Forrest Pass
@forrestpass.bsky.social
Historian, curator, heraldist, vexillologist, collector of arcane and eclectic Canadiana. All opinions my own. Likes, reskeets =/= endorsement.
Minnesota joining the Canadian Prairies is not a new idea - the state's legislature resolved to annex Rupert's Land and BC in 1868 - but the tables have turned a little this time? #cdnhist #mnhist
'Minnetoba'? Some Minnesotans ...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/m...
'Minnetoba'? Some Minnesotans ...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/m...
January 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Minnesota joining the Canadian Prairies is not a new idea - the state's legislature resolved to annex Rupert's Land and BC in 1868 - but the tables have turned a little this time? #cdnhist #mnhist
'Minnetoba'? Some Minnesotans ...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/m...
'Minnetoba'? Some Minnesotans ...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/m...
Tag yourself: I'm Z (I NEED A TUG) #vexillology
January 31, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Tag yourself: I'm Z (I NEED A TUG) #vexillology
Between @mark-carney.bsky.social's Heated Rivalry fandom and the impending Winter Olympics, you may be wondering, "When did a maple leaf first appear on Cdn sport uniforms?" I gotcha covered, and thinking about a Heated Rivalry spinoff featuring 19c cricketers... #cdnhist #vexillology #cdnpoli
January 30, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Between @mark-carney.bsky.social's Heated Rivalry fandom and the impending Winter Olympics, you may be wondering, "When did a maple leaf first appear on Cdn sport uniforms?" I gotcha covered, and thinking about a Heated Rivalry spinoff featuring 19c cricketers... #cdnhist #vexillology #cdnpoli
The most dangerous people, as Stalin would have it... #historians
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 AM
The most dangerous people, as Stalin would have it... #historians
US officials have long overestimated western separatism. In 1877, the US Consul at Victoria wrote, "Nothing can conciliate [BC separatists]," and "many desire...the annexation of British Columbia to the United States." Spoiler alert: nope. Full text in alt-text. #cdnhist #bchist #cdnpoli
![Scan of a handwritten dispatch from David Eckstein, US Consul at Victoria, BC, to John Cadwalader, Assistant Secretary of State, Washington, DC, February 26, 1877: "Nothing, it would appear, can conciliate them or remove the sense of slight and injustice felt by them in consequence of the continued disregard by the Dominion Government of observing its obligations to this Province; and by persistence in violating, what the people regard, as their most important and substantial right, secured to them by the terms of confederation; and without which, they say, they would never [have] agreed to be confederated with the Dominion.
A great number of them and some of the most respected and influential citizens loudly pronounce themselves in favor [sic] of the separation of the Province from Canada; and many are even still less reserved and openly declare that they desire nothing more earnestly and sincerely than the annexation of British Columbia to the United States.
In fact I feel justified to state, that from my intimate knowledge of the people of this Province I am satisfied in my own mind, that if, at present , or until their grievances are redressed by Canada or the Home Government, they could but conceive how by any peaceful means the annexation of this Province to the United States could surely be brought about, a large majority would favor [sic] the immediate adoption of such means, and hail the advent with joy."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6xxnjl26n2bjjiz4yvsdkkqe/bafkreihxrwvoaj7oe45h5cmrbibhjlzqhkqbxbog5w67kjlgdww76cj3da@jpeg)
![Scan of a handwritten dispatch from David Eckstein, US Consul at Victoria, BC, to John Cadwalader, Assistant Secretary of State, Washington, DC, February 26, 1877: "Nothing, it would appear, can conciliate them or remove the sense of slight and injustice felt by them in consequence of the continued disregard by the Dominion Government of observing its obligations to this Province; and by persistence in violating, what the people regard, as their most important and substantial right, secured to them by the terms of confederation; and without which, they say, they would never [have] agreed to be confederated with the Dominion.
A great number of them and some of the most respected and influential citizens loudly pronounce themselves in favor [sic] of the separation of the Province from Canada; and many are even still less reserved and openly declare that they desire nothing more earnestly and sincerely than the annexation of British Columbia to the United States.
