Balkanized Canada: More Provinces

[durante]

Having been rebuffed by the Colonial Office in selecting London as the capital of Upper Canada, Simcoe's intention for the Western District (west of the escarpment) turned to his project of providing Loyalist settlements for the troops who had served in his (and other) Black Pioneer regiments.
Derided as "Simcoe's Soldiers" and his plan as "Simcoe's Folly", he was intent to prove his doubters wrong by transforming the Western District into a model English society of African-Americans (or would they be African-Canadians?), replete with the class divisions he believed were necessary to build a sustainable society.

Simcoe's intentions and public sentiment coincided in some instances: for example, his insistence on Black Loyalists receiving equal shares as those of the same rank but different "colour" was begrudgingly accepted under condition the Black Loyalists would only receive such land in the Western District, which bordered the United States and which was at the time the least populated area.
Of course, in reality the vast majority of the Black Loyalists were already settled here, so it became a matter of surveying and providing title to the existing nascent farming communities.

Those who would be freed from slavery, by the laws enacted by Upper Canada, and those who escaped the south, were not Loyalists, however, and would not be entitled to 200 acres of land, even though the sons of the earlier Loyalists were.
Therefore, when these former slaves moved to the Western District, they formed a useful landless labouring class for the Loyalists who needed to clear land, plant crops and build a society - the faster the better.
Furthermore, in Simcoe's effort to create a "truly English" society, he provided for the Black Pioneer Non-Commissioned Officers to receive 500 acre plots around the townsite of his planned capital, London.

-Gzowski, "Our Cultural Mosaic"

 

[durante]

October 7th, 2018...London, Huron

A handsome young couple leisurely stroll down the River Thames walkway on a crisp autumn evening.
A young blonde woman in a long coat holds a pumpkin spice latte.
She looks up into the distracted gaze of her companion, a tall light-skinned African-Canadian, dressed impeccably with a high-collared jacket of navy blue and brown leather shoes.
"Did you like the movie?" She asked in a sing-song Southern drawl.
"I did" he responded, struggling to make conversation. "Really thought-provoking". His distinctly Canadian accent contrasted hers.
He looked ahead and tried a different tack.
"I'm so glad I decided to come here for University! Its soooo different from Texas, in a good way."
He chuckled. "I bet."
"And I'm from Austin, it's the hipster part, and people are super liberal there..."
"So I've heard."
"What's it like growing up here?" She was determined.
"Winters are cold, but other than that, I cant really complain. All my friends and family are near by, I guess that's why I decided to stay for Law School. Lots of tradition for us."
A pause in the conversation as they continued to walk.
"How's Law School going? Are you stressed?"
He reflected. "Not really, no...about some things, yes..."
He looked at his watch.
"Do you mind if we stop here?"
"Oh, ok..."
He looked around.
"There! Theres a bench! Let's go over there.."
He took her arm and began to lead her toward the river.
As they turned from the road, a black cube van with tinted windows pulled up on the road behind them.
The driver's window rolled down, revealing the driver, masked by balaclava.
"Alexander Cato Jackson...the third!" The driver yelled.
He stopped dead in his tracks and cracked a smile.
"That's me!" He said as they turned around to face the voice that called him.
"We need to talk to you". The door to the van slid open and two figures dressed in black and also masked emerged from the van.
"Alex what's happening?" Asked the young Texan frantically.
He chuckled.
"You're coming with us!" One of the figures shouted as he approached.
Alex put his hands up.
He continued chuckling softly as he told the young woman smugly;
"I'm being kidnapped."
"WHAT? I'll call the police!"
She immediately reached for her phone in her purse but he grabbed her arm.
"No! Don't call anyone. I'll explain later -"
"What are you talking about? Where are they taking you?"
"Trust me, I can explain later. I'm really sorry, it's like a thing -"
One of the figures grabbed him and Alex feigned resistance as he was led to the van.
The other stopped to talk politely with the young bewildered woman.
"I'm really sorry, ma'am; but we'll have him back safe tonight, alright?"
"Um. Ok...."
"Do you need money for a cab?"
"Uh, no, I'll be alright-"
"Ok then. Ta-ta!"
The figures darted back into the van and it drove off into the night.
She young woman stared at the van as it disappeared in the distance, then back at her pumpkin spice latte.
"Canada is weird" she said to herself as she began her walk home.

