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1915 – Ross Rifle Controversy in World War I
During the Second Battle of Ypres on April 22, 1915, many Canadian soldiers threw away their jammed Ross rifles, taking Lee-Enfield's from dead British soldiers. The following month, despite objections from Minister Sam Hughes, Lieutenant-General Alderson supplied the 1st Canadian Division with Lee-Enfield rifles, even though the majority of snipers still preferred the Ross. -
1918 – Introduction of Wireless Radio Communication in Canada
The Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Canada began commercial radio broadcasting in the country in 1918. Based in a small building in Montréal, the company had started testing the waters with wireless broadcasting. It was initially issued the call sign station XWA in December 1919, and was one of the first stations to offer scheduled programming. These initial transmissions paved the way for the media landscape of the nation, transforming modes of communication, news and entertainment. -
1918 – Spanish Flu Pandemic and Public Health Advancements
Mass transit, the media, consumerism and war all added to the spread of the Spanish flu in the United States. As a result, public health officials have imposed strict social distance measures, including closing schools and banning public gatherings, and studies have linked such measures to lower mortality rates. Which is why we need to learn about their historical resistance. -
1920 – Formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
It was established as part of Canada's peacetime military by the Canadian government in 1920. It began with minimal money and personnel and operated on a part-time schedule. But the force expanded and centralized itself as the importance of air power increased. In 1924 it became a permanent professional organization and was newly christened as the Royal Canadian Air Force. That was the beginning of the independent Canadian air force, which would go on to be a huge part of Canada's military. -
1922 – First Commercial Radio Broadcast in Canada (CFCF, Montreal)
On Nov. 4, 1922, XWA became CFCF, operating at 500 watts from Canada’s first broadcast studio in the Canada Cement Building in Montréal. This station would launch and grow Canada’s radio industry, one that would help usher in the modern era of mass communication over the next 12 years. -
1921 – Discovery of Insulin by Banting and Best
Banting, Best, and Collip isolated and purified insulin, an anti-diabetic substance devoid of digestive enzymes, in 1921–1922, under the direction of Macleod at the University of Toronto. At Toronto General Hospital, they successfully tested it on diabetic patients, revolutionizing the way diabetes is treated and saving countless lives across the globe. -
1925 – Hydroelectric Power Expansion in Canada (Niagara Falls Project)
The Queenston-Chippawa Hydro-Electric Development National Historic Site, nestled at Niagara Falls, Ontario, was constructed between 1917 and 1925 by Ontario’s Hydro-Electric Power Commission (HEPC). It was the world’s first big hydro-electric project. Covering an area of 22 kilometers from the Welland River to the Sir Adam Beck No. 1 Generating Station, the site also features key structures in the operation such as the gatehouse and powerhouse. -
1927 – First Nationwide Radio Broadcast in Canada
Between 1922 and 1932, the number of commercial radio stations in Canada almost doubled to 77, providing music, discussions, political debates, sports, and plays. Sales of radio sets increased as well, 52,500 in 1928 and 173,200 by 1931. Even throughout the Great Depression, the radio industry kept growing, providing Canadians with a staple of entertainment and news.