In fact I feel justified to state, that from my intimate knowledge of the people of this Province I am satisfied in my own mind, that if, at present , or until their grievances are redressed by Canada or the Home Government, they could but conceive how by any peaceful means the annexation of this Province to the United States could surely be brought about, a large majority would favor [sic] the immediate adoption of such means, and hail the advent with joy."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6xxnjl26n2bjjiz4yvsdkkqe/bafkreiawtw5gyhysx6xqeeqhqfnwo6jrvfvleh557oymkqrv6udww3nn7m@jpeg)
January 29, 2026 at 4:50 PM
#otd in 1965 Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the National Flag of Canada. The original proclamation is one of @library-archives.canada.ca's many treasures. Last June, I had the pleasure of showing it off to a Radio-Canada TV crew for a Canada Day special. #cdnhist #vexillology
January 28, 2026 at 2:04 PM
#otd in 1965 Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the National Flag of Canada. The original proclamation is one of @library-archives.canada.ca's many treasures. Last June, I had the pleasure of showing it off to a Radio-Canada TV crew for a Canada Day special. #cdnhist #vexillology
The US govt has always taken a dim view of violations of its own consulates abroad. Like when a group of (inebriated) Canadian militiamen tore down the US flag at the consulate in St Thomas, ON, in 1894, prompting late-night telegrams to DC (transcript in alt-text) #cdnhist #onthist #vexillology
![Telegram on Western Union Telegraph Company Night Message form reading: "May 25, 1894, St Thomas M.C.R. [Michigan Central Railroad], Ont 24. To Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State, Wash[ington] DC. U.S. flag has been torn down from Consulate by members [of] Queen's Own Regiment; have advised Consul General at Ottawa. Instruct me. Willis, U.S. Consul"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6xxnjl26n2bjjiz4yvsdkkqe/bafkreiehgjcm6wluvfmqy32rfldmpnwbxsgovntvx57tawyygwg5w4nsym@jpeg)
January 28, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The US govt has always taken a dim view of violations of its own consulates abroad. Like when a group of (inebriated) Canadian militiamen tore down the US flag at the consulate in St Thomas, ON, in 1894, prompting late-night telegrams to DC (transcript in alt-text) #cdnhist #onthist #vexillology
In fact, the Cdn govt had its knuckles rapped by the College of Arms in 1917 for using the Royal Crown in precisely this way. Here's a sketch by Under-Secty of State Thomas Mulvey figuring out what a "compliant" Cdn arms might look like (right under an embossed and erroneous one) #cdnhist #heraldry
January 24, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Making Tibetan momos from @naomiduguid.bsky.social's amazing cookbook "Beyond the Great Wall". Cheating with store-bought dumpling wraps, but it cancels out because I made Tibetan pickled radish as a condiment, right?
January 22, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Making Tibetan momos from @naomiduguid.bsky.social's amazing cookbook "Beyond the Great Wall". Cheating with store-bought dumpling wraps, but it cancels out because I made Tibetan pickled radish as a condiment, right?
He might already be on to it: he was upset at the UK the other day for returning the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, and what is the territory's motto? "Lemuria is in our charge." Gold, Jerry, GOLD! #heraldry #HandsOffDiegoGarcia
January 21, 2026 at 10:55 PM
He might already be on to it: he was upset at the UK the other day for returning the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, and what is the territory's motto? "Lemuria is in our charge." Gold, Jerry, GOLD! #heraldry #HandsOffDiegoGarcia
Detail of the cartouche at the bottom. "Canada Memorabilis" is poor Latin, but intended to mean "Canada Remembers", surrounded by Victorian symbols of mourning (broken column, weeping willow...) Ne'ery a Cdn emblem in sight: even the figure of "Canada" carries a stars-and-stripes shield. 2/2
January 21, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Detail of the cartouche at the bottom. "Canada Memorabilis" is poor Latin, but intended to mean "Canada Remembers", surrounded by Victorian symbols of mourning (broken column, weeping willow...) Ne'ery a Cdn emblem in sight: even the figure of "Canada" carries a stars-and-stripes shield. 2/2
A long history of Cdn apologists for the excesses of US expansionism. Take this postcard from a Montreal publisher, commemorating the USS Maine sinking, a pretext for war with Spain in 1898. 1/2 #cdnhist #cdnpoli #vexillology
January 21, 2026 at 4:10 PM
A long history of Cdn apologists for the excesses of US expansionism. Take this postcard from a Montreal publisher, commemorating the USS Maine sinking, a pretext for war with Spain in 1898. 1/2 #cdnhist #cdnpoli #vexillology
Nobody tell him about Frisland...
