1.
Ontario Society of Artists
–
The Ontario Society of Artists was founded in 1872. It is Canadas oldest continuously operating art society, the establishment of a provincial art museum and art school were the two foremost objectives of the Society. The list of objectives drawn up by the executive also included the fostering of Original Art in the province. Prominent businessman William Holmes Howland was invited to be President of the Society and it was not until 1900 that the Society was in a position to form an art museum. It began under the name Art Museum of Toronto and is now the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum began using the Toronto Public Library on College Street to exhibit its collection. It did so from 1910 until 1920, the Societys annual exhibitions held during this period were also held at the library. The Society, in 1920, began holding its annual shows in the new Art Gallery of Toronto, the Society was concerned about the lack of art education in Ontario. The Mechanics Institute provided basic classes in technical subjects but art instruction was limited to private lessons in the homes or studios of established artists, the Society obtained a grant of $1,000.00 in 1876. The grant allowed renovation of leased premises at 14 King Street West to create art school classrooms with the used as gallery space. The modest classrooms opened the Ontario School of Art on October 30,1876, although the school continued to flourish, its financial situation was uncertain because the Society could not secure long-term funding from the government. In 1883, a new arrangement between the Society and the government resulted in the moving to Normal School Building in St. James Square. By 1884, relations between the Society and the government collapsed, the Societys vice president and Royal Canadian Academy president, Lucius Richard OBrien, resigned. His exasperation appears in his letter of resignation, I beg to resign my position as member of the Council of the Ontario School of Art, the Society ceased involvement with the school until 1890. The efforts of the Society ultimately succeeded, with the development of what is now OCAD University, the OSA, from its earliest times, organized public events to showcase Ontario artists and provide a forum for emerging artists. Members of the Society have a program for emerging artists. The first exhibition was held at Frasers Gallery, Toronto, in April 1873, the Society continues to hold annual and special events. Original membership included persons from a variety of visual art professions, many of Ontarios foremost artists have belonged to the OSA. Early member records and artifacts of the Society are held by the Province of Ontario Archives, the Societys current membership exceeds 200 artists
2.
Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons
–
Pierre Dugua de Mons was a French merchant, explorer and colonizer. A Calvinist, he was born in the Château de Mons, in Royan, Saintonge and he travelled to northeastern North America for the first time in 1599 with Pierre de Chauvin de Tonnetuit. Pierre Du Gua de Mons was born about 1558 in Saintonge, France to Guy and he fought for the cause of Henri IV during the religious wars in France. The king later awarded him a pension of 1,200 crowns. De Mons seems to have made several voyages to Canada including in 1600, in 1603, King Henry, granted Du Gua exclusive right to colonize lands in North America between 40°–60° North latitude. The King also gave Du Gua a monopoly in the fur trade for these territories and named him Lieutenant General for Acadia, in return, Du Gua promised to bring 60 new colonists each year. Entering Baie Française in June 1604, he and his settlers founded a colony on St. Croix Island, numerous settlers succumbed to the harsh winter climate and malnutrition disease as they exhausted the limited natural resources on the island. The colony moved to land on the south shore of Baie Française at Port-Royal in 1605. In 1606, Hendrick Lonck, the Dutch West India Company sea captain boarded two of Du Guas boats, and pillaged them for furs and munitions, the Port-Royal settlement survived and prospered somewhat until 1607 when other merchants protested the monopoly, which the King had to revoke. As a consequence, Du Gua and the settlers had to abandon the colony, Du Gua then turned his attention to the colony of Nouvelle-France in the St. Lawrence River valley, after ceding Port-Royal to Poutrincourt. He never came back to the New World but he sent Champlain to open a colony at Quebec in 1608, Henry IV appointed him as Governor of the Protestant city of Pons, Charente-Maritime from 1610 to 1617, when he retired. He died in 1628, in the castle of Ardenne in Fléac-sur-Seugne
3.
Annapolis Royal
–
Annapolis Royal, formerly known as Annapolis, is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Annapolis Royal was the French settlement of Port Royal until the Siege of Port Royal in 1710 by Britain, the town was the capital of Acadia and later Nova Scotia for almost 150 years, until the founding of the City of Halifax in 1749. It was attacked by the British six times before permanently changing hands after the Siege of Port Royal in 1710, over the next fifty years, the French and their allies made six unsuccessful military attempts to regain the capital. Including a raid during the American Revolution, Annapolis Royal faced a total of thirteen attacks, as the site of several pivotal events during the early years of the colonisation of Canada, the historic core of Annapolis Royal was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1994. Annapolis Royal is situated in a good but shallow harbor at the end of the fertile Annapolis Valley. The town is on bank of the Annapolis River facing the heavily tidal Annapolis Basin. The riverside forms the waterfront for this historic town, directly opposite Annapolis Royal on the northern bank of the river is the community of Granville Ferry. Allains Creek joins the Annapolis River at the town, defining the western side of the community, the Bay of Fundy is just over the North Mountain,10 kilometers north of the town. The Port-Royal site is approximately 10 km west of present-day Annapolis Royal at the mouth of the Annapolis River on the Annapolis Basin. The first settlement was abandoned after being destroyed by British-American attackers in 1613, Scottish settlers, under the auspices of Sir William Alexander, established their settlement, known as Charlesfort in 1629 at the mouth of the Annapolis River. The settlement was abandoned to the French under the terms of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a second French settlement replaced the Scottish Charlesfort at present-day Annapolis Royal. It was also called Port Royal and it developed into the capital of the French colony of Acadia, Acadia remained in French hands throughout most of the 17th century. In 1710, Port Royal was captured a final time from the French at the Siege of Port Royal during Queen Annes War, the British renamed the town Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne after Queen Anne, the reigning monarch. The Annapolis Basin, Annapolis River, Annapolis County, and the Annapolis Valley all take their name from the town, after success in the local Battle of Bloody Creek,600 Acadians and native warriors attempted to retake the Acadian capital. Under the leadership of Bernard-Anselme dAbbadie de Saint-Castin they descended on Annapolis Royal, the garrison had fewer than 200 men, but the attackers had no artillery and were thus unable to make an impression on the fort. They eventually dispersed, and Annapolis Royal remained in British hands for the remainder of the war, under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Acadia was formally granted to the British, however, the vague boundary definitions saw only the peninsular part of Nova Scotia granted to Britain. The next half-century would see great turbulence as Britain and France vied for dominance in Acadia, during Father Rales War, in July 1722 the Abenaki and Mikmaq attempted to create a blockade of Annapolis Royal, with the intent of starving the capital. The natives captured 18 fishing vessels and prisoners from present-day Yarmouth to Canso and they also seized prisoners and vessels from the Bay of Fundy
4.
Samuel de Champlain
–
Samuel de Champlain, The Father of New France, was a French navigator, cartographer, draftsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3,1608 and he is important to Canadian history because he made the first accurate map of the coast and he helped establish the settlements. Born into a family of mariners, Champlain, while still a man, began exploring North America in 1603 under the guidance of François Gravé Du Pont. Then, in 1608, he established the French settlement that is now Quebec City, Champlain was the first European to explore and describe the Great Lakes, and published maps of his journeys and accounts of what he learned from the natives and the French living among the Natives. He formed relationships with local Montagnais and Innu and later with others farther west, with Algonquin and with Huron Wendat, in 1620, Louis XIII of France ordered Champlain to cease exploration, return to Quebec, and devote himself to the administration of the country. In every way but formal title, Samuel de Champlain served as Governor of New France and he established trading companies that sent goods, primarily fur, to France, and oversaw the growth of New France in the St. Lawrence River valley until his death in 1635. The most notable of these is Lake Champlain, which straddles the border between northern New York and Vermont, extending slightly across the border into Canada. Champlain was born to Antoine Champlain and Marguerite Le Roy, in either Hiers-Brouage, or the city of La Rochelle. He was born on or before August 13,1574 according to a recent baptism record found by Jean-Marie Germe, although Léopold Delayant wrote as early as 1867 that Rainguets estimate was wrong, the books of Rainguet and Laverdière have had a significant influence. The 1567 date was carved on numerous monuments dedicated to Champlain and is regarded as accurate. In the first half of the 20th century, some authors disagreed, in 1978 Jean Liebel published groundbreaking research about these estimates of Champlains birth year and concluded, Samuel Champlain was born about 1580 in Brouage, France. Liebel asserts that some authors, including the Catholic priests Rainguet and Laverdière, Champlain claimed to be from Brouage in the title of his 1603 book, and to be Saintongeois in the title of his second book. The exact location of his birth is also not known with certainty. Born into a family of mariners, Samuel Champlain learned to navigate, draw, make nautical charts and his education did not include Ancient Greek or Latin, so he did not read or learn from any ancient literature. During this time he claimed to go on a secret voyage for the king. By 1597 he was a capitaine dune compagnie serving in a garrison near Quimper, in 1598, his uncle-in-law, a navigator whose ship Saint-Julien was chartered to transport Spanish troops to Cádiz pursuant to the Treaty of Vervins, gave Champlain the opportunity to accompany him. After a difficult passage, he spent some time in Cadiz before his uncle, whose ship was chartered to accompany a large Spanish fleet to the West Indies. His uncle, who gave command of the ship to Jeronimo de Valaebrera and this journey lasted two years, and gave Champlain the opportunity to see or hear about Spanish holdings from the Caribbean to Mexico City
5.
