Lionel Conacher
Lionel Conacher, often called “The Big Train,” was Canada’s greatest all-around athlete of the early 20th century. He excelled in hockey, football, lacrosse, wrestling, and baseball, earning national championships in multiple sports. During the 1920s—a decade that celebrated youth, energy, and cultural growth—Conacher became a symbol of Canadian pride and athletic achievement. His success showcased Canada’s emerging national identity and helped inspire the country’s growing interest in professional sports.
Prohibition
Prohibition was the period when Canadian provinces banned the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol, most commonly between 1916 and the late 1920s. Supporters believed it would reduce crime, poverty, and domestic violence, while critics argued it infringed on personal freedom. Instead of eliminating alcohol consumption, Prohibition created a massive illegal market, leading to smuggling, bootlegging, and the rise of organized crime. Its failure revealed the limits of government attempts to control social behaviour and influenced later policies on regulation rather than outright bans.
W. L. Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King served as Canada’s Prime Minister for much of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming one of the longest-serving leaders in Commonwealth history. Known for his cautious and pragmatic style, King worked to strengthen Canada’s autonomy from Britain and manage post-war recovery. During the Great Depression, he initially resisted major government intervention, which hurt his popularity. Nevertheless, his leadership shaped key aspects of Canadian political development and helped stabilize the country during times of uncertainty.
Pogey
“Pogey” was the slang term used during the Depression to describe government-issued relief payments for unemployed Canadians. Accessing pogey often required applicants to prove extreme poverty and follow humiliating rules, and the payments were typically very small. This system demonstrated how unprepared governments were for the economic crisis and how difficult daily life was for families without steady income. The inadequacy of pogey contributed to rising frustration and helped fuel movements for social welfare reforms.
Rubberneck
In the 1920s, “rubbernecking” took on a different meaning in small towns: local phone-operators would sometimes eavesdrop on people’s private telephone calls and then spread gossip around town. This informal eavesdropping served as a kind of early “social surveillance,” and rumours spread quickly — fueling scandal, suspicion, and social pressure. This version of rubbernecking shows how advances in communication (the telephone) could also lead to loss of privacy and social control in tight-knit communities.
Person’s Case
In this version, the “Alberta Five” — women from Alberta — challenged the law after one of their peers had been denied appointment to the Senate simply because she was a woman. They argued that Canadian law failed to recognize women as “persons,” which prevented women from holding important public office. The resulting legal fight — the Person’s Case — eventually led to women being legally defined as persons, capable of being appointed to the Senate. This victory marked a major step forward for women’s political equality in Canada and opened the door to greater female participation in national governance.
Dionne Quintuplets
The Dionne Quintuplets became a global sensation during the Depression after being declared wards of the state and displayed to tourists at a specially built facility called “Quintland.” Decades later, the last surviving sister — along with her siblings — sued the provincial government for the exploitation, separation from their family, and public display. The court battle concluded with a settlement: the sisters received compensation for their mistreatment and a formal apology was issued. This outcome underscores the lasting impact of their early fame and how public outrage eventually led to recognition of their rights.
Drought
The drought of the 1930s devastated the Canadian Prairies, turning vast areas into dust fields and destroying crops year after year. Combined with poor farming practices and strong winds, the drought created the Dust Bowl, forcing many farm families into extreme poverty or migration. With crop failures came widespread unemployment and economic collapse, deepening the effects of the Great Depression. This environmental disaster remains one of the harshest challenges Canadian farmers have ever faced.
Group of Seven
The Group of Seven was a collective of Canadian landscape painters active in the 1920s who sought to create a unique artistic style representing Canada’s northern wilderness. Using bold colours and expressive brushwork, they depicted forests, lakes, and mountains in new and imaginative ways. Their paintings helped Canadians develop a stronger national identity rooted in the natural environment. Today, they are celebrated as pioneers of Canadian art and remain influential in shaping the country’s cultural heritage.
Regina Riot
On July 1, 1935, during the On-to-Ottawa Trek, a protest rally in downtown Regina turned into the Regina Riot after police moved in to arrest trek leaders. About 1,500 to 2,000 people attended the meeting (only some were trekkers). Police charged with batons, used tear gas, and fired guns above — and into — crowds. In the aftermath: a plain-clothes policeman was killed, charles miller, Over 140 protesters and citizens were arrested, and hundreds more (both trekkers and bystanders) were injured. The riot shocked the nation and exposed the harsh treatment of unemployed workers by the government.