January 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Nobody tell him about Frisland...
Reminds me of my favourite file name in the collection at @library-archives.canada.ca, to be found (ironically?) in the administrative records of LAC's predecessor, the Public Archives of Canada. #cdnhist #archives #glams
January 21, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Reminds me of my favourite file name in the collection at @library-archives.canada.ca, to be found (ironically?) in the administrative records of LAC's predecessor, the Public Archives of Canada. #cdnhist #archives #glams
Marking #PenguinAwarenessDay with two Canadian heraldic penguins, on the Arms of the Down Syndrome Society of Quebec, symbolizing unconditional parental love. A design by (former) Miramichi Herald and (currently and forever) my chère moitié, Manon Labelle! #cdnhist #heraldry
January 20, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Marking #PenguinAwarenessDay with two Canadian heraldic penguins, on the Arms of the Down Syndrome Society of Quebec, symbolizing unconditional parental love. A design by (former) Miramichi Herald and (currently and forever) my chère moitié, Manon Labelle! #cdnhist #heraldry
King Charles III chose the Tudor Crown at his accession, reinforcing the misconception that it is a "King's Crown" and St Edward's is a "Queen's Crown" - both are unisex royal crowns. The Canadian Heraldic Authority took the opportunity of a new reign to introduce a Canadian version.
January 17, 2026 at 1:58 PM
King Charles III chose the Tudor Crown at his accession, reinforcing the misconception that it is a "King's Crown" and St Edward's is a "Queen's Crown" - both are unisex royal crowns. The Canadian Heraldic Authority took the opportunity of a new reign to introduce a Canadian version.
I love Victorian small-town newspapers. Some hard-hitting journalism here from the "Ingersoll [Ontario] Chronicle and Canadian Dairyman," Nov 22, 1894. Front page, of course. #cdnhist #envhist #ManglesOfBluesky
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I love Victorian small-town newspapers. Some hard-hitting journalism here from the "Ingersoll [Ontario] Chronicle and Canadian Dairyman," Nov 22, 1894. Front page, of course. #cdnhist #envhist #ManglesOfBluesky
The reverse of the coin is interesting also. (1) is "Scarlet Smog" an early #envhist allusion? (2) the maple leaf inspired by Alan Beddoe's design for the Canadian flag (note the extra points by the stem) - à propos for an event the week before the flag became official! #cdnhist #vexillology (end)
January 15, 2026 at 3:22 PM
The reverse of the coin is interesting also. (1) is "Scarlet Smog" an early #envhist allusion? (2) the maple leaf inspired by Alan Beddoe's design for the Canadian flag (note the extra points by the stem) - à propos for an event the week before the flag became official! #cdnhist #vexillology (end)
(W.A.C. Bennett had moved well beyond the Social Credit theories of Aberhart and C.H. Douglas, and was really a Social Crediter in name only, but he wasn't above stunts like burning bargeloads of provincial bonds...) 4/?
January 15, 2026 at 3:11 PM
(W.A.C. Bennett had moved well beyond the Social Credit theories of Aberhart and C.H. Douglas, and was really a Social Crediter in name only, but he wasn't above stunts like burning bargeloads of provincial bonds...) 4/?
Announcing the project the week before Eng Week, Phil Sunderland of the Metallurgy Society quipped that the coins were part of a "lead standard" for B.C. "in the best Social Credit tradition," a ref to the Socred movt's history of unorthodox monetary schemes (e.g. Bible Bill bucks!)... 3/? #abhist
January 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Announcing the project the week before Eng Week, Phil Sunderland of the Metallurgy Society quipped that the coins were part of a "lead standard" for B.C. "in the best Social Credit tradition," a ref to the Socred movt's history of unorthodox monetary schemes (e.g. Bible Bill bucks!)... 3/? #abhist
Turns out it was a party favour made by @ubcengineering.bsky.social students for their annual ball in 1965. Students in each dept made a machine (Mechanical Eng's machine was an automated bartender, Metallurgy students produced these coins). But that doesn't mean it wasn't political also... 2/?
January 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Turns out it was a party favour made by @ubcengineering.bsky.social students for their annual ball in 1965. Students in each dept made a machine (Mechanical Eng's machine was an automated bartender, Metallurgy students produced these coins). But that doesn't mean it wasn't political also... 2/?