Nepean Point
–
Nepean Point is a hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament, the Canadian Museum of History, and other features of downtown Ottawa and Gatineau. It is located between the National Gallery of Canada and Alexandra Bridge, at the peak of the hill is a statue of French explorer Samuel de Champlain holding his famous astrolabe upside-down. It was made by sculptor Hamilton MacCarthy in 1915, the small amphitheatre on the point is known as Astrolabe Theatre, presumably a reference to Champlain. CTV. ca, Gerard Kennedy joins the Liberal leadership race – Gerard Kennedy announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada at Nepean Point
6.
National Gallery of Canada
–
The National Gallery of Canada, located in the capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canadas premier art galleries. The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The building was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, the Gallerys former director Jean Sutherland Boggs was chosen especially by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to oversee construction of the national gallery and museums. Marc Mayer was named the director, succeeding Pierre Théberge. In 1911, the Gallery moved to the Victoria Memorial Museum, in 1913, the first National Gallery Act was passed outlining the Gallerys mandate and resources. In 1962, the Gallery moved to the Lorne Building site, adjacent to the British High Commission, the building has since been demolished for a 17 storey office building that is to house the Federal Finance Department. The museum moved into its current building on Sussex Drive in 1988, in 1985, the newly created Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, formerly the Stills Photography Division of the National Film Board of Canada, was affiliated to the National Gallery. The CMCPs mandate, collection and staff moved to its new location in 1992, at 1 Rideau Canal, in 1998, the CMCPs administration was amalgamated to that of the National Gallerys. In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada chose the National Gallery as one of the top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium, although its focus is on Canadian art, it holds works by many noted American and European artists. It has a contemporary art collection with some of Andy Warhols most famous works. In 1990 the Gallery bought Barnett Newmans Voice of Fire for $1.8 million, since that time its value has appreciated sharply. In 2005, the Gallery acquired a painting by Italian Renaissance painter Francesco Salviati for $4.5 million and its most famous painting is likely The Death of General Wolfe by Anglo-American artist Benjamin West. In 2005, a sculpture of a giant spider, Louise Bourgeoiss Maman, was installed in the plaza in front of the Gallery. The Canadian collection, the most comprehensive in Canada, holds works by Louis-Philippe Hébert, Tom Thomson, the Gallery organizes its own exhibits which travel across Canada and beyond, and hosts shows from around the world, often co-sponsored with other national art galleries and museums. The Gallerys collection has been built up through purchase and donations, much of the collection was donated, notably the British paintings donated by former Governor General Vincent Massey and that of the Southam family. The museum features Canadian, Native and Inuit art, American and European painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, modern and contemporary art and photographs. After the convent was demolished in 1972, the chapel was dismantled, stored and reconstructed within the gallery as a work of art in 1988. Francis Bacon, Study for Portrait No.1 Hans Baldung, Eve, the Serpent and Death Pompeo Batoni, Vulcan at his forge
7.
Samuel Bingham
–
Samuel Sam Bingham was the Mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada between 1897 and 1898. He was born in Bytowns Lower Town to Irish Catholic parents in 1845, as a young man, he worked on the log drives on the Gatineau River. With the Gilmour and Edwards lumber companies, he formed the Gatineau Boom Company and he was an alderman on the Ottawa City Council from 1880 to 1893. Bingham believed that English speaking citizens of Ottawa should learn French, in 1905, he drowned in the Gatineau River near Wakefield, Quebec after he fell asleep while returning in a horse-drawn wagon from clearing a log jam on the river. There is a bust of Bingham by sculptor Hamilton MacCarthy in Notre-Dame Cemetery, in 1893, an attempt to rename the Cummings Bridge over the Rideau River after the former mayor was thwarted by residents of Sandy Hill. Ottawa - The Capital of Canada Shirley E. Woods, Jr. ISBN 0-385-14722-8
8.
Royal Academy of Arts
–
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. The Royal Academy of Arts was founded through an act of King George III on 10 December 1768 with a mission to promote the arts of design in Britain through education and exhibition. Supporters wanted to foster a national school of art and to encourage appreciation, fashionable taste in 18th-century Britain was based on continental and traditional art forms, providing contemporary British artists little opportunity to sell their works. From 1746 the Foundling Hospital, through the efforts of William Hogarth, the success of this venture led to the formation of the Society of Artists of Great Britain and the Free Society of Artists. Both these groups were primarily exhibiting societies, their success was marred by internal factions among the artists. The combined vision of education and exhibition to establish a school of art set the Royal Academy apart from the other exhibiting societies. It provided the foundation upon which the Royal Academy came to dominate the art scene of the 18th and 19th centuries, supplanting the earlier art societies. Sir William Chambers, a prominent architect, used his connections with George III to gain royal patronage and financial support of the Academy, the painter Joshua Reynolds was made its first president. Francis Milner Newton was elected the first secretary, a post he held for two decades until his resignation in 1788, the instrument of foundation, signed by George III on 10 December 1768, named 34 founder members and allowed for a total membership of 40. William Hoare and Johann Zoffany were added to this list later by the King and are known as nominated members, among the founder members were two women, a father and daughter, and two sets of brothers. The Royal Academy was initially housed in cramped quarters in Pall Mall, although in 1771 it was given temporary accommodation for its library and schools in Old Somerset House, then a royal palace. In 1780 it was installed in purpose-built apartments in the first completed wing of New Somerset House, located in the Strand and designed by Chambers, the Academy moved in 1837 to Trafalgar Square, where it occupied the east wing of the recently completed National Gallery. These premises soon proved too small to house both institutions, in 1868,100 years after the Academys foundation, it moved to Burlington House, Piccadilly, where it remains. Burlington House is owned by the British Government, and used rent-free by the Royal Academy, the first Royal Academy exhibition of contemporary art, open to all artists, opened on 25 April 1769 and ran until 27 May 1769. 136 works of art were shown and this exhibition, now known as the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, has been staged annually without interruption to the present day. In 1870 the Academy expanded its programme to include a temporary annual loan exhibition of Old Masters. The range and frequency of these exhibitions have grown enormously since that time. Britains first public lectures on art were staged by the Royal Academy, led by Reynolds, the first president, a program included lectures by Dr. William Hunter, John Flaxman, James Barry, Sir John Soane, and J. M. W. Turner
9.
