The Great Depression
Politics
CCF - Made up of Western labor and farmers groups who wanted Socialism and government ownership of banks and transportation, crop insurance for farmers, etc.
Social Credit Party - Bible Bill wanted the Alberta government to pay $25 a month to every Albertan.
Bible Bill
Union National - Focused on issues concerning the Francophones such as higher minimum wages and a provincially owned hydroelectric system.
Maurice Duplessis, leader of the Union National
First Nations - In the Western provinces some had been trying to farm for decades but were impeded by the Canadian government. They didn't qualify for any government aid. They wanted to be part of the Western movement but were excluded.
Stock Market Crash
On October 28 the value of shares on the Toronto stock exchange fell by one million dollars every minute. The next day is known as Black Tuesday.
As a result of the Stock Market Crash and job loss, over 130,000 people in Toronto were using government relief in 1934. People would line up for free meals.
Work Camps - Set up by the government for single, unemployed men. They worked long hours, got free meals, medical care, and 20 cents a day.
Art
Emily Carr - An artist who became famous for painting of totem poles, Native villages, and the forests of British Columbia.
Eastern Group of Painters - Founded in Montreal on 1938. They had a common interest in painting and were in it not for the money but for the sake of art.
Canadian Group of Painters - In 1933 a group of 28 painters from across Canada came together. They wanted to foster closer cooperation between Canadian artists and encourage Canadian artistic expression.
Social
Farmers - Demand for Canadian wheat decreases, farmers stop buying farm machinery, and leave their houses. October 29, 1929 the price of wheat dropped and people's savings were wiped out.
Regional Disparities - Times were tough all over Canada, but especially in the Prairies and Maritimes. The Prairies suffered from falling wheat prices, drought, dust storms and low wheat prices. Maritimes suffered when fishing and lumber exports dried up.
Teenagers - The Depression was hard on young people because they couldn't find jobs or afford to get married.
Technology
Air Transportation - The commercial airline industry for civilians commenced and airplanes connected remote communities like Gravenhurst.
Bombardier Inc. - 1936-37 invented the first snowmobiles helping people get to rural areas in the winter. It also developed commercial aircrafts, business jets, subway systems, and rail manufacturing.
One of Bombardier's first snowmobiles.
Nutrition Improvements - Three pediatricians from The Hospital for Sick Children developed Pablum to fight malnutrition in babies. It was a flakey powder that was easily digested by babies.
Throught out the 1930's malnutrition in babies and young children was an issue and Pablum fixed it.