Things I learned growing up Canadian

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workinforwood said:
When I went to school, Canadian history was taught extensively, and no doubt all about the Canadian point of view. Any Country would do that of course. I think one of the more interesting pieces of History is about 2 ships that collide just out side Halifax Nova Scotia and the explosion was so intense it completely leveled most of the city. I think one of the ships was loaded with gun powder? Didn't have any effect on the Newfie population. In Canada, we make fun of the Newfie's..it's like our Kentucky! :biggrin: Newfie being from Newfoundland...of course we love them really.
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At that time (December 1917) Newfoundland was its own country and not part of Canada. Too far away to even hear the blast much less have it slow down their birthrate. :wink: Their soldiers dying heroically in Europe during WW1 did though. :frown: They became the 10th Province in 1949 and yis b'y we luvs'm.
 
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Displaced Canadian said:
A few years ago they made a movie about that. I think it the largest non nuclear explosion ever. One of the ships was a munitions ship.
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Looks like not only are you correct but I interpret this website to be saying that the strength rating system for a nuke is based on the Halifax explosion.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/atoz/HalExpl.html
Pretty incredible scary history lesson, reminds me of Pearl Harbor, different scenario but same lesson meaning spread your ships and people out more!
 
Maybe

Since Nuclear bombs are rated in equivalance to X tons of TNT it would make sense that this was the basis for that rating.

I think Canada might be the only country of any major signifance that has never had a war in it's own right - It has been involved several times including the French and Indian War (US Name), the American War for independence, the War of 1812, WW1 and WW2 as British Colony and has participated in some of the more recent conflicts but has never gone to war on it's own hook that I know of.
 
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Sept 10 1939, Canada a sovergn country declared war on Germany. Not as a colony. My relatives be rolling in their graves to hear they fought for Brittan! Dec 7 1945 the flags were raised in victory.

Today Canadas military is small but they have some ships more advanced than the US Navy. They are ready for modern tech warfare big time. With such a large country and small population its a smart move.
 
workinforwood said:
Sept 10 1939, Canada a sovergn country declared war on Germany. Not as a colony. My relatives be rolling in their graves to hear they fought for Brittan! Dec 7 1945 the flags were raised in victory.

Today Canadas military is small but they have some ships more advanced than the US Navy. They are ready for modern tech warfare big time. With such a large country and small population its a smart move.
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All ties and complete sovreignty for Canada came in 1982 with the passage of The Canada Act by the British parliment. The 1931 Statute of Westminster created near complete independence but not quite.

You are correct that Canada declared war on Germany themselves in 1939 but they were clearly following GB not entirely on their own and there was serious debate in Canada as to whether or not they automatically went to war when the UK did because the British had declared war in the name of the King who was also Canada's monarch.

The Canadian PM insisted that Canada had the right to declare war on their own which they did. They later declared war on Japan one day before the US did (as did Great Britain} this served as an affirmation of their independance..
 
I believe we went to war to save our families. Most Canadians at that time were immagrants at that time..even if born there you likely had immagrant relatives within a few generations. My family heritage goes to Enland and its a huge family of Powell's. We wanted freedom but that doesn't mean abandon family ties. I knew my grandfather. He hated war. Every one in his part of the country was for it and he volunteered too. A lot of Americans felt the same and went withough waiting for Pearl. Can't say I blame em
 
Smitty, you're completely wrong on that one. Canada fought under the Union Jack in WW1, but we declared war in our own right during WWII, and were not automatically at war when Great Britain declared war on Germany. We declared war independently, a few days after GB, and were not automatically at war.

The Statue of Westminster gave Canada complete sovereignty - we were a nation as of 1867, but a dominion of Great Britain until the Statute of Westminster gave Canada complete sovereignty in 1931...following that, Canada was a sovereign nation, but still part of the Commonwealth (as we still are).

Canada declared war on the Axis following a declaration of parliament - a few days after Great Britain declared war. Canada has been a country since 1867, and a sovereign nation since 1931.

1982 was the passage of the Canada Act, by which the Canadian constitution was patriated to Canadian control, and we no longer had to edit the constitution through the British parliamentary system. It was enacted in response to Trudeau's passage of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, removing the need to petition Britain for constitutional changes. Canada was a nation long before that, and the Canada Act just finalized the parliamentary reform process...else everyone over the age of 30 would not be considered Canadian, eh?

Without discussing politics, I'd like to mention that Canada's at war in Afghanistan as well, and thus 'has gone to war on its own hook'
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
Smitty, you're completely wrong on that one. Canada fought under the Union Jack in WW1, but we declared war in our own right during WWII, and were not automatically at war when Great Britain declared war on Germany. We declared war independently, a few days after GB, and were not automatically at war.