Pyrrhus The First
–
Pyrrhus The First was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from April 1846 to 1849 he competed twelve times and won ten races, in the summer of 1846 he proved himself one of the best British colts of his generation, winning the Epsom Derby. After a disappointing year in 1847 he returned to form as a five-year-old and was undefeated in his last seven races and he was retired after winning his only race as a six-year-old and went on to stand as a stallion in England and France. Pyrrhus The First was a chestnut horse with a white blaze and white socks on his hind legs. He was bred at Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire by Colonel Bouverie, Pyrrhus The First was from one of the first crop of foals sired by Epirus, a winner of twelve races, out of Fortress, an unraced mare. According to one account, Pyrrhus The First was sent to the Doncaster sales where was bought for 300 guineas by the trainer John Day, in a deal also included his dam. Day immediately sold a share in the colt to his patron John Gully a former prize fighter who later became a Member of Parliament. William Day, the son, writing some years later. According to William, his father bought the foal and mare direct from Bouverie for 250 guineas, John Day trained the colt at his stable at Danebury in Hampshire. Early in 1846, Pyrrhus The First was offered for sale to a Mr Clifton for £500 and he was not seriously tested until April when he impressed Day in a trial gallop. He was then sent to the Newmarket Spring Meeting, where he won the Newmarket Stakes, Pyrrhus The First then produced another impressive training gallop to establish himself as a leading contender for the Derby. At Epsom on 27 May, Pyrrhus The First started second favourite for the Derby at odds of 8/1 in a field of twenty-seven runners, fancy Boy was made 5/1 favourite, while the 2000 Guineas winner, Sir Tatton Sykes started at 10/1. Ridden by his trainers uncle, the forty-four-year-old Sam Day, Pyrrhus The First was not among the early front-runners, later reports claim that Scott had missed the start because he was drunk and was in no condition to ride a finish, making Sir Tatton Sykes an unlucky loser. The race was the first Derby to be timed, with Pyrrhus The First covering the one. Pyrrhus The First was withdrawn from the Welcome Stakes at Ascot, Pyrrhus The First was beaten in his only race as a four-year-old, losing a match race at Newmarket in April against The Traverser, one of the colts he had beaten in the Derby. At Newmarket in October he failed to appear for a race against a three-year-old filly named Bridle. As a five-year-old, Pyrrhus The First ran in the ownership of a Mr Harrison and he was beaten on his debut, when he finished second to Inheritress in the Cheshire Stakes at Chester, but won his remaining six races. He won the Cup at the Bibury Club meeting and then beat the Duke of Richmonds Red Hart by a head in a one-mile Sweepstakes at Goodwood on 29 July
10.
Antwerp
–
Antwerp is a city in Belgium, the capital of Antwerp province in the region of Flanders. With a population of 510,610, it is the most populous city proper in Belgium and its metropolitan area houses around 1,200,000 people, which is second behind Brussels. Antwerp is on the River Scheldt, linked to the North Sea by the Westerschelde estuary, the Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe and within the top 20 globally. Antwerp has long been an important city in the Low Countries, the inhabitants of Antwerp are nicknamed Sinjoren, after the Spanish honorific señor or French seigneur, lord, referring to the Spanish noblemen who ruled the city in the 17th century. The city hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics, according to folklore, notably celebrated by a statue in front of the town hall, the city got its name from a legend about a giant called Antigoon who lived near the Scheldt river. He exacted a toll from passing boatmen, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands, eventually the giant was killed by a young hero named Silvius Brabo, who cut off the giants own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen, akin to Old English hand and wearpan, a longstanding theory is that the name originated in the Gallo-Roman period and comes from the Latin antverpia. Antverpia would come from Ante Verpia, indicating land that forms by deposition in the curve of a river. Note that the river Scheldt, before a period between 600 and 750, followed a different track. This must have coincided roughly with the current ringway south of the city, however, many historians think it unlikely that there was a large settlement which would be named Antverpia, but more something like an outpost with a river crossing. However, John Lothrop Motley argues, and so do a lot of Dutch etymologists and historians, aan t werp is also possible. This warp is a hill or a river deposit, high enough to remain dry at high tide. Another word for werp is pol hence polders, historical Antwerp allegedly had its origins in a Gallo-Roman vicus. Excavations carried out in the oldest section near the Scheldt, 1952–1961, produced pottery shards, the earliest mention of Antwerp dates from the 4th century. In the 4th century, Antwerp was first named, having been settled by the Germanic Franks, the name was reputed to have been derived from anda and werpum. The Merovingian Antwerp was evangelized by Saint Amand in the 7th century, at the end of the 10th century, the Scheldt became the boundary of the Holy Roman Empire. Antwerp became a margraviate in 980, by the German emperor Otto I, in the 11th century Godfrey of Bouillon was for some years known as the marquis of Antwerp. In the 12th century, Norbert of Xanten established a community of his Premonstratensian canons at St. Michaels Abbey at Caloes
11.
Verdun Memorial
–
The Verdun Memorial is a war memorial to commemorate the Battle of Verdun, fought in 1916 as part of the First World War. It is situated on the battlefield, close to the village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont in the département of Meuse in north-eastern France. It was built during the 1960s, financed by Maurice Genevoix and has open to the public since September 17,1967. It remembers both French and German combatants as well as the civilian populations lost during the Battle of Verdun, furthermore, it is a military museum which displays French and German armaments, military vehicles, uniforms and equipment of both French and German troops during the battle. Over time it has more of an educational museum than a commemorative monument in an effort to keep younger generations aware of their communal heritage. It also contains a movie theater projecting relevant period films on the battle, a facility, a library. The Douaumont ossuary is a memorial containing the remains of soldiers who died on the battlefield during the Battle of Verdun in World War I
12.
Anishinaabe
–
The Anishinaabeg speak Anishinaabemowin, or Anishinaabe languages that belong to the Algonquian language family. They traditionally have lived in the Northeast Woodlands and Subarctic, the word Anishinaabeg translates to people from whence lowered. Another definition refers to the humans, meaning those who are on the right road or path given to them by the Creator Gichi-Manidoo. The Ojibwe historian, linguist, and author Basil Johnston wrote that its literal translation is Beings Made Out of Nothing or Spontaneous Beings, Anishinaabe is often mistakenly considered a synonym of Ojibwe, however, it refers to a much larger group of tribes. The name Anishinaabe is shortened to Nishnaabe, mostly by Odawa people, the cognate Neshnabé comes from the Potawatomi, a people long allied with the Odawa and Ojibwe in the Council of Three Fires. Identified as Anishinaabe, but not part of the Council of Three Fires, are the Nipissing, Mississaugas, closely related to the Ojibwe and speaking a language mutually intelligible with Anishinaabemowin are the Oji-Cree. Their most common autonym is Anishinini and they call their language Anishininiimowin, Not all Anishinaabemowin-speakers call themselves Anishinaabeg. The Ojibwe people who moved to what are now the provinces of Canada call themselves Nakawē. Particular Anishinaabeg groups have different names from region to region, according to anishinabe tradition, and from records of wiigwaasabak, the people migrated from the eastern areas of North America, and from along the East Coast. In old stories, the homeland was called Turtle Island and this comes from the idea that the universe, the Earth, or the continent of North America are all sometimes understood as being the back of a great turtle, a mysterious natural consciousness. The Anishinaabe oral history considers the Anishinaabe peoples as descendents of the Abenaki people, another Anishinaabe oral history considers the Abenaki as descendents of the Lenape, thus refers to them as Grandfathers. However, Cree oral traditions consider the Anishinaabe as their descendants. A number of complementary origin concepts exist within the traditions of the Anishinaabe. According to the history, seven great miigis appeared to the Anishinaabe peoples in the Waabanakiing to teach the people about the midewiwin life-style. One great miigis was too powerful and would kill people in the Waabanakiing whenever they were in its presence. This being later returned to the depths of the ocean, leaving the six great miigis to teach the people, the Anishinaabe are one of the first nation in Canada. Each of the six miigis established separate doodem for the people, of these doodem, five clan systems appeared, Awaazisii, Baswenaazhi, Aanaawenh, Nooke, and Moozoonii. After founding the doodem, the six returned to the depths of the ocean as well
13.
Major's Hill Park
–
Majors Hill Park is a park in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. The park stands above the Rideau Canal at the point where it enters the Ottawa River. Across the canal to the west are the parliament buildings, to the north of the park is the National Gallery of Canada, and to the east are the United States embassy and the Byward Market. To the south is the Chateau Laurier hotel, built on land that was part of the park. The neighborhood surrounding the park was home to those who constructed the canal. In particular, the area that is now the park was the residence of the Superintending Engineer of the Rideau Canal. The hill was known at the time as Colonels Hill, by was replaced in 1832 by Captain Daniel Bolton who took up residence in Bys house. In 1838 Bolton was promoted to Major, by the time he left the Bytown in 1843, the hill had become known as Majors Hill. Commemorative plaques and a statue of Lieutenant-Colonel By, Major Bolton, the residence was destroyed by fire on October 5,1848, though ruins survive to today. The use of the area as a means that the park has remained a green space since the early days of Ottawa. It is now managed by the National Capital Commission, which has placed historical information in the northwest corner of the park, due to its central location, Majors Hill Park is frequented all year round. It is frequently used as a venue for events, and is central to Ottawas Canada Day celebrations, a more recent addition to the calendar is the annual B In The Park, which precedes the Glengarry Highland Games. Pipe bands and highland dancers from all over the world perform and it is presented by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band of Ottawa, Canadas oldest civilian pipe band. Bytown Museum page with Hill historical information
14.
