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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 7h

Thank you to Lneumannca, @laurasimba.bsky.social and the anonymous person who donated yesterday!
Your support of my work means a great deal to me :)

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu

Craig Baird is creating Canadian history content

Hello!Bringing Canadian history to people is my full-time job through my podcast Canadian History Ehx, and on social media.I love Canadian history and I share my passion with my listeners and viewers.

www.buymeacoffee.com

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Reposted by Canadian History Ehx

Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 19h

Margaret Laurence is a towering figure in Canadian literature.
Her books are not only celebrated to this day, but required reading in many schools.
Beyond her books, she was also a founder of the Writer's Trust of Canada.
This is the story of a great Canadian author.

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The photo is in black and white and shows a person seated in front of a bookshelf filled with books. The individual is wearing large, round glasses and a light-colored turtleneck sweater. The background suggests an indoor setting, possibly a study or library, given the extensive collection of books behind them.

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Reposted by Canadian History Ehx

Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

When the First World War started, there were about 500 Muslims living in Canada.
Despite not having many of the rights others did in the country, 22 enlisted to fight for Canada in the war. One never returned home.
This is the story.

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A black-and-white historical photo depicting a formal military ceremony. Several soldiers in uniform, some wearing distinctive hats, are gathered outdoors with trees in the background. One soldier is facing a senior officer, possibly receiving an award or recognition, while other military personnel and a few women in period attire, including large hats, stand nearby. Chairs are arranged for an audience.

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Reposted by Canadian History Ehx

Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

Ray Lewis was one of Canada's greatest sprinters in the 1930s.
The first Canadian-born Black Olympic medalist, he was known as Rapid Ray for his speed on the track.
At one point, he held 17 national high school championships.
This is his story.

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A black-and-white historical photo of two athletes racing on a track, with one wearing a numbered jersey (77) and the other in a darker uniform. The scene is set in a stadium with a large crowd of spectators in the background, seated in stands. The track is marked with lanes, and a pole is visible on the right side. The photo is credited to an unknown source from the Wolf Reinhart Archive (cropped).

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 13h

Looking At The Heritage Minutes: La Bolduc
La Bolduc was a French-Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1930s. She became a beacon of light in a difficult time before she passed away in 1941.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

Sources:

Canadian Encyclopedia: buff.ly/qfF2z6z
Canada's Olympic Team: buff.ly/YCwavWd
Governor General of Canada: buff.ly/bqQNw7p

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

I hope you enjoyed that look at the life of Ray Lewis.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu

*sources in next post*

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Craig Baird is creating Canadian history content

Hello!Bringing Canadian history to people is my full-time job through my podcast Canadian History Ehx, and on social media.I love Canadian history and I share my passion with my listeners and viewers.

www.buymeacoffee.com

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

In 2001, he was awarded the Order of Canada. The next year, a children's book about his youth in Hamilton and training for the Olympics was released.
Lewis died on Nov. 15, 2003. Two years, an elementary school in Hamilton was named for him.

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A modern school building with a brick facade, featuring a combination of red and beige brickwork. The name "Ray Lewis School" is prominently displayed on the upper part of the building. The structure includes large windows, a curved section with extensive glass, and a main entrance with glass doors. The school is surrounded by a well-maintained lawn, a paved walkway, and a flagpole, with a fence along the front. The sky is partly cloudy.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

Unfortunately, shin splints prevented him from competing at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The condition ended his athletic career.
It took several decades before Lewis was officially recognized for his groundbreaking part in Canadian athletics.

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A black-and-white photo showing two men shaking hands outdoors. The man on the left is wearing a light-colored suit and a fedora hat, smiling broadly. The man on the right, also smiling, is dressed in a dark suit with a tie. A third person, partially visible, extends a hand from the right side, wearing a light-colored sleeve. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting, possibly near a body of water or a ship.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

At the Los Angeles Olympics, he won bronze in the 4x400 metre relay. He also competed in the 400 metres, but was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Two years later, he won silver in the 4x400 metre relay at the British Empire Games in London, England.

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A black-and-white newspaper clipping detailing track and field race results. The text includes the fourth heat of the 100-meter race with 1. H. F. Hart, Mont-real; 2. Ray Lewis, Hamilton; 3. Fred Martello, Trail, B. C., with a time of 51 9-10 sec. Semi-finals are listed (three to qualify in each heat): First heat with 1. Alex Wilson; 2. H. F. Hart; 3. Ray Lewis, time 50 3-5 sec; Second heat with 1. Jimmy Ball; 2. Bill Fritz; 3. Fred Martello, time 50 2-5 sec. The final 100 meters heat lists 1. Alex Wilson; 2. Jimmy Ball; 3. Ray Lewis, with a time of 48 1-5 sec, noted as a new Canadian record.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

In 1929, he began to work for Canadian Pacific Railway as a sleeping car porter. He stayed at that job for the next 22 years, while also competing in track and field.
When he went to Los Angeles in 1932 for the Olympics, he had to give up a month's salary to do so.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

In 1928, he qualified for the Canadian Olympic team but was not chosen for the team heading to Amsterdam. He was replaced with a white athlete. In his early life, Lewis often saw racism against Black Canadians, including a burning cross outside his Hamilton home.