 

[durante]

Cincinnati, Ohio, August 17th, 1859

Cato Jackson arrived in Cincinnati at dusk. He had only a pack slung over his back, the unassuming if fairly new clothes he was wearing, and a wad of cash he had hidden in the safest place he could think of - his boots.
He surveyed the scene along the Ohio river, witnessing a large American city for the first time. Kentucky was across the river - the first time he'd been this close to a slave state. This run would be the most difficult yet. But the situation was getting dire, and it remained unclear how the Americans would deal with the "institution", as they called it, in the coming years. Cato had pledged his life to give all the assistance he could to the cause. If that meant putting himself in spitting distance of slaveholders, so be it.
He walked curiously along the streets until he spied the address he was looking for. He promptly walked across the road to a park, and sat down by a tree. He slung his pack over his shoulder, and pulled the brim of his hat down over his face, in a such a manner that a familiar hole allowed him to retain his vision. It had been a long day however, and he let himself fall asleep against his better judgment.
He was brusquely awoken.
Startled, he spun around and backed away as he got up - and readied himself in defensive position. He stared at his adversary, dressed in a smart brown three-piece suit.
The man in the suit was African, too, Cato noticed as his eyes adjusted. This could be it.
The man in the suit spoke.
"Do you know Mister Ayab?"
Cato slowly nodded, maintaining his positioning.
"I do. And I also know mister Abai."
"Excellent!" The man in the suit stretched out his hand. "Ha Iwe".
Cato grasped his hand. "Ha Iwe".
They embraced with hands still held.
"I'm called Django." Said the man in the suit.
"I'm Cudjoe." Cato responded.
"Come, Cudjoe, I'll take you to meet the family. The children are excited to meet you. They've never met a black Canadian before."
"I hope I dont disappoint."
They laughed as they turned and headed toward town.

 

[durante]

October 7th, 2018, London, Huron.

Alex was in a dark room, blindfolded and handcuffed, and shoeless. His "kidnappers" had gone through great lengths to ensure he didnt know his present location, although, in fact, he had anticipated ending up here for years.
He was in the basement of the United African Zionist Church, a building he had often been to in his childhood. He had never been in the basement before, but he had heard rumours that that's where his father went on the first Tuesday of every month.
The lights turned on.
"Alexander Cato Jackson the Third" a voice boomed.
A whisper came from beside Alex.
"Say 'Aye'"
"Aye"
"How is it that you came to know of this Brotherhood, which is to be kept an utter secret?"
"Tell him" came the whisper.
"My...my father."
"Alexander Cato Jackson the second. Let the record state that the inquiring one is the son of a longstanding member of unblemished record."
That had to be good news.
"Alexander Cato Jackson the third, do you pledge to do everything in your power to help the helpless, give voice to the voiceless, and lift up those who cannot lift themselves?"
"Say 'Aye'"
"Aye"
"And do you also pledge to uphold the secrets of this Brotherhood, and to protect your Brothers' lives and secrets as your own?"
The voice didnt prompt Cato this time.
"Aye" he said.
"Then remove his shackles, and let him see, and step forward."
They undid the handcuffs and removed the blindfold. He was in a large hall, stood in front of a seated suited man, who continued to bellow instructions. Alex could see little else because of the placement of the lights.
He stepped forward.
"I hear by induct you into the International Brotherhood of Subterranean Conductors. Welcome, Brother. Ha Iwe."
A chorus of "Ha Iwe" echoed throughout the room.
The whisper beside him came back.
"Take the pen and sign there, Alex..."

 

[durante]

The years after the rebellions were a different kind of revolution in the British colonies. Contrary to the aims of the rebels, by the 1860s the colonies would be more firmly tied to the Empire than ever before, with technology transforming transportation and communications within a generation. And of course, with so many immigrants having arrived from Britain, the family connections were literally closer.

