact, a leading figure in the Nation of
lam. Also in that issue, in the travel
story “Winter air and warm cabins,” we
identified William Duncan Hervidge as
Prime Minister RB. Bennetts son-in-law
when he was, infact, bis brother-in-law
In “From Head Ts to Hockey Heroes,”
in the December 2024-January 2025
isue, we identified a newspaper clipping
as coming from a January 1947 story in
the Watetloo Region Record, In fact,
the newspaper was calle the Kitchener
Daily Record until December 1947. We
regret the errors,
Email comments to edto@Canadestizoryea or
et Cano’ on Oe Haan Fr 313
Forage Avonve, Winspag, MB R3B 269 Canad.
Levers maybe eed feng ar se
FeeRUAR- MARCH 2025.9 AE
Furry fortune '
ser sorts the black fox pelts
0, circa 1890-9"
Jasper House from 1835
to 1850. After growing up at various HBC
younger Fra CURRENTS
NEWSMAKER
P ;
Soaring high
Elsie MacGill was the world's first
female aeronautical engineer.
“Now for my big good news? wrote Elsie MacGil
to her family. Ihave accepted the job of Chief
Engineer of Canadian Car & Foundry in Fort
Wiliam... make good, wll be ontop ofthe
world To be chel engineer at 33 yeas of oge is
rot baa Notbad ata Eizabeth Muriel Greg
ory Elsie" MacGill wrote that letter in 1938, ess
than ten years after becoming the fist woman
engineering in 1929. Her ole ot Can Car, 35
was known in Fort Wiliam (present-day Thander
Bay) Ontario, wasan excelent net sep ina quite
remarkable ie.
Born in Vancouver in 1905, MacGill grow up
ina family that dt care mich about trad
tional gender roles her mather, Helen Gregory
MacGil, broke new ground as a judge in Bish
Columba, Undeterred by a bout wth polio in
her twenties that required her to walk wth canes
thereafter, MacGill wasa trailblazer at Can Car as
the wore fst woman to lead the overall design
of on airplane: the two-seat, single-engine Maple
Leaf i Wth Macil athe heli, the factory
ramped up wartime production of more than
1,400 Hawker Hurricane fighter planes for the
Royal Air Force. MacGill even designed a version
with skis and deicing equipment, earing her
the ile “Queen ofthe Hurricanes" in a comie
book, The Huricane expanded Aled sir power
and was one ofthe main fighter planes flown
by Canadian and Allied plots inthe Battle of
Britain, the frst bate of the Second World War
fought most in the at
While some shiped atthe media hype — not
helped by Toronto Telegram headlines lke "New
Wear lane Designer isa Sn Gi with Curls
~ others applauded her After the war Mac
Gill founded her own engineering consulting
compary and, as prominent Conadian feminist
SS EE Eaa aE eee eeeriereeaneere served on the Royal Commission onthe Status of
Canadian Car Foundry she overaw the production of 400 Hamer. Women fiom 1967101970,
ean ightr planes Mesh danany 1942s of Tve Come whee
‘MacGill was nicknamed “Queen of the Hurricanes.” Above: The 1939 inau- for the women,” reflected wartime Can Car riveter
bualfightofte protypecthe Maple LeafIvatweseat sngleengine Louretta Breckon Jones inthe 1999 documentary
Srcratiwhose design wa ed by Macai Rosis ofthe North. She made a breakthvough
for usin engineering." ~ Bonnie
hiedel
12. peaxuany-wanci2025 CANADASHISTORYCA Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
‘Searching for the story behind the name of this municipality in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent
region, about 450 kilometres northeast of Quebec City,
port
1g matter. One theory has
itthat, when tired early explorers saw nearby Lake Témiscouata, they exclaimed, “Ah! Ah! Here
ene
eee
tially creating a dead end for explorers not wishing to canoe in that di
The official explanation is that "haha" is an archaic French word meaning a dead
end, unexpected obstacle, or cul-de-sac. The obstacle is Lake Tém
cert et ard
aoe
De eet Loe ee ee ae)
origins, the town's name is the only one in the world with two exclamation points.
The Maple Leaf at sixty
There is nothing quite lke the iconic Canadian flag: a
‘tio of red maple leaves bracketed by two blue stripes
wait, what?
That’ right. f Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson had had
his way sixty years ago, our flag would have looked quite
different than it does today.
Pearson's interestin the flag bagan in the 1950s when
he was secretary of state for external affairs. Inthe 1960s,
as Leader of the Opposition, he wanted to solve what he
called “the flag problem" — specifically, to create a flag
that was uniquely Canadian, rather than continuing to use
Britain's Union Jack,
After becoming prime minister in 1963, Pearson brought
the debate before the House of Commons. Liberal MP John
Matheson, then a backbencher, advocated strongly for the
Pearson Pennant, the aforementioned three leaves and
‘wo blue stripes, but John Diefenbaker and his Progressive
Conservative Party fought to include the Union Jack on
any new flag. After months of opposition filibustering, the:
decision was referred to a special flag committee, where the
Conservatives hoped the idea would wallow and fade.
(Over six weeks, the committee reviewed roughly five
thousand flag submissions. The final decision was among
the Pearson pennant; a concept that included a maple leaf,
@ Union Jack, and three fleurs-