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A black-and-white newspaper clipping with the headline "Hamilton School Boys Gather Track Honors" and a subheading "Ray Lewis Lowers Record for Senior Century—Other Local Boys Prominent." The article discusses the track and field achievements of schoolboy athletes, highlighting Ray Lewis who set a new record in the Senior Century, breaking the old mark by two-fifths of a second. It mentions other local boys' performances, their participation in the Ontario meet, and the awarding of gold medals by the provincial athletic commission. The text includes details of various events and records, with names and distances noted.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

Ray Lewis was born on Oct. 8, 1910 in Hamilton. His ancestors were enslaved individuals who escaped to Canada.
In high school, Lewis became an elite track and field athlete and competed in 100, 200, 400 and 800 yard sprints.

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An artistic illustration depicting a man in a tuxedo with a red face, wearing a gold medal around his neck, standing prominently in the center. He is surrounded by four other figures in formal attire, including men in tuxedos and a woman, all with neutral or blurred faces, set against a textured beige background. A hand from the left side of the image is offering a small object, possibly a token or award, to the central figure.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 17h

Ray Lewis was one of Canada's greatest sprinters in the 1930s.
The first Canadian-born Black Olympic medalist, he was known as Rapid Ray for his speed on the track.
At one point, he held 17 national high school championships.
This is his story.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

I just found out that my book, Canada's Main Street: The Epic Story of the Trans-Canada Highway, is on sale on Amazon currently 👇
www.amazon.ca/Canadas-Main...

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

On this day in 1645, Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal was founded by Jeanne Mance. The hospital was the first to be established in Montreal and was an active hospital until 2017. Afterwards, it remained open as an urgent care clinic and emergency shelter for several years.

Aerial view of a large, historic building complex with green roofs and a central dome, surrounded by trees and modern urban structures, with a road and pathway visible nearby.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

Sources:

Canadian Encyclopedia: buff.ly/7KDghBL
Canada's History: buff.ly/TfaUD7u
Veterans Affairs: buff.ly/zCZRFm5

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

I hope you enjoyed that look at the Muslim soldiers of Canada during the First World War.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
buymeacoffee.com/craigu

*sources in next post*

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Craig Baird is creating Canadian history content

Hello!Bringing Canadian history to people is my full-time job through my podcast Canadian History Ehx, and on social media.I love Canadian history and I share my passion with my listeners and viewers.

buymeacoffee.com

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

From that population, 22 enlisted to fight in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Of those, 21 survived.
Private Hasan Amat was the only Muslim soldier from Canada to die in the First World War.
He was 23 when he died at the Battle of Hill 70. His body was never found.

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A black-and-white historical document featuring a decorative border with floral and vine motifs, centered around a shield with a cross and the text "SCARPE HILL 1917." The document lists names and ranks of military personnel, including privates, corporals, and a sergeant major, with details such as battalion numbers (e.g., 14th Bn, 26th Bn) and some notations like "C.M.R." or "M.C." The names are divided into two columns, with the left column including surnames like Allimon, Alward, and Ambery, and the right column including Anderson with various first names and battalion affiliations.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

During the first part of the 20th century in Canada, Muslim immigration was relatively slow.
The Muslim population only went from three to 47 between 1856 and 1901.
But by the time the First World War began, there were 500 Muslims living in Canada.

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A black-and-white historical photo showing a group of soldiers in a rugged outdoor setting, likely a battlefield or trench area. Several soldiers are wearing helmets and military uniforms, with some operating or standing near artillery equipment. The ground is littered with debris, ammunition, and supplies, and the background features earthen fortifications or hills.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 18h

When the First World War started, there were about 500 Muslims living in Canada.
Despite not having many of the rights others did in the country, 22 enlisted to fight for Canada in the war. One never returned home.
This is the story.

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 19h

Canuckle 1243 5/6

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🔥 streak: 810
🤯 #CanucklePhenom

www.canucklegame.ca

Canuckle - A daily Canadian word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

www.canucklegame.ca

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 19h

Sources:

Canadian Encyclopedia: buff.ly/X3Za6xJ
National Film Board: buff.ly/2RvbMVP
Parks Canada: buff.ly/GJxTlIW
Manitoba Historical Society: buff.ly/muwfms7

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 19h

I hope you enjoyed that look at Margaret Laurence.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
buymeacoffee.com/craigu

*sources in next post*

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Craig Baird is creating Canadian history content

Hello!Bringing Canadian history to people is my full-time job through my podcast Canadian History Ehx, and on social media.I love Canadian history and I share my passion with my listeners and viewers.

buymeacoffee.com

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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 19h

In 1986, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. To spare her family further suffering, she chose to end her life at her home on Jan. 5, 1987.
In 2016, Margaret Laurence was named a National Historic Person & her former home in Neepawa is now a Provincial Historic Site.

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The photo shows an individual indoors, likely in a kitchen setting. The background includes kitchen cabinets with a floral pattern on the wallpaper, and various kitchen items like canisters and jars are visible on the countertop. The person is wearing a light-colored, textured sweater.

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