Alexander Mackenzie (politician)
–
Alexander Mackenzie PC, was a building contractor and newspaper editor, and was the second Prime Minister of Canada, from November 7,1873 to October 8,1878. Mackenzie was born in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Mary Stewart and he was the third of ten children. At the age of 13, Mackenzies father died, and he was forced to end his formal education in order to support his family. At the age of 20 he apprenticed as a stonemason and immigrated to Canada in 1842 to seek a life as well as to follow his sweetheart. Shortly thereafter, he converted from Presbyterianism to Baptist beliefs, in 1853, he married Jane Sym. In Canada, Mackenzie continued his career as a stonemason, building structures that still stand today. He began working as a contractor, earning a reputation for being a hard working. Mackenzie involved himself in politics almost from the moment he arrived in Canada and he campaigned relentlessly for George Brown, owner of the Reformist paper The Globe in the 1851 election, helping him to win a seat in the assembly. In 1852 Mackenzie became editor of another reformist paper, the Lambton Shield, as editor, Mackenzie was perhaps a little too vocal, leading the paper to a suit of law for libel against the local conservative candidate. The paper lost the suit and was forced to fold due to financial hardship, Mackenzie was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a supporter of George Brown in 1861. Mackenzie formed a government and asked the Governor General to call an election for January 1874, the Liberals won, having garnered 53. 8% of the popular vote. The voter support of 53. 8% remains the record in Canada for all federal elections, Mackenzie remained prime minister until the 1878 election when Macdonalds Conservatives returned to power with a majority government. It was unusual for a man of Mackenzies humble origins to such a position in an age which generally offered such opportunity only to the privileged. Lord Dufferin, the current Governor General, expressed misgivings about a stonemason taking over government. But on meeting Mackenzie, Dufferin revised his opinions, However narrow and inexperienced Mackenzie may be, I imagine he is an upright, well-principled. Mackenzie also served as Minister of Public Works and oversaw the completion of the Parliament Buildings, proving Dufferins reflections on his character to be true, Mackenzie disliked intensely the patronage inherent in politics. Nevertheless, he found it an evil in order to maintain party unity. In keeping with his ideals, Mackenzie refused the offer of a knighthood three times, and was thus the only one of Canadas first eight Prime Ministers not to be knighted
15.
South African War Memorial (Halifax)
–
The South African War Memorial is a memorial located in the courtyard of Province House in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada On October 19,1901, the Prince of Wales laid the cornerstone for the monument. The Prince also gave medals to returning soldiers, two weeks later, on November 1, the heroes of Paardeberg returned and marched triumphantly down George Street. The statue was made by Hamilton MacCarthy, at the base of the statue are four panels. These panels were meant to honour the three Canadian Services that fought in the war, the infantry, mounted rifles and artillery. The Nova Scotia Princess Louise Fusiliers and the Nova Scotia Highlanders participated in the war, for two decades afterwards, Canadians would gather on February 27 around memorials to the South African War to say prayers and honour veterans. This continued until the end of the First World War, when Armistice Day began to observed on November 11, South African War Memorial Boer War Memorial Military history of Nova Scotia Canadian Anglo Boer War Museum South African War Memorial
16.
Province House (Nova Scotia)
–
The building is Canadas oldest house of government. Standing three storeys tall, the structure is considered one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in North America, Province House was built on the same location as the previous Governors House, erected by Edward Cornwallis in 1749. Province House was opened for the first time on February 11,1819, one of the smallest functioning legislatures in North America, Province House originally housed the executive, legislative and judicial functions of the colony, all in one building. The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia held its sessions in Province House, most notably, Joseph Howe, a journalist and later Premier of Nova Scotia, was put on trial on a charge of criminal libel on March 2,1835 at Province House. On January 20,1842, English author Charles Dickens attended the opening of the Nova Scotia Legislature and he said that it was like looking at Westminster through the wrong end of a telescope. During 1848, Province House was the site for the first form of government in the British Empire outside the United Kingdom. The building is located in downtown Halifax on a block bordered by Hollis, Granville, George, led by the efforts of Joseph Howe, the Anti-Confederation Party won a resounding majority in the first election held after Nova Scotia joined the Confederation of Canada on 1 July 1867. It is also a Provincially Registered Property under provincial heritage legislation, Province House is the home of the House of Assembly, Nova Scotias elected legislative assembly. The first event was marked by the creation of the Dingle Tower, the celebration was entitled Democracy 250. On October 2,1758, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly met for the first time in a modest wooden building at the corner of Argyle and it was an assembly of twenty-two men, who came together to deliberate as a parliament on questions affecting the colony. With voting limited to Protestant, free-land holding males, it was a modest beginning and it was the first elected assembly of its kind in what eventually became Canada. On 31 January 1837, Simon dEntremont and Frederick A. Robicheau became the first Acadians elected to the House of Assembly, almost forty-three years later, on 1 February 1961, Gladys Porter is the first woman elected to the Assembly. In 1993, Wayne Adams is elected the first Black member of the Assembly, the Nova Scotia legislature was the third in Canada to pass human rights legislation. The Legislative Library, located on the floor between the Red Chamber and Legislative Assembly, was originally the home of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. The Supreme Court chamber was the site of Joseph Howes 1835 trial for seditious libel, on 2 March 1835, newspaper editor Joseph Howe defended himself at trail in the present-day library for seditious libel by civic politicians in Nova Scotia. Many scholars consider Howes success in case a landmark event in the evolution of press freedom in Canada. The Red Chamber was formerly the place of the Nova Scotia Council and later the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council was appointed by the governor and was abolished in 1928, now the room is used for receptions and other meetings
17.
Battle of Witpoort
–
The Battle of Witpoort was a battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Major Frederick Henry Munn commanded the detachment of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Witpoort which was attacked on 16 July 1900, his orders being to hold his position at all costs. The Boers called on Major Munn to surrender, but, scornfully refusing, he held out from daybreak till 2 pm, when the Canadian forces mounted a counterattack, the battle became famous because of the death of Harold Lothrop Borden. Viljoen ordered a storming of the Britishs entrenchments. The battle opened at 06.45 with heavy shelling on Major Munns troops, renowned Boer fighter Roland Schikkerling and his comrades went to the north of the New Zealanders ridge and then charged under heavy rifle fire. The New Zealanders surrendered one of the three hills they occupied, the Boers were in possession of the hill which commanded the lower middle hill. Schikkerling captured a captain and twenty New Zealanders and some continued right over the ridge and captured a number of horses. Colonel Edwin Alderson sent two squadrons of the Canadians to assist the Irish on the kopje which had been vacated by the New Zealanders and, with the fire from the guns, lieutenants Borden and John Edgar Burch of B Squadron led a counter-attack. They were successful, but at the cost of their lives, Boer marksmen less than 200 yards distant shot them as they stood up to lead the rifles forward. At 14.00, British officer Edward Hutton moved all of his troops onto the desperately regained positions and, by sundown. His losses were seven killed, with 30 wounded, two officers and 22 soldiers had been taken prisoner. The Canadian losses were heavy and included Lt Borden, the son of the Canadian Minister of Defence and he is buried at the Braamfontein Cemetery, not far from the grave of Willem Morkel du Toit. There are very few battlefields of the Anglo-Boer War which present such well preserved traces as does Witpoort with its 51 small two and four man stone breastworks built by the New Zealanders. The long line of stone shelters makes it possible for one to stand there and visualise the mad charge made by renowned Boer fighter Roland Schikkerling and his fellow Johannesburgers. One can also crouch behind the rocky ridge thirty to forty meters below the sangars, on the south of the ridge Colonel Alderson led his Canadians in their counter-attack toward the captured position. Today, this area is a well tended farm and in the north and this battle site, with its clearly identifiable sangars, deserves to be declared a Heritage Site under auspices of the new National Heritage Commission. Miller, Carman, Painting the map red, Image of Monument to British Soldiers who died in Battle of Witpoort Image of John Burch
18.
