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The Great War
The Great War was Canada’s first total war and represented important changes in Canada’s economy and society. Many immigrants from enemy countries were treated poorly, females played a larger role in the economy, the government had a more prominent role in Canadian society, and relations between the French and English had reached their lowest point. By the end of the war, Canada had matured and was recognized more as an independent country. ("Legacy") -
War Measures Act
The War Measures Act was an act that allowed the government to issue decrees without approval when there was a threat of “war, invasion or insurrection”. This gave the government the power to control the lives of “enemy aliens”, and led to the internment of more than 8000 German, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire immigrants and affected the lives of 80000 more. (Smith) -
Canadian Patriotic Fund
The Canadian Patriotic Fund was created to support families of soldiers financially and socially by fundraising and providing social services like child care or hygiene. ("The Home Front") The Women’s Patriotic League, connected to the Canadian Patriotic Fund, helped women find employment, fundraise for the Red Cross and provided care packages for soldiers overseas. (Palmero) This ensured soldiers serving in the war that their families would be taken care of while they were gone. -
Imperial Munitions Board
The Imperial Munitions Board (IMB) was created to replace the Shell Committee to produce weapons for the war front. During the war, the IMB benefited the economy by creating many jobs. By the end of the war, the IMB produced one third of all British shells and employed 289000 people, many of which were women. ("The War Economy") -
Anti-German Riots in Calgary
In Calgary, rumours that defamed Germans resulted in German businesses getting looted in riots. In response to the riots, Germans employed by the city of Calgary were fired and the city told other businesses to do the same. (Dippel) Across Canada, many other riots against Germans occurred, representing the hatred Canadians had towards Germans. -
Military Service Act
The Military Service Act was a law that allowed the government to conscript men for the war due to a shortage of volunteers. (Preston) This resulted in the Conscription Crisis. Many who disagreed with the law - mainly French-Canadians - participated in mass protests and riots, largely in Quebec. ("Recruitment and Conscription") This event escalated the already high tensions between English and French Canadians. -
Wartime Elections Act
The Wartime Elections Act allowed relatives of any person who served the Canadian forces to vote for them. It also excluded many from being able to participate in the 1917 elections. This act was created because people who supported conscription were more likely to vote for the incumbent government. ("A History of the Vote in Canada") Because of this act, the 1917 elections was the first time many women were allowed to vote in Canada. -
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred as the SS Mont-Blanc, was transporting explosives and collided with another SS Imo. This collision led to a fire that ignited the cargo, destroying a large part of the city in Halifax, injuring 9000, killing 1963, and leaving 6000 people homeless. ("Wartime Tragedies") The explosion took place in Halifax Harbour, an important port serving the war. -
Spanish Influenza Pandemic
In Canada, the spread of the flu was caused by Canadian soldiers returning from the war. The flu attacked healthy people, killing 20 million people around the world, and 50000 Canadians. ("Wartime Tragedies") At the end of the war, this weakened the workforce and had a large impact on many families. Because of the influenza outbreak, the Department of Health was created. -
Winnipeg General Strike
After the war, many people struggled financially. Unemployment and inflation were high, making it hard for people to afford basic goods. After negotiating with employers failed to bring better wages and working conditions, the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council called a strike. Almost 30000 working-class men and women left their jobs from private businesses as well as public ones. (Reilly) This had a great impact on Winnipeg's economy as the majority of the workforce joined the strike.
