Anniversaries We Are Celebrating in 2012
In Manitoba
200th Anniversary of the Selkirk Settlers
Earl of Selkirk Thomas Douglas witnessed many Scottish farmers lose their farms in Scotland and became interested in the possibility of re-settling many of them to the fertile Red River Valley near present-day Winnipeg. He obtained land from Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), which was affordable at the time since the Napoleonic Wars had disrupted the fur market and HBC's stock had recently dropped. After purchasing 100,000 acres, Douglas effectively controlled almost one third of the company's shares. Douglas used this new authority to convince HBC to sell him 116,000 square miles of land (5 times the area of Scotland!).
Once the Earl had the land, he needed settlers, so he put out an advertisement in Scotland. In 1812, the first group of Selkirk Settlers arrived.
The 200th anniversary of this arrival will be celebrated in and around the Lord Selkirk Provincial Park. For more information, check out the Belfast Historical Society and the Manitoba Historical Society.
In Canada
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
In 2012, Canada, along with other Commonwealth countries, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty as the Queen of Canada. The Diamond Jubilee will be celebrated in various ways across the country. To find out more, check out the Canadian Heritage website.
95th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge
April 9, 2012 marked the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was in 1917 that Canadian soldiers captured Vimy Ridge: a victory that is considered a key event in the shaping of Canada as a nation. The Government of Canada, along with many others, attended a Ceremony of Remembrance at the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial in France on April 9th.
To find out more about the Battler of Vimy Ridge and the memorial event, visit the Veteran's Affairs website.
100th Grain Commission Anniversary
The Canadian Grain Commission is a federal government agency that regulates Canada's grain handling industry and protects the rights of Canadian grain producers.
Agriculture and the grain industry contributed greatly to Canada's growth and development. From 1870-1930 it became one of Canada's most important exports. It was at this time that the population of Western Canada increased from a few thousand to 2.25 million.
The 100th anniversary was officially celebrated on April 1, 2012. Check out the Canadian Grain Commission website for a more details as well as a timeline, historical photographs, and more.
200th Anniversary of the War of 1812
June 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. In this war, Canadians banded together and fought to save Canada from American invasion. It is an important milestone in Canadian history.
To find out more about the War of 1812, check out the Canadian Heritage website. You can also find out more about the contribution of Black soldiers during the War of 1812 on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.
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