Battle of Paardeberg
–
The Battle of Paardeberg or Perdeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. It was fought near Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modder River in the Orange Free State near Kimberley, Lord Methuen advanced up the railway line in November 1899 with the objective of relieving the besieged city of Kimberley. Battles were fought on this front at Graspan, Belmont, Modder River before the advance was halted for two months after the British defeat at the Battle of Magersfontein, in February 1900, Field Marshal Lord Roberts assumed personal command of a significantly reinforced British offensive. An earlier British attempt to relieve Kimberley, led by Lieutenant General Lord Methuen, had been opposed by Boers under Cronjé, over the next two months, the front south of Kimberley stagnated. A substantial Boer detachment under De la Rey was sent to Colesberg where, in contrast to the situation elsewhere, Cronjés remaining forces were weakened by lack of grazing for their horses. Many of the Boer fighters families joined Cronjés main encampment at Jacobsdal, the presence of large numbers of non-combatants with their slow-moving ox-drawn wagons would later prove a fatal handicap to Cronjé. Field Marshal Roberts had been appointed to command the British forces in South Africa in December 1899 and he intended to outflank the Boer left and pass his cavalry around them to relieve Kimberley, while his infantry secured vital fords behind them. Roberts had two divisions each of two infantry brigades, and a mounted division of three brigades under Major General John French. Another infantry division was formed during the campaign, by the evening of 12 February, his leading horsemen had secured fords across the first obstacle, the Riet River. The next day,13 February, the British mounted force made a march of 30 miles under a blazing sun to capture fords across the Modder. The effect of the heat was made worse when the dry grass of the veld caught fire from a carelessly discarded match, Frenchs division had to wait at the fords during the next day until the leading infantry reached them, after making an equally exhausting march. Luckily for the British, the move had taken the Boers by surprise, early on 15 February, Frenchs division began the final march to relieve Kimberley. Only scattered and disorganised Boers opposed them, and the mass of British horsemen broke through their thin line. Late that evening they reached Kimberley, where they were greeted with cheering crowds, French should by rights have gone to the military commander of the besieged garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Kekewich. Instead he called first on Cecil Rhodes, the former Prime Minister of Cape Colony and foremost Imperialist, the final days ride had crippled most of Frenchs division. Most of his British regular cavalry carried too much equipment and their horses were exhausted. His effective force was reduced to two regiments of New Zealand and Australian light horse, and two brigades of mounted infantry. French was to further tire his men on 16 February by futile attempts to intercept one of the Boers Creusot 40-pounder siege guns which was withdrawing to the north
19.
Siege of Mafeking
–
The Siege of Mafeking was a 217-day siege battle for the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Second Boer War from October 1899 to May 1900. The siege received considerable attention as Lord Edward Cecil, the son of the British Prime Minister, was besieged in the town, the siege turned the British commander, Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, into a national hero. The relief of Mafeking, while of little significance, was a morale boost for the struggling British. As well, the town had good stocks of food and other necessities, however, Mafeking was isolated, exposed and close to Boer controlled areas. Baden-Powell, whose orders were to command a highly mobile force of cavalry. Consequently, he chose to immobilize half his force to hold Mafeking against a Boer attack, however, contrary to Baden-Powells claims, his forces that remained outside the besieged town showed they were well trained as they performed remarkably well in their intended mobile role. The British garrison armed 300 African natives with rifles, were nicknamed the Black Watch and used to guard the perimeter. Prior to the siege, Lord Edward Cecil formed the Mafeking Cadet Corps of boys aged 12 to 15 who acted as messengers and orderlies and released men to fight. Work to build defences around the 6-mile perimeter of Mafeking started on 19 September 1899, president Kruger of the Boer South African Republic declared war on 12 October 1899. Under orders of General Cronje the Mafeking railway and telegraph lines were cut the day. Mafeking was first shelled on 16 October after the British commanders ignored Cronjes 9 oclock deadline to surrender, Colonel Baden-Powell had postage stamps printed with his own picture on them. In late 1899, he authorized the printing of siege banknotes, made by Townshend & Son, Printers using woodcut printing, notes were backed by the Standard Bank of South Africa and issued in denominations of 1,2,3, and 10 shillings, and 1 pound. Each note has the signatures of Robert Urry, Standard Bank of South Africa and Captain Herbert Greener. Redemption of the notes ended in 1908, although usually outnumbered by Boer troops, the garrison withstood the siege for 217 days, defying the predictions of the politicians on both sides. In reality, the Boers risked little to tie up Baden-Powells force and stores, while at one time the Boer troops numbered over 8,000 and more artillery was briefly brought up, most of these were merely moving through the siege camp. The Boers were able to control of the railway and roads just outside the town. Baden-Powell remained invested in the town despite repeated orders and, for most of the time until he ate his own horses, having the capacity to break out. As the siege drew on, it became apparent to the Boers that mounting public pressure in Britain would force attempted relief of Mafeking, tying up far more British forces, with few soldiers, no modern artillery and little risk, the Boers tied up enormous British forces
20.
Harold Lothrop Borden
–
Serving in the Royal Canadian Dragoons, he became the most famous Canadian casualty of the Second Boer War. He acquired a degree at Mount Allison University and was enrolled in medical school at McGill University when he enlisted in the war. Bordens military career began in 1893, when he entered the Kings Canadian Hussars, in 1897, as a member of Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee Contingent he received the Jubilee Medal. By 1899 he rose to major in command of this corps, Borden also fought with distinction at the Battle of Fabers Put. The battle was one of the most desperate actions faced by Canadians while campaigning in South Africa,27 killed,41 wounded, field Marshal Lord Roberts reported, Lieut. H. L. Borden, gallant conduct in swimming the Vet River under fire,5 May and it was successful, but Boer marksmen, standing less than 200 metres away, shot them as they stood up to lead the assault. Borden is commemorated with monuments and plaques. In his home town, Canning, Nova Scotia is a statue by Hamilton MacCarthy, in Halifax, Nova Scotia the base of the South African War Memorial has a panel commemorating the Battle of Witpoort. There is also a plaque to Borden at McGill University, Montreal in the Srathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building. Finally, there is also a plaque to Borden and others who died at Witpoort at Braamfontein Cemetery in South Africa where he is buried, Witpoort,16 July 1900, Traces of an Anglo-Boer War battle. The South African Military History Society - Military History Journal
21.
Canning, Nova Scotia
–
Canning is a village in northeastern Kings County, Nova Scotia located at the crossroads of Route 221 and Route 358. The area was settled by Acadians who were expelled in 1755 during the Acadian Expulsion. After the Acadians, Canning - first called Apple Tree Landing and later Habitant Corner - was settled in 1760 by New England Planters, the present name was adopted in honour of British prime minister George Canning. Though much diminished in importance in recent years, Canning was once a shipbuilding centre and shipping. Canning merchants and farmers founded the Cornwallis Valley Railway which ran from 1889 to 1961, connecting the village to the Dominion Atlantic Railway mainline in Kentville, the village suffered three major fires in its history. The Canadian parliamentarian Sir Frederick William Borden had a home in Canning, a cousin of Sir Robert Borden, Sir Frederick was Minister of Militia prior to the First World War. Canning has a prominent statue to the most famous Canadian casualty of the Second Boer War, Harold Lothrop Borden and he died in the Battle of Witpoort. Canning was also the home of the country singer Wilf Carter. He was made a citizen of Canning, Nova Scotia in 1978. Carter was born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, but spend a great deal of his working in and visiting the village. The village is home to Glooscap Elementary School, a school with a student population of over 200, and NKEC. A lighthouse that served the port fell into disuse and abandonment but was restored in the 1990s. During 2004 it was moved to its current location behind the small museum. Canning is also home to the Jimmy Rogers Memorial Hockey Tournament, an event organized to honour the beloved Canning citizen Jimmy Rogers. The tournament features many awards such as Drunkest Player Still Skating, scots Bay Provincial Park Blomidon Provincial Park The Look Off Pizza Twice & Sams Grocery Fresh cooked pizza and convenient service. Sams Liquor Store Grab some drinks, big Wigs Diner Delicious diner and café. The Gloosecap Arena Home to many hockey games, with public skate on Sundays. The Canning Legion Support the troops, media related to Canning, Nova Scotia at Wikimedia Commons Official Canning Village web site Herold Borden Story Harold Borden monument Fieldwood Heritage Society, Canning Canning Nova Scotia
22.
