Canada’s best moments

> History to make you proud of being a Canadian

Jessica Berget
Assistant Editor

 

he celebration of Canada Day is especially controversial

this year given the discovery of unmarked graves in former
residential schools. The history of Canada—like many other
countries—is rife with wars and injustice, but also offers some
silver linings. Despite the past atrocities of our country, Canada’s
history has some golden moments that can be appreciated on
Canada Day.

HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESSIVE

While the US was at the height of their slave trade, Canada
became a safe haven for people looking to escape slavery. With
the help of Harriet Tubman, the “Underground Railroad” was a
series of safe houses and people (or “conductors”) who were
able to give clothes, food, and safety to the slaves who were
travelling to Canada to become tree. Nearly 30 to 40,000 slaves
tled to Canada because of the railroad, and it was the biggest
anti-slavery freedom movement in North America.

The Slavery Abolition Act was passed in Canada in 1834 and
abolished the owning of slaves in every province of British North
America (now known as Canada), freed all the remaining slaves
in the area, and dictated that anyone who came onto Canadian
soil would be freed. Before that, some provinces had taken
to ending slavery in their own rights. In 1793, Upper Canada
(now known as Ontario) passed an Anti-Slavery Act and Prince
Edward Island also abolished slavery by 1825. However, like
many other places at the time, British North America (Canada)
also had practiced slavery for years before becoming a safe
space but were ahead of the curve in ending it as compared to
other countries. For instance, it was nearly 30 years later when
the Emancipation Proclamation was signed ending the practice
of buying and selling slaves in the US.

Canada was also progressive when it came to gay marriage.
In 2003, Ontario and BC became the first two Canadian
provinces to legalize same-sex marriage until the Civil Marriage
Act was passed throughout Canada in 2005. Canada was the
fourth country to allow same-sex marriage just behind the
Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.

Our country also has the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms which is designed to keep us a free and democratic
society. The charter dictates the rights of every person in Canada
which includes freedom of religion, freedom of thought, belief,
and expression (including freedom of the press), freedom of
peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.

WAR EFFORTS

Canada remained an underdog for so long and their army was
practically non-existent, but they made a badass reputation for
themselves during the first World War. Four years into the war,
the 100,000 Canadian Corps were noted as “shock troops”

 

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In 1793, Upper Canada (now known as Ontario) passed an Anti-Slavery
Act and Prince Edward Island also abolished slavery by 1825.