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The Spanish Flu was devastating for Canada, starting when a woman traveled from Hong Kong to Ontario and eventually died there. This eventually led to the first civilian cases in the autumn of 1918. These first and second waves weren't too bad, But the 3rd wave of Winter in 1919 is where disaster struck. Since we were not as educated or prepared for global pandemics as we are today, We also needed more resources due to just ending the First World War with a peace treaty.
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This event was a devastating loss for both the World and the people of Canada, as around 0.36 to 2.2% of people died in this time and over 50 million people globally. This event did have upsides, as we became much more prepared for future pandemics. This also introduced the Department of Health in late 1919, which has greatly impacted the medical world positively. The Spanish Flu ended in April of 1920, lasting between 1-2 years.
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Factories still produced alcohol, but it was used as a source of income for Canada to sell to outside parties. But this caused another problem, as smugglers would bring alcohol both in and out of Canada. Since the crime rates did not change, Canada lifted the ban for provinces to choose from, and Quebec jumped at the opportunity. This made Quebec known as the sinkhole of North America as it became a trendy tourist spot mostly because of the alcohol laws.
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Prohibition is the ban of all alcohol-based products being consumed or produced with an alcohol content of over 2.5%, in the hopes of reducing alcohol-based crimes. While this seems like a good thing, moonshine was being constantly produced on the streets instead of factories. While it wasn't as strong, it made the rates of alcohol-based crimes as high as before.
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The end of WW1 brought home tens of thousands of soldiers only to be met with low employment rates and a struggling economy. But this only added fire to an already burning pile. People of Winnipeg started unions to fight against unfair wages, and being unable to support their families. -
In the first few decades of the 1900s, diabetes was a huge problem. British scientist Edward Albert Sharpey-Shafer hypothesized that their body couldn't use the sugars due to a lack of a certain chemical. Just over a decade later in 1921, he named his creation “Insulin”. In January of 1922, the first-ever dose was given to a 14-year-old boy, Leonard Thompson. With the succession of Insulin, it became truly a miracle of modern medicine today.
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On April 1st, 1924, The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was founded. Its main focus, in the beginning, was to solve civil disputes but was later repurposed to the military with the justification of use as long as the end result was peace.
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“During World War II, the RCAF was a major contributor to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was involved in operations in Great Britain, Europe, the North Atlantic, North Africa, southern Asia, and with home defense. 8,864 Americans came north to volunteer for the RCAF, and over 850 died in action.” (Royal Canadian Air Force.” n.d. Wikipedia. Accessed November 7, 2023.) In 1968, all branches of the Canadian Military and the RCAF were split up.
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The Great Depression, known for its negative impact, stands out as a significant event in history. Between 1920 and 1929, the United States experienced a large economic expansion, leading to this era being famously referred to as "the Roaring Twenties." During this time, the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street served as the main center of the stock market, attracting both wealthy individuals and minimum wage earners who invested most of their money, placing their trust in its stability.
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The stock market witnessed rapid growth, reaching its pinnacle in August 1929. However, this period of thriving economy didn't last long. The production of goods declined rapidly, resulting in large unemployment rates and inflated product prices. Wages remained low, and the agricultural sector faced challenges due to widespread droughts across the country. Additionally, banks were burdened with many unpaid loans.
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Consequently, the American economy experienced a mild recession during the summer of 1929. Consumer spending slowed down, leading to tons of unsold goods and a decrease in factory production. Eventually, the economy managed to stabilize, going back to a semi-normal state.
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In the 1920s, Black Tuesday was the day Canada's stock market crashed. Many people who invested in the stock market were affected negatively and lost everything. This dramatic event played a big role in Canada's economic downturn in the 1930s, known as the Great Depression.