Halifax Public Gardens
–
The Halifax Public Gardens are Victorian era public gardens formally established in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation. The gardens are located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia on the Halifax Peninsula near the shopping district of Spring Garden Road. The gardens were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984, the Public Gardens encompass 16 acres and are bounded by Spring Garden Road, South Park Street, Summer Street and Sackville Street. They are open annually from approximately May 1 until November 1, the landscaping style is Victorian formal and provides a popular setting for wedding and prom photos. In addition to statues and extensive flower beds, there are three fountains, two bridges, three ponds, and a small concession building. The gardens also feature a bandstand that is used for public concerts on Sunday afternoons during the summer. There are celebrations in the every year on Canada day. In the past, many people enjoyed feeding the ducks who make the gardens their home, the Public Gardens were badly damaged by Hurricane Juan in 2003. Many trees were destroyed, necessitating the closure of the gardens. The gardens reopened on Canada Day,2004 after a restoration aided in part by $1 million which was raised during a radio telethon. The Halifax Public Gardens was established in 1874 by the amalgamation of two gardens, the Nova Scotia Horticultural Society Garden and an adjacent public park. In 1872, Richard Power was hired as the park’s superintendent and he introduced an axially symmetrical plan which governs the overall design of the site. The gardens were designated a National Historic Site in 1984, there are various plaques throughout the Gardens commemorating historic military figures and operations during the Victorian era and early twentieth century. There is a plaque for the Halifax Provisional Battalion which served in the North West Rebellion. The wrought-iron gates were erected as a tribute to the Halifax Provisional Battalion, in 1898 a plaque was created for Nova Scotian Clonard Keating of the Prince of Waless Leinster Regiment who died in Nigeria prior to the Second Boer War. There is also a statue of a soldier from the Canadian Mounted Rifles who fought in the Second Boer War by renowned sculptor Hamilton MacCarthy, a tree was also planted in memory of the first Canadian casualty of the Boer War, Charles Carroll Wood. There is also a bridge that commemorates Nova Scotian Francis Joseph Fitzgerald of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police who died in the Lost Patrol, there are two plaques to prominent members of the Temperance movement of the 1930s. One such plaque is for a dedicated to renowned suffragist Frances Willard by the local Womans Christian Temperance Union on the centennial of her birth
23.
John A. Macdonald
–
Sir John Alexander Macdonald GCB KCMG PC PC QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, he had a career which spanned almost half a century. He drank heavily, and in 1873 was voted out during the Pacific Scandal, economic growth was slow during his years in office, as Canada verged on stagnation, many residents migrated to the fast-growing United States. He fought to block efforts to take power back from Ottawa. His most controversial move was to approve the execution of Métis leader Louis Riel for treason in 1885, Macdonald was born in Scotland, when he was a boy his family immigrated to Kingston in the colony of Upper Canada. As a lawyer he was involved in several cases and quickly became prominent in Kingston. By 1857, had become premier under the unstable political system. Macdonald was the figure in the subsequent discussions and conferences, which resulted in the British North America Act. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of the new nation, and served 19 years, John Alexander Macdonald was born in Ramshorn parish in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 11,1815. His father was Hugh Macdonald, a merchant, who had married Johns mother, Helen Shaw. John Alexander Macdonald was the third of five children, after Hugh Macdonalds business ventures left him in debt, the family immigrated to Kingston, in Upper Canada, in 1820, where there were already a number of Macdonald relatives and connections. The Macdonalds initially lived with family, but then resided over a store which Hugh Macdonald ran. Soon after their arrival, Johns younger brother James died from a blow to the head by a servant who was supposed to look after the boys, after Hughs store failed, the family moved to Hay Bay, west of Kingston, where Hugh unsuccessfully ran another shop. His father, in 1829, was appointed a magistrate for the Midland District, John Macdonalds mother was a lifelong influence on her son, helping him in his difficult first marriage and remaining a force in his life until her 1862 death. When he was aged 10, his family scraped together the money to him to Midland District Grammar School in Kingston. Macdonalds formal schooling ended at 15, a common school-leaving age at a time when children from the most prosperous families were able to attend university. Nevertheless, Macdonald later regretted leaving school when he did, remarking to his secretary Joseph Pope that if he had attended university, Macdonalds parents decided he should become a lawyer after leaving school. As Donald Creighton wrote, law was a broad, well-trodden path to comfort, influence and it was also the obvious choice for a boy who seemed as attracted to study as he was uninterested in trade
24.
Queen's Park (Toronto)
–
Queens Park is an urban park in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1860 by Edward, Prince of Wales, it was named in honour of Queen Victoria. The park is the site of the Ontario Legislative Building, which houses the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the park is nearly an enclave of the University of Toronto, which occupies most of the surrounding lands. In 1854, the land was leased by the University of Toronto to the City of Toronto for a 999-year term, in 1880, a portion of the Queens Park selected the Government of Ontario, as a site for the erection of new Legislative and Departmental buildings. The land that is occupied by Legislative Assembly of Ontario is owned by the Government of Ontario, the north park is owned by the University of Toronto and leased to the city. Ministry buildings of the Ontario government occupy other properties to the east of the park, while not adjacent to the park, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Gardiner Museum are located nearby. The section of the north of Wellesley Street follows the traditional British design. Footpaths radiate outwards from a statue of Edward VII, which stands on a large mound at the centre of the northern section. The statue originally stood in Delhi, India, but was moved to Canada in 1969, the main north-south path runs between the statue and the war memorial of the 48th Highlanders at the parks northern tip. The site is oval, however the southwestern edge of Queens Park kinks in somewhat. In the past, this was the bank of Taddle Creek, with the creek long-buried, the kink remains. The oval park is bounded by Queens Park Crescent East and West and these form part of a major through route consist of University Avenue, Queens Park Crescent East and West, Queens Park, and Avenue Road. Queens Park Crescent East and West carry northbound and southbound traffic respectively and are linked to make a complete loop around the park. University Avenue, Queens Park, and Avenue Road have two-way traffic, Wellesley Street bisects Queens Park Crescent slightly north of the loops centre. Line 1 Yonge-University of the Toronto subway runs below University Avenue, Queens Park, other public transit access is provided by the 5 Avenue Road and 94 Wellesley bus routes, and the 506 Carlton streetcar route. The north section of Queens Park is the station for the Province of Ontario. Gun salutes are conducted here to mark special occasions including Victoria Day, Canada Day, other salutes are also conducted here throughout the year as dictated by protocol. The southern section of the park is the site of the Ontario Legislature, the grounds contain several monuments commemorating notable historical figures and events
25.
James Pliny Whitney
–
Sir James Pliny Whitney, KCMG was a Canadian politician in the province of Ontario. Whitney was a lawyer in eastern Ontario, Conservative member for Dundas from 1888 to 1914, and he was called to the bar in 1875, and practiced law in Morrisburg. Whitney was elected to the Ontario legislature in 1888 and he became leader of the Conservative Party in 1896 taking it from a narrow, bigoted rump into a forward-looking party determined to build the province. In the 1905 election, he led the Tories to victory for the first time in 33 years by defeating the Liberal government of George William Ross. Whitneys government laid the basis for Ontarios industrial development by creating the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, with Sir Adam Beck as its chairman and his government also passed significant temperance and workmens compensation legislation. He also supported the anti-Catholic, anti-French-Canadian sentiments of supporters of the Orange Order in his caucus by passing Regulation 17 and this regulation banned the teaching of French in schools beyond the first three years of school. The measure inflamed French-Canadian opinion across Canada, particularly in Quebec, Whitney died in office shortly after winning the 1914 election. Ontario Legislative Assembly Parliamentarian History Humphries, Charles W. Whitney, Ontario Plaques - Sir James Pliny Whitney Sir James Whitney fonds, Archives of Ontario
26.
Egerton Ryerson
–
Adolphus Egerton Ryerson was a Methodist minister, educator, politician, and public education advocate in early Ontario, Canada. He was the opponent of the closed oligarchy that ran the province. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at 17, and was forced to leave the home by his Anglican father, after leaving home, Ryerson worked as an usher in a London grammar school, before his father sent for him to return home. He returned home and farmed for a period of time before leaving again. In Hamilton, he studied Latin and Greek with such fervor that he became ill with a fever that almost claimed his life and this enabled him to become a Methodist missionary or circuit rider. His first post was the York region surrounding Yonge Street, the circuit took four weeks to complete on foot or horseback, as it encompassed areas with roads in extremely poor condition. However, the experience gave Ryerson a first hand look at the life of the early pioneer. In 1826, sermons from John Strachan, Anglican Archdeacon of York, Upper Canada, were published asserting that the Anglican Church was, by law, Methodists were singled out as American and therefore disloyal. Money was requested of the crown to allow the Anglican church to maintain ties to Great Britain, as Ryerson was the son of a Loyalist, this was an abomination. Ryerson used the paper to argue for the rights of Methodists in the province and, later, Ryerson was castigated by the reformist press at that time for apparently abandoning the cause of reform and becoming, at least as far as they were concerned, a Tory. Ryerson resigned the editorship in 1835 only to assume it again at his brother Johns urging from 1838 to 1840. In 1840 Ryerson allowed his name to stand for one last time but was soundly defeated by a vote of 50 to 1 in favour of his co-religionist Jonathan Scott. Education among the people is the best security of a government and constitutional liberty, it yields a steady, unbending support to the former. The first object of a government should be the education of the people. Partial knowledge is better than total ignorance. If total ignorance be a bad and dangerous thing, every degree of knowledge lessens both the evil and the danger and this quote is a fore-telling of Ryersons contribution to education in Upper Canada. Ryerson helped found the Upper Canada Academy in Cobourg in the 1830s, when it was incorporated in 1841 under the name Victoria College Ryerson assumed the presidency. Victoria continues to exist as part of the University of Toronto, Ryerson also fought for many secularization reforms, to keep power and influence away from any one church, particularly the Church of England in Upper Canada which had pretentions to establishment. Such secularization also led to the widening of the system into public hands
27.