The Statue of Westminster gave Canada complete sovereignty - we were a nation as of 1867, but a dominion of Great Britain until the Statute of Westminster gave Canada complete sovereignty in 1931...following that, Canada was a sovereign nation, but still part of the Commonwealth (as we still are).

Canada declared war on the Axis following a declaration of parliament - a few days after Great Britain declared war. Canada has been a country since 1867, and a sovereign nation since 1931.

1982 was the passage of the Canada Act, by which the Canadian constitution was patriated to Canadian control, and we no longer had to edit the constitution through the British parliamentary system. It was enacted in response to Trudeau's passage of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, removing the need to petition Britain for constitutional changes. Canada was a nation long before that, and the Canada Act just finalized the parliamentary reform process...else everyone over the age of 30 would not be considered Canadian, eh?

Without discussing politics, I'd like to mention that Canada's at war in Afghanistan as well, and thus 'has gone to war on its own hook'
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I didn't say you were --- I said there was a debate in Canada as to whether or not you were---and there was. I think McKenzie was your PM at the time and he insisted that Canadan must declare war on it's own. I also said Canada clearly followed GB's lead in so doing -- and it did.

France and England had jointly assured Poland and warned Germany that if Germany attacked Poland they would retaliate. Germany attacked -- England and France gave them 2 or 3 days to call off the attack and go home, Germany refused so England and France declared war on Germany. Canada was not a party to the promises to Poland, the warning to Germany or the ultimatum given after Germany attacked Poland. After England declared war, Canada, India, New Zealand, Australia and one or two other former Dominion countries also declared war on Germany most within a couple of hours, Canada in a few days. I think only the Union of South Africa of the former dominion countries held out but that was due to their PM who was replaced within a short while and they joined in.

The Canadian Declaration of war on Japan on December 7 1941 - before eithe England or the USA declared war on Japan although Japan had not declared war on Canada ( they did declare war on the US and UK), Canada was not an injured party by any of Japans actions on that day ( Japan attacked British Malaya before Pearl Harbor) That is why I said it was done to more or less affirm their right to do so.

Also without going into the politics of it Canada may well have troops in Afganistan just as the US Does but neither country has declared war on Afganistan.

A nation that must clear its constitutional changes through the parliment of another nation can not be considered totally sovreign which is why I said 1982.

So while some of the points I made are perhaps a little debatable which I freely acknowledge it is a stretch to say I am completely wrong. .
 
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workinforwood said:
I believe we went to war to save our families. Most Canadians at that time were immagrants at that time..even if born there you likely had immagrant relatives within a few generations. My family heritage goes to Enland and its a huge family of Powell's. We wanted freedom but that doesn't mean abandon family ties. I knew my grandfather. He hated war. Every one in his part of the country was for it and he volunteered too. A lot of Americans felt the same and went withough waiting for Pearl. Can't say I blame em
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A large part of Canada's early settlers (after the French) were from the American Colonies with definate ties to England - though few of us care to admit it now, our War for Independence was far from universally popular in this country so during and after that war many British subjects who wanted to stay British moved from the US to Canada. In addition, more than a few Native Americans moved to Canada for safety if the managed to escape the Americans after them. A third wave of immigration from this country occured when a fairly large number of escaped slaves moved to Canada to escape slavery. In addition to all that, Canada did get a fair number of immigrants from Europe - not nearly the numbers that came here but substantial.

You are right that a fair number of US citizens joined the British - some via Canada - before the US was at war with Germany.
 
My grandmother on my Dad's side of the family traced her family tree back through the Mayflower. I believe that would make her family United empire loyalists. People who after the war of independence who were loyal to the British crown.
Another thing that makes Canada unique is nationality is very important. In my home province of Manitoba 22% are British and they are the majority. Next 19% are German combine the Germans with any other nationality and you will out number the British People say Canada is a melting pot, I think it is more of a tossed salad.
Our first Prime Minister Sir John A Mac Donald was in the house of Parliment and hung over from a night of drinking. The leader of the opposition was speaking and Sir John A threw up. The whole place went quiet and was looking at him and he said," I'm sorry but every time I hear him speak I get this sudden urge to vomit."
 
During the war of 1812 the Canadians were involved in some of the fighting. The Americans didn't like the way the Canadians fought. In a time when the height of stealth technology was to wear bright red and white in summer and stand at attention in ankle high grass the Canadians were wearing buckskins and shooting from behind trees because most of their fighting was done against or with the local indians. Most of the fighting was done by the British.
 
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Displaced Canadian said:
For those of you who are wondering Ben Johnson was a Canadian sprinter who set a world record in the 100 meter dash and tested positive for steroid use.
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9.81.

In University at that time. We were drinking for the century club during that race. I remember it well, surprisingly!

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner
 
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