These are rug hookings, of a puffin and a fish. They evoke the entry of Newfoundland into Confederation, which happened after people there voted to join Canada in 1949, becoming the last province, known today as Newfoundland and Labrador. With the exception of the partitioning of the Northwest Territories into the Northwest Territories and Nunavut at the end of the century, it was the last major change in the country's shape.
Joey Smallwood led the effort to join the country as the province's premier, and he is thus seen as a Father of Confederation, decades after the others.
Tommy Douglas was a premier of Saskatchewan who founded what would become the New Democratic Party of Canada. He established universal health care in Saskatchewan before going into politics at the federal level, and the federal government followed up on transferring that concept to the country as a whole.
The post-war decades were a time of significant change in the country. Fashions of the era are seen here.
Canada had used the Red Ensign as an unofficial flag- a combination of the Union Jack and the Canadian coat of arms. But a movement rose up for a national flag, with Prime Minister Pearson advocating for change. Hundreds of designs were proposed. I'm biased, but the winning design was just right. I can't imagine a better flag.
This is the evening dress of Marjorie Gehl, the daughter of a Canadian diplomat working in the southern United States. She made it herself to mark the country's centennial in 1967.
This photo is from July 1st of that momentous year. What was called Dominion Day and is now called Canada Day, with Parliament Hill being the center of attention, including a visit from the Queen. This photograph is actually taken by the great landscape photographer Malak Karsh, who spent his professional career photographing the country he loved so much.
1967 was also the year of Expo 67 in Montreal. This model was the Indian Pavilion, which deliberately sought to provoke questions about how indigenous peoples had been treated in the country's history.
I like the dress.
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