Ryerson University
–
Ryerson University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus surrounds the Yonge-Dundas Square, located at the busiest intersection in downtown Toronto, the university has a focus on applied, career-oriented education. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the Yonge-Dundas Square in Torontos Garden District, the universitys most recent expansion, the Mattamy Athletic Centre, is in the historical Maple Leaf Gardens arena, formerly home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The university is composed of 36, 000+ undergraduate students,2, 000+ graduate students, Ryerson is ranked 4th in Ontario and 10th in Canada by student enrollment. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, in 1852 at the core of the present main campus, the historic St. James Square, Egerton Ryerson founded Ontarios first teacher training facility, the Toronto Normal School. It also housed the Department of Education and the Museum of Natural History and Fine Arts, an agricultural laboratory on the site led to the founding of the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Guelph. St. James Square went through various other uses before housing a namesake of its original founder. Egerton Ryerson was an educator, politician, and Methodist minister. He is known as the father of Ontarios public school system, howard Hillen Kerr was given control of nine Ontario Training and Re-establishment centres to accomplish this. His vision of what these institutions would do was broader than what others were suggesting, in 1943, he visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was convinced Canada could develop its own MIT over one hundred years. Along the way, such an institution could respond to the societys needs, when the Province approved the idea of technical institutes in 1946, it proposed to found several. It turned out all but one would be special purpose schools, only the Toronto retraining centre, which became the Ryerson Institute of Technology in 1948, would become a multi-program campus, Kerr’s future MIT of Canada. This vision is reflected in Ryersons Motto and its mission statement, the Toronto Training and Re-establishment Institute was created in 1945 on the former site of the Toronto Normal School at St James Square, bounded by Gerrard, Church, Yonge and Gould. The Gothic-Romanesque building was designed by architects Thomas Ridout and Frederick William Cumberland in 1852, the site had been used as a Royal Canadian Air Force training facility during World War II. The institute was a joint venture of the federal and provincial government to train ex-servicemen and women for re-entry into civilian life, the Ryerson Institute of Technology was founded in 1948, inheriting the staff and facilities of the Toronto Training and Re-establishment Institute. In 1966, it became the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and that year, it also became a member of the Council of Ontario Universities. In 1992, Ryerson became Toronto’s second school of engineering to receive accreditation from the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, the following year, Ryerson formally became a University, via an Act of the Ontario Legislature. In 1993, Ryerson received approval to grant graduate degrees
28.
Tecumseh
–
Tecumseh /tᵻˈkʌmsə, tᵻˈkʌmsi/tə-KUM-sə, tə-KUM-see was a leader of the Shawnee Native Americans. He led a large tribal confederacy against the United States during Tecumsehs War, Tecumseh grew up in the Ohio Country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare. With Americans continuing to move west after the British ceded the Ohio Valley to the new United States in 1783, in 1808, they settled Prophetstown in present-day Indiana. During the War of 1812, Tecumsehs confederacy allied with the British, prior to the raid, Chief Tecumseh delivered a powerful speech upon a rock that is preserved to this day at Fort Malden. After the U. S. Navy took control of Lake Erie in 1813, American forces caught them at the Battle of the Thames, and killed Tecumseh in October 1813. With his death, his confederation disintegrated, and the Native Americans had to move west again, yet Tecumseh became a folk hero in American, Aboriginal. Tecumsehs father was named Puckshinwa, a minor Shawnee war chief of the Kispoko band, according to some sources, Puckshinwas father was Muscogee and his mother was Shawnee. Either because his father died when he was young, or because among the Creeks a husband lives with his wifes family, Tecumsehs mother was Methotaske, Puckshinwas second wife. She is believed to have been Shawnee through her father and her mother, possibly of the Pekowi band, Tecumsehs great-great grandfather on his mothers side, Straight Tail Meaurroway Opessa, was a prominent Chief of the Pekowi and the Turtle Clan. Shawnee lineage was recorded paternally, which made Tecumseh a member of the Kispoko, at the time Tecumsehs parents married, their tribe was living somewhere near modern Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The tribe had lived in that region alongside the Creek tribe since being driven from their homes in the Ohio River Valley by the Iroquois during the 17th-century Beaver Wars, about 1759, the Pekowi band decided to move west into the Ohio Country. Not wanting to force his wife to choose him and her family, Puckshinwa decided to travel north with her. The Pekowi founded the settlement of Chillicothe where Tecumseh was likely born, during the 1760s, Puckshinwa took part in the French and Indian War. Tecumseh was born about March 1768, Popular tradition locates his birthplace in Old Chillicothe. During Tecumsehs boyhood, white frontiersmen slew his father Pucksinwah at the Battle of Point Pleasant during Lord Dunmore’s War in 1774, the frontiersmen had crossed onto Indian land in violation of a recent treaty. Tecumseh did not witness battle of any sort, however, until about 1780 during the battle of Piqua, while he did not engage in combat, the sacking of his village was essential in his drive towards becoming a warrior. Tecumseh resolved to become a warrior like his father and to be a fire spreading over the hill and valley, in time, Tecumseh came to lead his own band of warriors. For a while, these Indian raids became so effective that river traffic virtually ceased, the Shawnee were military allies with the British during the American Revolutionary War and repeatedly battled the Americans
29.
Royal Ontario Museum
–
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of art, world culture and natural history in Toronto, Canada. The museum is north of Queens Park, in the University of Toronto district, the Museum subway station of the Toronto Transit Commission is named after the ROM, and since 2008, it is decorated to resemble the institutions collection. St. George station is close to the new entrance as well. Established on 16 April 1912 and opened on 19 March 1914, the museum was under the direct control and management of the University of Toronto until 1968, when it became an independent Crown agency of the government of Ontario. Today, the museum is Canadas largest field-research institution, with research, with more than six million items and forty galleries, the museums diverse collections of world culture and natural history contribute to its international reputation. The museum contains collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, Art of East Asia, European history. It houses the worlds largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale with more than 150,000 specimens, the museum also contains an extensive collection of design and fine arts, including clothing, interior, and product design, especially Art Deco. The Royal Ontario Museum was formally established on 16 April 1912, and was governed by the Government of Ontario. Its first assets were transferred from the University and the provincial Department of Education, coming from its predecessor the Museum of Natural History and Fine Arts at the Toronto Normal School. On 19 March 1914, at 3,00 pm, the Duke of Connaught, also the Governor General of Canada, officially opened the Royal Ontario Museum to the public. The museums location at the edge of Torontos built-up area, far from the central business district, was selected mainly for its proximity to the University of Toronto. This was the first phase of a construction plan that intended on expanding the museum towards Queens Park Crescent. The first expansion to the Royal Ontario Museum publicly opened on 12 October 1933, the renovation saw the construction of the south wing fronting onto Queens Park, and required the demolition of Argyle House, a Victorian mansion once located at 100 Queens Park. As this occurred during the Great Depression, an effort was made to use primarily local building materials, teams of workers alternated weeks of service due to the physically draining nature of the job. In 1947, the ROM was dissolved as a body corporate and this would continue until 1968, when the Museum and the McLaughlin Planetarium were separated from the University to form a new corporation. On 26 October 1968, the ROM opened the McLaughlin Planetarium on the end of the property after receiving a $2 million donation from Colonel R. Samuel McLaughlin. By the 1980s, however, the audiences were dwindling. The space temporarily reopened from 1998 to 2002, after being leased to Childrens Own Museum, in 2009, the ROM sold the building to the University of Toronto for $22 million, and ensured that it would continue to be used for institutional and academic purposes
30.
