Division Within Canada

Over the past month, my reading wandered into the more recent years of Canadian history. It was weird to read about things that happened while I was alive, but too young to know or care. I had always assumed that Canada was a happy family where we all basically got along and liked each other. As I learned about the Trudeau and Mulroney years, I was struck by how much division there is.

To begin with, there is the vocal separatist movement in Quebec, and Alberta has grumbled about separating, too. The Rocky Mountains stand as a physical and psychological divide between British Columbia and the rest of the country. And the provinces of the east and west generally resent the arrogance that comes out of ‘central’ Canada. Where does regional division come from? It seems to me that one of the main causes is economic.

Sir John A. on the campaign trail

In the years following confederation, Sir John A. developed the “National Policy” – a broad economic strategy for the new country. It had three points: high tariffs, settlement of the west, and a transnational railway. The tariffs would protect industry in Ontario and Quebec, the west would become Canada’s breadbasket, and the railroad would carry goods back and forth. With strong east-west trade, Canada would protect itself against economic imperialism from the United States.

Sounds like a great plan, right? I agree, but then I live in Ontario. Sir John's policy led to a boom time in the Laurier years, but most of the profits came from Ontario were re-invested in Ontario. Critics complained that the National Policy restricted development in the West and stunted the Maritimes.

A political cartoon showing the National Policy and the alternative

In defense of Sir John, economic reality led naturally to developing an industrial heartland in Ontario and Quebec. These were the major centers of population. The prairies were only in the settlement stage. BC was too remote to support a diversified economy. And the Maritimes were struggling with the loss of shipbuilding and threats to the fisheries. Even though there are sound reasons behind it, the National Policy led to lasting resentment between the ‘have’ and ‘have-not’ provinces.

Economics is just one cause of regional division in Canada; language and geography are others. Seeing all of this has made me grateful that we have persevered for this long as a nation. For that, I think we have to thank sports among other things. Just think of the national pride that comes out in the Olympics. When Quebecker Alexandre Despatie represents Canada on the 10M platform, we all rally behind him. Albertan Sanya Richard-Ross brought Canadians to their feet with her gold in the 400m at the London Olympics. And do you remember the final matches of men’s and women’s hockey in the Vancouver Olympics? The Canadian teams did us proud and brought in a haul of gold. For all the tremors and divisions, we have great shared pride in our athletes, who are, perhaps, our greatest source of unity.

Bibliography
Garfield Newman. Canada: A Nation Unfolding. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2000.

Photos
Sir John A. Macdonald: ActiveHistory.ca
http://activehistory.ca/2011/04/canadian-political-leaders-the-campaign-trail-and-the-%E2%80%9Cordinary-joe%E2%80%9D/

Political Cartoon: Library and Archives Canada
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/sir-john-a-macdonald/023013-7040.3-e.html

Canadian Women's Hockey: The Peterborough Examiner
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2013/02/07/womens-hockey-team-finalizes-coaching-staff

School Days in Early Toronto

Last weekend was “Doors Open” in Toronto. It’s an annual event that invites residents to go out and explore some of our city’s most interesting buildings. My wife and I visited the site of Upper Canada’s first parliament building, which, alas, is mostly paved over by a car dealership. More uplifting was the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (1849), Toronto’s first free school.

The Schoolhouse, just east of Parliament St. and south of King St.

After our visit, I was curious to learn more about education in those days. Prior to 1841, education was low on the list of priorities for most of the common people. The immigrants to Upper Canada wanted two things: land, and a farm on that land. The practical skills of agriculture and domestic life were far more pressing than English grammar.

Some legislation had passed in 1816 which encouraged local communities to promote their own schooling. It basically said, “If you want a school, then just appoint trustees, build or find a building, hire a teacher, and establish whatever curriculum seems good to you.” By 1841, there was a smattering of local schools across the province, but without consistency. And those children who did attend were only there for a few short years.

Egerton Ryerson, with his eccentric hair well suited to his eccentric name

Enter Egerton Ryerson, Methodist minister and a new hero of mine. He and other reformers wanted a system with standardized content and equal access for everyone. He said “education should be as plentiful as water and as free as air.” Through the reform movement, the free market of education went under public administration in 1841.

Ryerson went on to become superintendent of education in the province, and served from 1844 to 1876. Under his careful management, the schools adopted standard textbooks, a system of graded subjects, uniform assessment, and a central administration. He also established Toronto’s first teacher training facility, which would later become Ryerson University.

The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse came to exist out of a shortcoming of the early system. Schools received funding from the government, but parents were required to pay fees as well. This was a problem for the working class. Enter Enoch Turner. He was a wealthy brewer in the distillery district of Toronto, and he was concerned for the poor Irish immigrants living in Corktown, the neighborhood adjacent to his brewery. So, he decided to donate all the money required to build and run a free school for the children of Corktown. The school opened its doors in 1849, and it held lessons for 80 to 90 students each day.

Inside the schoolhouse

The curriculum focused on “the three Rs,” which had nothing to do with conservation. They were “reading, writing, and arithmetic.” The discerning reader may note that only one of them actually begins with R, but the student who pointed that out probably got the strap.

The schoolhouse was slated for demolition in 1960 – to build a condo, no doubt – but a group of citizens banded together to raise funds for its protection. Hats off to them! The building is a standing history lesson about childhood in 19th century Toronto, and a lasting tribute to its generous founder.

Sources

Margaret Conrad and Alvin Finkel. History of the Canadian Peoples: Beginnings to 1867.

J.L. Finlay and D.N. Sprague. The Structure of Canadian History.

Photo References

Outside the schoolhouse: http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/Conservation/Museums/Enoch-Turner-Schoolhouse.aspx

Inside the schoolhouse: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mungobah/sets/72157624446647064/

Egerton Ryerson: http://hpcanpub.mcmaster.ca/case-study/birth-ryerson-press-imprint