Impacts of Scots on Canada Flashcards
Transport
George Stephen, a Scotsman, was the driving force behind the Canadian Pacific Railway, the first train line to run all the way across the country. This would have massively improved transport in a huge country with difficult terrain like Canada.
Trade dominance
Between 1830 and 1939 the Hudson Bay Company was the largest fur traders in Canada and relied heavily on a Scottish workforce. The Hudson Bay Company was extremely important to Canada’s economy, and it would not have been nearly as successful without the work of Scottish emigrants.
Place Names
Many locations in Canada were named with Scottish influences, such as the Provence of Nova Scotia (new Scotland), Elgin, Aberdeen and Banff. Scottish emigrants were present with such numbers and influence that whole provinces were named with Scottish roots.
Folklore
Canada boasts its own Lake monster, Ogopogo in Lake Okanagan, a close relative of the Lock Ness Monster in British Columbia. Scotland’s Stories and culture have influenced Canada to the point of Canada having replications of parts of Scottish culture within its own.
Highland Games
Every year towns all over Canada hold Highland Games, with Highland dancing, piping, drumming and Celtic music, with the oldest being in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Scots maintaining their culture in Canada has led to it becoming part of Canadian tradition and culture.
Residential Schools
Two Scotsmen, John A. MacDonald and Alexander Mackenzie, were the ones to establish the residential school system in the 1870s. This school system would go on to kill thousands of indigenous children, and destroy indigenous cultures. It was ahas been labelled a ‘cultural genocide’
Financial industry
Wealthy Scots were involved in setting up banks and investment companies, such as George Stephen, President of the Bank of Montreal. Many Scots were vital in the financing of all sorts of development in industry and infrastructure in Canada.
Politics
Scots became involved in both local and national politics, such as Canada’s first Prime minister, John. A MacDonald, a Scottish immigrant. Some of the first to model and shape Canadian politics, choosing for the first time what the political landscape in Canada should look like.
Schooling
Many schools were established by Scots, including St. Johns College in Manitoba, some of these schools also taught Sottish curriculums, like Scottish history. Scots paved the way for the populations of Canada to have access to improved education.
Literature
Scots had huge impacts on Candian literature, with Scottish-born Alexander McLachlan being remembered as Canadian Robert Burns due to his massive impacts on Canadian writings. Scots helped influence the writings and stories of Canadian literature.
