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Prime Minister Borden (+2) Policical Category
Sir Robert Borden was PM during WWI and was responsible for the War Measures Act. Borden firmly believed the service record of the CEF at Ypres, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele and the final 100 days Campaign was evidence that Canada deserved to be recognized as an autonomous nation. Under Borden's leadership Canada gained representation at the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization. Borden's role was that of Political Progress. -
Francis Pegahmagabow (+2) Social Category
WWI was a period of progress for Francis Pegahmagabow and Indigenous people because their military service allowed them to contribute to the war effort for which they had preciously been discouraged. Francis was among the first of 4,000 Indigenous soldiers to enlist in war service. This was a time of progress because the Indigenous soldiers were recognized and valued for their efforts and their traditional contributions such as guiding, tracking and bravery and were accepted by non-Indigenous. -
Billy Bishop & the war in the air (+2) Political
Billy Bishop loved flying and proved to be a brave pilot over enemy lines with 72 kills attributed to his quick reflexes and aggression. Fighter pilots proved to be an essential tool in the war as they could give commanders the location of enemy lines and played a critical role in intellegance gathering. The airplane had seen major technological improvements during WWI and would forever change the nature of warfare. The progress is great as it facilitated innovation and technical advancement. -
The War Artists (+2) Political Category
The Canadian War Records Office sent photographers, painters and cinematographers into the war to record the actions of Canadian soldiers. From the summer of 1916 to the wars end Canadian photographers shot more than 6,500 images of destruction and heroism that Canadian soldiers faced. This was a period of progress because new technology was used which allowed movies to be sent back home. Canada's profound war art allowed people to understand and interpret Canada's engagement in the war. -
Halifax Explosion (-2) Social -Economic Category
Halifax was the hub of Canada's war effort and was devastated when the Norwegian Imo collided with the French Mont-Blanc munitions ship loaded with explosives bound for the battlefields. Resulting is the largest human made explosion prior to the atomic bomb in WWII. Killing 2,000 people and injuring 9,000. The explosion obliviated the north end of Halifax. The blast shattered windows in Truro, 100 km away. The social impact on families was immeasurable and the economic cost was $35 million. -
Jeremiah Jones and other Black soldiers (+1) Social Category
Protests erupted over the enlistment of Black volunteers during WWI. Before an all Black battalion was authorized in 1916 Jones was accepted into the 106th Battalion. During battle Jones threw a grenade at the Germans who surrendered to him. Jones made the Germans carry their machine gun across Canadian lines and drop it at the feet of his commander. this was a period of slight progress for Blacks, because they voluntarily enlisted but were only accepted by few other soldiers. -
Conscription Crisis (-2) Political Event
The Federal Government enacted conscription in WWI which caused a divide amongst English-speaking Canadians (who mostly supported the war) and French-speaking Canadians (who were not fond of Britain and France). Conscription was a period of decline in Canada's history because it took away the right to volunteer for enlistment. Conscription hurt the political party and left people with feelings of betrayal, in Quebec (riots broke out) and the West where it took men away from family farms. -
Women's Rights (+2) Political
Nellie McClung presents the Alberta Legislature with a petition demaning the right for women to vote, the right was granted 2 months later. The Wartime Elections act was passed in 1917 allowing some women to vote. There is a growing understanding that women't political support is crucial for federal policies. This is a period of growing political progress for women and by 1919 the first woman was elected to the House of Commons. -
Prohibition (-1) Political Category
In 1918 the Federal Government stopped the manufacture and importation of liquor into provinces where purchase for the duration of the war. Prohibition was viewed as one's patriotic duty. However moonshine and bootlegging rose quickly. Many people believed alcohol was to blame for domestic violence, poverty, crime and health issues. Prohibition was a period of decline due to loss in tax revenue and because it was a law that not everyone supported so it resulted in illegal bootlegging. -
Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 (+1) Economic Category
In 1919 more than 30,000 workers left their jobs during the Winnipeg General Strike which was known as the largest strike in Canadian history. Factories, shops, transit and city service workers walked off the job to protest wages, working conditions and not having collective bargaining rights. After the war jobs were scarce and due to inflation, housing and food were hard to afford. Although the workers did not win, the progress is that it united Canadian-born workers with immigrants.
