Episode 5: Expansion (1858 - 1899)

Canada begins an ambitious expansion policy.  Native communities are uprooted as Ottawa or the newly formed federal government builds the railway, ends the buffalo hunt, promotes immigration from Central and Eastern Europe, plants grain, and imports cattle.  Settlers and entrepreneurs-such as John Ware -imports cattle from Idaho to Alberta.  Meanwhile, England sees Canada as an economic burden and no longer wants to do trade entirely with Canada.  America is expanding after the end of the American Civil War.  Because of the need for farming, gold, and military protection, the railway is built to unite our nation 'from sea to sea.' There is a cost.

1.    James Douglas defends the border on the West Coast (1858).

At the age of 16, James Douglas of Scottish and Bajan descent joined the North-West Trading Company.  Although the fur trade is slowly drawing to a close, Douglas joins the Hudson's Bay Company and becomes head of New Caledonia or trading posts in current-day British Columbia.  He is appointed the task of bringing law and order to the settlements along the Fraser and Thompson Rivers.  After the discovery of gold and the surge in American prospectors, British Canada wants to ensure that New Caledonia or land north of the 49^th parallel would not be overtaken by American settlers.

2.    Louis Riel and Big Bear take on the Federal Government (1869-1885)

In 1869, the railway surveyors across Canada’s prairies face resistance from the Métis nation, led by Louis Riel. The Métis, who have French Canadian and Native ancestry, feel their land, rights, language, and culture are threatened by Canadian expansionism.  Riel leads two rebellions and is eventually unfairly put on trial and executed for treason.

 In 1884, Big Bear, a Cree leader also negotiates against Canadian expansionism into Native lands.  With the loss of the bison, the devastating effects of tuberculosis, and increased dependency on rations, Ottawa strongarms Native groups to sign treaties to move onto reserves and to make way for immigrants who will be brought over through Clifford Sifton’s immigration policies to settle the West.  Eventually, Native children are separated from their parents and sent to residential schools.

3.    Bringing the cattle industry to Alberta (1881) brought about farming, settlements, and business.

In 1881, businessmen, such as Frederick Stimson, wish to establish a cattle ranches in Alberta.   African-American John Ware, a former American slave who was emancipated or freed after the American Civil War, helped establish Alberta's beef industry.  Skilled cowboys -like Ware- drive the cattle from Idaho. Ware and his team move the 3,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles Stimson’s ranch. Ware and others begin Canada’s beef industry.

4.    Canadians, and above all Chinese immigrants, build the second longest railway in the world (1882-85).

Crossing the Rockies via rail is an incredible engineering accomplishment.  Engineers, such as James Ross, struggle to find safe passage over the Kicking Horse Pass. Entrepreneurs like Yip Sang recruits and oversee the Chinese labour that is so essential to the railway's completion regardless of unsafe working conditions.  After completion and facing unsafe and deadly working conditions, the Chinese face a hefty tax that discourages further Chinese immigration.

5.    The ‘Long Arm of Ottawa’ or the North-West Mounted Police are sent to keep order in Canada’ frontier. (1898-99).

The Klondike gold rush -like the Fraser Gold Rush -brings an influx of American prospectors into the Yukon.  Sam Steele, a former soldier of the North West Mounted Police, is assigned the task of border patrol to ensure newcomers have adequate reasons, provisions, funds and intentions to enter Canada.  At the top of the Chilkhoot Pass, Canadian officials wait.

Dreamers and drifters, such as Martha Black, sell everything and head to Dawson City.  After the Gold Rush, people drift home and some like Martha remain.  She becomes a businesswoman and eventually the second woman elected to Canada’s Parliament.

Overall, history is an attempt to come to terms with an accurate and diverse interpretation of the past.  Our history involves opposition to our nationhood, displacement, the need to establish Ottawa’s order, immigration, entrepreneurism, risk-takers, hardships, failures, successes, and inspiring stories.