Relief Camps
Relief camps were government-operated work sites created during the Depression to house unemployed, single men. Administered by the Department of National Defence, these camps isolated workers in remote areas and required them to perform manual labour for just 20 cents a day. Conditions were harsh, with poor food, strict discipline, and little freedom, leading many men to feel trapped and mistreated. The camps became a major source of public controversy and helped spark labour protests such as the On-to-Ottawa Trek.
R. B. Bennett
R. B. Bennett served as Prime Minister from 1930 to 1935, leading Canada through the worst years of the Great Depression. As unemployment soared, Bennett became deeply unpopular and was mocked with slanderous nicknames connected to the harsh relief camps his government created for single, jobless men. Despite the public hostility, Bennett personally answered thousands of letters from desperate Canadians who wrote to him asking for help. Moved by their stories, he often enclosed his own money in his replies, trying to offer personal relief even when his government’s policies failed to do so. However, these private acts of generosity could not undo widespread frustration with the relief system, and Bennett’s inability to solve the economic crisis contributed to his defeat in the 1935 election.
Bobbie Rosenfeld
Bobbie Rosenfeld was one of Canada’s most accomplished female athletes of the 1920s, excelling in track and field, tennis, basketball, and hockey. She won gold and silver medals at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, helping establish women’s sports as a legitimate and celebrated part of national culture. Rosenfeld became a role model for young women and an advocate for gender equality in athletics. Her achievements demonstrated the expanding opportunities for women during the Roaring Twenties.
Buying on Margin
Buying on margin was a common practice in the 1920s where investors purchased stocks by paying only a small percentage up front and borrowing the rest. This encouraged widespread speculation and helped inflate the stock market to unsustainable levels. When stock prices began falling in 1929, investors could not repay their loans, triggering panic selling and deepening the market crash. Buying on margin is considered one of the major economic weaknesses that contributed to the Great Depression.
Assembly Line
The assembly line was a revolutionary manufacturing method introduced by Henry Ford in the early 20th century and widely adopted in the 1920s. It involved workers performing one small task repeatedly as products moved along a conveyor, drastically increasing production speed and reducing costs. This innovation made consumer goods like automobiles more affordable for ordinary Canadians and fueled mass consumption. The assembly line also transformed labour practices and contributed to the growth of industrial jobs.
On-to-Ottawa Trek
The On-to-Ottawa Trek began in 1935 when over 1,500 unemployed men from British Columbia relief camps decided to travel to Ottawa to demand improved working and living conditions. They were frustrated by low pay, isolation, and the lack of meaningful work at the camps. As they travelled east by freight train, support grew — by the time they reached Regina, thousands of Canadians had begun cheering for their cause. The Trek represented a massive protest by Canada’s unemployed, seeking not charity but dignity, jobs, and systemic change.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) was established to ensure Canadians had radio programming that reflected their culture, not just American imports. As part of later regulation, radio and television broadcasters were required to dedicate a fixed percentage of their airtime to Canadian-made content: by the early 1960s, at least 45% of programming in any four-week period had to be Canadian; this was later raised to 55%. The CBC therefore played a major role in promoting Canadian identity, arts, news, and public discourse — making sure homegrown music, stories, and news had a strong presence on the airwaves.
One Big Union (OBU)
The One Big Union was a radical labour organization formed in 1919 that aimed to unite all Canadian workers into a single, powerful union. Inspired by socialist ideas, the OBU promoted general strikes, collective bargaining, and worker control of industry. It gained strength in western Canada and played a significant role in the Winnipeg General Strike. Although it eventually declined, the OBU symbolized rising labour activism and dissatisfaction with traditional unions after World War I.
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford, born Gladys Smith in Toronto, became one of the most famous actresses of the silent film era and a global icon of the 1920s. Known as “America’s Sweetheart,” she co-founded the film studio United Artists and played a major role in shaping early Hollywood. Pickford’s success demonstrated that Canadian talent could influence international culture and contributed to the glamour associated with the Roaring Twenties. She remains a pioneering figure in film history.