Isaac Brock
–
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock KB was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Guernsey. Brock was assigned to Lower Canada in 1802, despite facing desertions and near-mutinies, he commanded his regiment in Upper Canada successfully for many years. He was promoted to general, and became responsible for defending Upper Canada against the United States. While many in Canada and Britain believed war could be averted, Brock began to ready the army, when the War of 1812 broke out, the populace was prepared, and quick victories at Fort Mackinac and Detroit defeated American invasion efforts. Brocks actions, particularly his success at Detroit, earned him a knighthood, membership in the Order of the Bath, accolades and his name is often linked with that of the Native American leader Tecumseh, although the two men collaborated in person only for a few days. Brock died at the Battle of Queenston Heights, which the British won, the Brocks were an English family who had been established in Guernsey since the sixteenth century. Brock earned a reputation during his education on Guernsey as an assiduous student. At age ten, he was sent to school in Southampton, despite his lack of an extensive formal education, Brock appreciated its importance. As an adult, he spent much time reading in an attempt to improve his education and he read many works on military tactics and science, but he also read ancient history and other less immediately practical topics. At the time of his death, he owned a modest library of books, including works by Shakespeare, Voltaire. He kept a reputation as a tall, robust man throughout his life. Measurements taken from his show that at his death he had a waist size of 47 inches. Though Brock was noted as a man who enjoyed the company of women. Brock had a successful military career and a quick rise through the ranks. Some credited luck and others skill in his promotions. Lacking special political connections, Brocks ability to gain even when the nation was at peace attests to his skills in recruiting men and organizing finances. At the age of fifteen, Brock joined the 8th Regiment of Foot on 8 March 1785 with the rank of ensign and his elder brother John was already an officer in the same regiment. As was usual at the time, Brocks commission was purchased, on 16 January 1790 he bought the rank of lieutenant and later that year he raised his own company of men
31.
Ontario
–
Ontario, one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada, is located in east-central Canada. It is Canadas most populous province by a margin, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all Canadians. Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and it is home to the nations capital city, Ottawa, and the nations most populous city, Toronto. There is only about 1 km of land made up of portages including Height of Land Portage on the Minnesota border. Ontario is sometimes divided into two regions, Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario. The great majority of Ontarios population and arable land is located in the south, in contrast, the larger, northern part of Ontario is sparsely populated with cold winters and is heavily forested. The province is named after Lake Ontario, a thought to be derived from Ontarí, io, a Huron word meaning great lake, or possibly skanadario. Ontario has about 250,000 freshwater lakes, the province consists of three main geographical regions, The thinly populated Canadian Shield in the northwestern and central portions, which comprises over half the land area of Ontario. Although this area mostly does not support agriculture, it is rich in minerals and in part covered by the Central and Midwestern Canadian Shield forests, studded with lakes, Northern Ontario is subdivided into two sub-regions, Northwestern Ontario and Northeastern Ontario. The virtually unpopulated Hudson Bay Lowlands in the north and northeast, mainly swampy. Southern Ontario which is further sub-divided into four regions, Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario, Golden Horseshoe, the highest point is Ishpatina Ridge at 693 metres above sea level located in Temagami, Northeastern Ontario. In the south, elevations of over 500 m are surpassed near Collingwood, above the Blue Mountains in the Dundalk Highlands, the Carolinian forest zone covers most of the southwestern region of the province. A well-known geographic feature is Niagara Falls, part of the Niagara Escarpment, the Saint Lawrence Seaway allows navigation to and from the Atlantic Ocean as far inland as Thunder Bay in Northwestern Ontario. Northern Ontario occupies roughly 87 percent of the area of the province. Point Pelee is a peninsula of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario that is the southernmost extent of Canadas mainland, Pelee Island and Middle Island in Lake Erie extend slightly farther. All are south of 42°N – slightly farther south than the border of California. The climate of Ontario varies by season and location, the effects of these major air masses on temperature and precipitation depend mainly on latitude, proximity to major bodies of water and to a small extent, terrain relief. In general, most of Ontarios climate is classified as humid continental, Ontario has three main climatic regions
32.
Beacon Hill Park
–
Beacon Hill Park is a 75 ha park located along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait in Victoria, British Columbia. The land was set aside as a protected area by Sir James Douglas. In 1882, the land was made a municipal park of the City of Victoria. The name is derived from a hill overlooking the Strait. The hill is significant, having been a burial site for the First Nations Coast Salish people. It provides scenic vistas of the Strait and the Olympic Mountains of Washington, although much of the park has been landscaped into gardens and playing fields, and populated with various structures, a great deal of the native flora has been preserved. Garry oak, arbutus, Douglas-fir, western redcedar, camas, trillium, snowberry, Oregon grape, raccoons, river otters, squirrels, and many types of birds are frequently to be seen. The ponds in the park are noted for their swans, turtles, ducks, Canada geese, the park is notable for a few human-made features, as well. Most prominent is the worlds fourth-tallest totem pole, a 38. 8-metre work carved by Kwakwakawakw craftsman Mungo Martin, and erected in 1956 and was when built, the worlds tallest. The pebble bridge over the stream between Goodacre and Fountain Lake is a tribute to renowned BC artist Emily Carr, erected by her sister Alice Carr in 1945. In the middle of the park, the Cameron Bandshell, otherwise known as The Stage, is the site of concerts from June through September. Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway is at the south-west corner of the park, along with the old Beacon Lodge and the famous Beacon Drive In
33.
Province House (Prince Edward Island)
–
Province House is where the Prince Edward Island Legislature, known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847. The building is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown, the cornerstone was laid in May 1843 and it commenced operation for the first time in January 1847. The entire structure was built for a cost of £10,000 and was designed by Isaac Smith, Smith was a self-trained architect from Yorkshire, who also designed the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. It was built by Island craftsmen during a time of prosperity for the colony and its architectural lines include Greek and Roman influences, common to public buildings in North America built during this era. From September 1–7,1864, Province House had an important role in helping Prince Edward Island host the Charlottetown Conference which resulted in Canadian Confederation. In 1973, Parks Canada approached the government of Prince Edward Island with a proposal for joint management, under the ensuing agreement, both parties agreed to a 99-year period of joint management. Parks Canada paid for a $3.5 million restoration from 1979–1983 which involved part of the building being restored to the 1864 period, the provincial legislature occupies one end of the building, whereas the restored Confederation Chamber displays the room where the Charlottetown Conference meetings occurred. On April 20,1995, a pipe bomb exploded beneath a wooden wheelchair ramp on the north side of Province House, destroying glass in windows. Several passersby were injured and the explosion occurred only five minutes after a class of school children on a tour of the building had passed through the area. The bombing occurred only one day after the Oklahoma City bombing and is considered to be a copycat action, responsibility was claimed by a group calling itself Loki 7, however, a subsequent police investigation and criminal court case blamed a single individual, Roger Charles Bell. In 2015, Province House was closed for repairs and conservation work, the legislature moved to the adjacent Hon. George Coles Building, where it is expected to remain for several years. Province House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973 and it is one of only three provincial legislative buildings, along with Province House in Halifax and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, to be so designated. Province House is also designated under the provincial Heritage Places Protection Act, visitors can tour the 1860s period rooms, which include displays about the Charlottetown Conference, the building and the Provincial Legislative Assembly. An audio-visual presentation about the Conference is available, titled A Great Dream, Province House National Historic Site of Canada - official website
34.
Virtual International Authority File
–
The Virtual International Authority File is an international authority file. It is a joint project of national libraries and operated by the Online Computer Library Center. The project was initiated by the US Library of Congress, the German National Library, the National Library of France joined the project on October 5,2007. The project transitions to a service of the OCLC on April 4,2012, the aim is to link the national authority files to a single virtual authority file. In this file, identical records from the different data sets are linked together, a VIAF record receives a standard data number, contains the primary see and see also records from the original records, and refers to the original authority records. The data are available online and are available for research and data exchange. Reciprocal updating uses the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting protocol, the file numbers are also being added to Wikipedia biographical articles and are incorporated into Wikidata. VIAFs clustering algorithm is run every month, as more data are added from participating libraries, clusters of authority records may coalesce or split, leading to some fluctuation in the VIAF identifier of certain authority records
