Anniversaries are funny things. One particular event on a particular date, with the rest often left in soft focus. It’s understandable that a number of articles focused on the name change’s centenary. Simply put, it was the culmination of a divisive battle drawn along racial lines, which was fuelled by patriotism. You’re either with us […] Read more…
First, we take Ontario; then we take Canada About a week after Ontario’s Temperance Act took hold, the four provincial liquor vendors’ cash register chimes probably wouldn’t have drowned out even the smallest of music halls. One wholesaler only rang up $22 in the first week ($429—see note on conversion): he wouldn’t have out-tinkled a […] Read more…
Drying out Ontario In the days before the Ontario Temperance Act became law, newspaper articles warned about life after 16 September. Fewer drunks, more money A Liquor License Board report ballyhooed possible benefits for a (more) ascetic province. Temperance was already in force in the prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and so far they experienced […] Read more…
Boys And then there were 650 Military doctors declared another 23 of the 118th Battalion medically unfit. With these men gone, the Battalion’s numbers dropped to about 650, or roughly two-thirds of how many were needed to be kept an independent unit. Those who remained continued to perform their drills, learn trench warfare, and get […] Read more…
Berlin becomes Kitchener The city bell rang for 10 minutes when the post office’s clock struck midnight on 1 September 1916. This was the extent of the public celebration that marked Berlin’s passing and Kitchener’s arrival. “Greetings to the citizens of Kitchener” Union Jacks encircled The Daily Telegraph’s banner greeting on 1 September. Approximately half […] Read more…
Kitchener will come in quiet The city would inaugurate its new name in silence. The aldermen held a special meeting to discuss the momentous day. Alderman Cleghorn introduced a resolution that declared the city fathers were “of the opinion that no greater tribute could be paid by the residents of this city to the memory of the […] Read more…