- How was the role of women improved in the 1920s?
Women gained the right to vote in most provinces by the early 1920s.
The Person’s Case declared women “persons,” allowing them to serve in the Senate.
More women entered the workforce, especially in clerical and service jobs.
Social freedoms increased: shorter fashion, public smoking, driving cars, and participating in sports.
Growing presence in entertainment, arts, and public life.
Overall, women experienced increased independence and legal rights.
- What were some reasons for Prohibition, and how did it affect Canadian society?
Reasons:
Belief that alcohol caused crime, poverty, and domestic violence.
Supported by women’s groups like the WCTU.
Wartime patriotism: grain should feed soldiers, not alcohol industry.
Effects:
Led to bootlegging, smuggling, and growth of organized crime.
Province-by-province repeal showed public frustration.
Government eventually taxed alcohol for revenue.
Highlighted the limits of legislating morality.
- How did regulations in the Relief Camps make the On-to-Ottawa Trek seem like the only solution?
Workers earned extremely low wages (20 cents per day).
Camps were isolated and run like military bases with harsh discipline.
Poor food, bad living conditions, and lack of recreational activities.
No system for raising complaints or negotiating improved conditions.
Because nothing changed despite years of protest, workers felt that travelling to Ottawa to confront the federal government directly was the only way to force reforms.
- Why were new political parties formed during the Depression?
Traditional parties (Liberals and Conservatives) failed to fix unemployment and poverty.
People sought alternatives that offered new ideas:
CCF offered socialist solutions and social welfare.
Social Credit promoted direct cash payments to stimulate the economy.
Union Nationale appealed to Quebec nationalism and rural voters.
Economic desperation made Canadians willing to try new approaches.
- ESSAY: What were some major causes of the Great Depression?
The Great Depression, which began in 1929, was not caused by a single event but by a series of interconnected economic weaknesses that spread across Canada and the world. Several major causes explain why the crisis became so deep and long-lasting.
1. Overproduction and Overexpansion
During the 1920s, factories and farms produced goods at increasingly high rates. However, wages did not rise fast enough for people to buy all these goods. As a result, large inventories built up, forcing companies to cut production and lay off workers. This weakened the entire economy even before the stock market crash.
- Canada’s Reliance on Exports
Canada relied heavily on exporting wheat, lumber, minerals, and other raw materials. When global demand dropped in the late 1920s, export prices fell sharply. Prairie farmers were hit especially hard as wheat prices collapsed; low income meant less spending, which hurt the entire Canadian economy.
- Dependence on the United States
The U.S. was Canada’s largest trading partner and investor. When the American economy began to fail, Canadian markets and industries quickly followed. American banks called in loans and U.S. consumers cut spending, pulling Canada into deeper recession.
- High Tariffs and Trade Barriers
Countries responded to economic problems by raising tariffs to protect their own industries. The U.S. passed the Smoot–Hawley Tariff, which practically shut Canadian goods out of American markets. International trade slowed dramatically, worsening unemployment and economic decline.
- Too Much Buying on Credit
Both consumers and businesses relied heavily on credit during the 1920s. People bought cars, appliances, and even stocks with borrowed money. When wages dropped and people lost jobs, they could not repay their debts. Banks foreclosed on homes and farms, and the financial system weakened.
- Buying Stocks on Margin
Buying stocks with borrowed money created a stock market bubble. When stock prices fell in October 1929, people could not repay margin loans. Investors panicked, selling rapidly and causing the stock market crash. The crash did not start the Depression, but it accelerated and deepened it.
- Drought and Environmental Disaster
Prairie farmers faced a devastating drought in the early 1930s. Dust storms destroyed crops and forced many families off their land. With the collapse of agriculture, thousands became dependent on relief.
Conclusion
The Great Depression was caused by a combination of economic weaknesses: overproduction, dependence on exports and U.S. markets, global trade barriers, credit problems, risky stock market behavior, and environmental catastrophe. These factors created a cycle of unemployment, falling demand, and economic collapse that lasted through most of the 1930s. Understanding these causes helps explain why the Depression was so devastating and why governments later introduced stronger financial regulations and social safety nets.