Part of Durham's legacy, aside from his failed attempt to amalgamate the colonies, was to provide each district with limited autonomy, their own assemblies, and provisions for English civil law to be carried out in other languages where possible and necessary.
This led to distinctive cultures crystallizing in each province as they moved into responsible government, although the pressing issues of the 1850s were tariffs and railways.

The colonies became more or less self-sufficient, but the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 and Navigation Laws in 1849 had shifted the focus of investment from agriculture to industry. The great railway boom of this time was as much for British investors to tap into the American market as to serve the interests of the colonies.

Absence of slavery in the colonies meant escaping slaves from the United States directed themselves there, using a network of helpers called the "Underground Railway". Once in BNA, the former slaves were free, and safe from extradition.
In spite of the popularity of Abolitionist movements, however, the escaped slaves did not find a warm welcome outside of the existing black communities.
Indeed, the existence of different ethnic districts indicated Canadians' somewhat reluctance to live amongst 'others' at the time, and although colonial authorities took pride in their supposedly superior treatment of the black Canadians, they also showed no qualms in directing an entire village to move location because the British investors in Grand Trunk Railway desired them to.

The Village of New Zion lay 15 miles east of the St Clair river, directly west of London. It had been settled by Black Loyalists in the wake of the revolution. Generations had lived and built farms, houses, and churches. But they were in the way of the planned route of the Grand Trunk, and so they would be "compensated" with land a few miles further south, in the ominously named Black Creek area.
The pastor of the New Zion Church, who served as an educator, community leader, and clandestine "Conductor" in the underground railway, had passionately pleaded with authorities on humanitarian grounds to allow the settlement to stay. The authorities were adamant. There were plenty of escaped slaves arriving, and they intended to use the railway was an unofficial border to new African settlement. New Zion was in the wrong place - at the right time.

After being displaced early in 1856, the community begrudgingly trekked the few miles to the new location, where they discovered the reason for the name.
The local river was black with a thick sludge which smelled foul. The local indigenous tribes had used it for water-proofing canoes, but it meant the river was unpalatable.
It was determined, again to the consternation of the pastor, that before even a cornerstone of a Church was built, they would need to dig a well for fresh water.
The pastor relentingly agreed, seeing the necessity in the situation, but as he had prepared a special speech for the laying of the cornerstone, which he imagined would be the first soil dug for their new community, he insisted on leading the group in prayer before digging the well commenced.
They prayed for the Lord to lead them finally to prosperity, and security, and to help them redeem all those still suffering from slavery.
They began to the dig for water by noon.
By the evening, hundreds of gallons of "black gold" was gushing into the air.

-Gzowksi, "Our Cultural Mosaic"

 

[durante]

The 1924 off-season had to be the most eventful in Canadian hockey history. First, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, which had brought Pro Hockey to the West Coast of North America a decade earlier, folded. The league had been a pioneer by dropping the rover, ie reducing to 5 skaters and a goaltender, and had been one of three leagues (along with the Eastern-based NHL and the prairie-based Western Canada Hockey League).
However, the American-based franchises in Seattle and Portland had been hemorrhaging money, and their departure required the remaining Canadian clubs, the Victoria Cougars and New Westminster Royals, to join the WCHL for the 1924-1925 season; where they would play alongside the Calgary Tigers, Edmonton Elks, Saskatoon Sheiks (nobody knows why...), and Regina Stars.
Meanwhile, back East...Charles Francis Adams, Boston-based grocer, had convinced the NHL to sell him the rights to the first American franchise, to be called the Boston Bruins (nobody knows why...), for $15,000.
This expanded the NHL to six teams, the other five being the Montreal Maroons, the Montréal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Saint Patrick's, and the Hamilton Tigers.
This also expanded the regular season schedule from 24 games to 30, a 25% increase; their was no increase in player salaries.
The previously lackluster Hamilton Tigers franchise bolted out of the gate in the 1924-1925 season, winning their first 4 and 10 of their first 15 to lead the NHL at the halfway point of the season.
The introduction of the American franchise, and the resulting racism experienced by African and Indigenous Canadians when playing or travelling to Boston, allowed the Conservative Party to exploit fears of 'Americanisation' of Canada, due to the Progressive-Liberal alliance currently in power in Ottawa.
In response, the federal government created a new Minister of Athletics and Culture, with a mandate specifically to use athletics and culture to promote a distinctly Canadian identity, although the first appointee, Tom Longboat, spent most of his first few months trying to figure out just exactly how he could do that.

