Societal Change

Tommy Douglas was premier of Saskatchewan as a leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which would eventually become today's NDP in Canada. He would introduce universal healthcare in the province, ending up in federal politics as well, and the federal government followed his example in health care. One of his campaign signs and one of his hats can be seen here.

In addition, he was the father of actress and activist Shirley Douglas. Her son is the actor Kiefer Sutherland. I see a resemblance.

Society underwent momentous change in the years following World War Two, particularly with the baby boom, cultural change, and newly emerging technology.

This is the dress of Marjorie Gehl. Her father was a Canadian diplomat posted in the American south. During the centennial year, Marjorie made this evening dress and wore it to several functions.

Multiple Canadian institutions were created or strengthened after the war. This included Canadian born governor-generals, an act to firmly establish Canadian citizenship and passports, the Supreme Court becoming the final avenue of appeal in legal cases, and the creation of the Order of Canada.

As the Sixties began, the debate over a distinctly Canadian flag took shape.

There were over 1200 designs. Prime Minister Lester Pearson was part of the efforts in favour of a distinctly Canadian flag.

This is the sewing machine used to make some prototypes for the final decision. The Canadian flag we know today was the result.

1967 was the centennial year for Canada, with many events held across the country, but Expo 67 in Montreal was the biggest.

A Nation Going Through A Time Of Change

Continuing on with this tour at the Canadian Museum of History. Tommy Douglas was a political leader at the provincial and federal level, a premier of Saskatchewan from 1944-61. His policies there for universal healthcare would be a precursor for the concept at a federal level. 

The post war years would be times of momentous change in society. Fashion and culture were part of that.

A digital display allows one to call up a variety of music from the era, which plays and displays the lyrics of a given song. In this case, a great Canadian- Gordon Lightfoot.

The 1960s saw the flag debate in the country. Canadians had been largely using the Union Jack or the Red Ensign, but the government under Lester Pearson advocated for a distinctly Canadian flag. In the end, over 1200 designs were considered.

The idea of a single maple leaf on the flag would be chosen, and Pearson wanted to see some prototypes actually sewn and flown from his flagpole. This sewing machine is the one used to make the one we know today, courtesy of the daughter of a civil servant, as she did the work.

This elegant dress was made by the daughter of a Canadian diplomat for the centennial year. Marjorie Gehls' family was posted in the American south, and she made this dress to attend various functions with her parents that year. Now it calls the Museum home.

Forces Of Change For Canada

The Second World War was as momentous a time for Canada as the First World War had been. The country was involved from the start until the end.

Photographs of the time: at the First Quebec Conference, Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Winston Churchill stand behind President Franklin Roosevelt and the Earl of Athlone, the governor-general at the time. Below is a photograph of King on V-E Day.

This photograph of a man and woman, both in the service, on V-E Day, always catches my eye.

After the war, Newfoundland, which had been a separate dominion under the British empire, voted to join Canadian Confederation.

Its premier, Joey Smallwood, was the driving force for that. As such, he is considered the last Father of Confederation.

Another political force in the country was the politician Tommy Douglas, whose policies from the left wing had a strong influence, both in his province and at the national level. Universal health care is his legacy, and today he is one of the most admired leaders in the history of the country.

The decades following the war saw a great deal of change. Women's role in society, the growing influence of the youth making up the baby boom, economic booms, all of it had an effect on the country. Some fashions of the time are here. 

A display screen features a wealth of Canadian musicians of the time. Clicking on any albums displayed allows the visitor to bring up a specific song. In this case, The Weight, a classic from The Band.

I close off for today with this.

The New Canada

Picking up where I left off yesterday, this view looks down into the first of the three galleries. The unusual sculpture at centre is a family tree, with each line reflecting the descendants of a woman who came to New France as a Daughter of the King.

Victory in Europe, seen in the smiles of a man and woman active in the service. It would be followed by victory in Japan. The Second World War had a huge influence in the development and progress of the country, and the years that followed would see much more change.

In 1949, Newfoundland came into the country, having had been a separate dominion. Its premier, Joey Smallwood, has been deemed the last Father of Confederation.

A highly influential politician, widely admired in Canadian history, is Tommy Douglas. Leader of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (today the NDP), premier of Saskatchewan from 1944-1961, and federal party leader, he established publicly funded health care in his province which would be reflected by federal health care under Pearson. A campaign sign and one of his signature hats are displayed here alongside a photograph of the man.

One of the debates that rose up in the 1950s and into the 1960s was the concept of a new flag for the country. Should the nation stay with the familiar Red Ensign flag or choose something new in and of itself. There would be many different designs considered.