The Hamilton Tigers would indeed finish first in the NHL, for the first time ever, and under the rules of the day would await the winner of a playoff between the second and third place teams (Toronto and the Canadiens), for NHL Championship, before taking on the Western Champion for the Stanley Cup.

On the train ride back from their final game, Tigers players approached GM Percy Thompson with a demand for $200 each for the additional six games required to play this year (the minimum NHL salary being $800).
Thompson matter of factly stated the players were under contract from December 1st and March 30th, and told them to take the issue up with the NHL.

 

[durante]

NHL President Frank Calder responded to the Hamilton Tigers' demands simply.

Their back pay was ordered held, they would be fined $200 if they didnt play, and Ottawa (who had finished fourth) would take their place in the final.

Working men of Canada felt great sympathy with the players plight, and also demanded an NHL final with the first-place Tigers.

On March 13th, 1925, the 2nd place Saint Patrick's were defeated by the third place Canadiens. On March 14th, Frank Calder delivered his ultimatum to the Tigers by telegram: accept his demands or the Canadiens would be declared NHL Champions.

He received a reply from Tom Longboat, Minister of Athletics and Culture. Minister Longboat had devised a plan for 'Canadianisation' of culture, which would involve Athletic Associations and Sports Clubs tax exempt status...and he would make it clear to President Calder that the NHL's tax-free status would be dependent on their willingness to negotiate with the players and the government.

In the end, tax free status was awarded to professional teams, based in Canada, employing majority Canadian players and playing in leagues without internationally based teams. After a lengthy court battle, the NHL purchased the Bruins back from Adams and sold the club to a Halifax-based shipping Magnate. They would play the 1925-1926 NHL season as the Halifax Wanderers.

In the meantime, all the NHL players were awarded $200 additional dollars for the regular season. The Hamilton Tigers were defeated by the Canadiens, who then lost to the Victoria Cougars in the Stanley Cup final.

During the 1925 off season, the Regina Stars relocated to Winnipeg to become the Warriors.

Since 1925, the Stanley Cup final has been played every year for the Canadian professional ice hockey championships between winners of the WCHL (the Western Conference from 1967) and the NHL (Eastern Conference from 1967).

 

[durante]

The efforts at Canadianisation of sports extended beyond hockey. The laws put Canada's semi-pro baseball clubs, exclusively playing in US based leagues and severely dependent on American talent, and a competitive disadvantage compared to other popular summer sports such as soccer, lacrosse and cricket.
In the years leading up to the act, there had been a strong push for the Canadian Rugby Football Union to adopt the forward pass, which had been introduced south of the border over two decades prior. This push largely disappeared with the advent of the act, which had, at Minister Longboat's request, specifically excluded tax exempt status for rugby clubs which adopted the 'Americanised' forward passing rule.
As a result, the reformers within the Canadian Rugby Football Union looked to a new way to speed up their game; and decided to follow the New South Wales Rugby Football League's lead in adopting the innovation of the 'play-the-ball'; wherein a tackled opponent is required to, as quickly as possible, return to his feet, place the ball on the ground at the spot he was tackled, and back-heel the ball to his scrum half (colloquially called the quarter-back in the more Scottish parts of the country); while the tackling team were all required to return to an 'onside' position 1 yard behind the point of tackle.
The existing Canadian rules requiring a team to advance the ball 10 yards within 3 tackles remained.

As professional sports developed in Canada, the University and amateur clubs which had previously competed on an elite level could do so no longer; after dominating the 1920s the Universities failed to reach a Grey Cup final after 1934.

However, the tax-free status of the Amateur Athletic Associations contributed to a proliferation nation-wide of smaller local and regional leagues in a variety of sports, amateur but relatively well funded for the time; and before long the local AAA was likely second only to the Church in terms of local civic participation and identification.