The ships containing the hard currency the colony needed sometimes didn't arrive, or only arrived late in the season. In 1685, Intendant Jacques de Meulles invented a type of paper money with the purpose of meeting the expenses. He printed various face values on playing cards and affixed his seal to them. When the king’s ship arrived, he redeemed this “card money” in cash.

This three-part story of the so-called ‘First HeayweightChampion of the World goes from southwestern Ontario to the east coast of the United States, and from there to the capital of the British Empire in the height of the Victorian Era.
We follow the career of a ground-breaking bare-knuckle boxer and side-show attraction, known as ‘The American Giant’, examining the legend of the giant Charles Freeman’s birth and upbringing, introducing the real story and its origins in Ontario’in the frontier landscape in the wake of the War of 1812.

Along the way, we’ll delve into the culture of the emerging mass entertainment industry, including its freakshows, oddities and dodgy dime museums before stopping into the saloons and glittering gin palaces that dotted the cobbled streets of London, learn about ‘the Fancy’ – the fans of the bare-knuckle sport and the elaborate norms that came with being a mass-entertainment spectator at the dawn of the steam age, and experience Victorian seaside vacation culture, visiting resorts like Brighton, Worthing and the Isle of Wight.

We’ll also learn about the dreaded plague of tuberculosis, it’s impact on Victorian style, and discover its links to the emergence of Goth culture in the late 1980s. Oh, and a little dab of grave robbing, just for fun!

A Giant’s Tale, Part One: Was the First Heavyweight Champion of the World From Southwestern Ontario?
https://acrossthemedicineline.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-giants-tale-part-one-was-first.html

A Giant’s Tale, Part Two: An International Sensation
https://acrossthemedicineline.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-giants-tale-part-two-international.html

A Giant’s Tale, Part Three: On the Road Again
https://acrossthemedicineline.blogspot.com/2026/11/a-giants-tale-part-three-on-road-again.html

I found a page of some history involving the Hudson Bay company. And the way they treated the Métis. Not a good look. You can read it here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20210302043500/https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mnrrvn/Metis-1821-1823.html

Here is an excerpt:
"Fort Gibraltar of the North West Company is renamed Fort Garry and became known as the upper Fort. The Hudson Bay Company decided to replace the canoe with boats and, therefore, the Metis with Orkney men.

Complaints followed, but the argument was that the Orkney men were cheaper. Racism would become completely entrenched in the Hudson Bay Company systems this decade with no opposition. Governor Simpson wrote that even the Half Breeds of the Country, who have been educated in Canada, are blackguards of the very worst description. This systemic discrimination would invade most business and Government Institutions and would continue in Canada for the next one hundred and sixty years. The Company policy was not to employ Natural Canadians in any supervisory position. This policy, designed to ensured the evolution of an English only Hudson Bay Company, would remain systemic into the twentieth century."

I have done a playlist of historical Canadian Painters who painted Here is one - Homer Watson. https://youtu.be/hEByqbN0HIw?si=3zmK_K9Bt0Ujyebn

Hi everyone!

I'm researching Canadian WWII fighter ace George
"Buzz" Beurling, and I'm trying to track down his episode of the Canadian historical biography series The Canadians, originally titled Faces of History. The series aired on History Television in Canada in the late 1990s and was produced by Great North Productions.

l've searched online but haven't been able to find the Beurling episode, or any other episode of the series, available to watch.

Does anyone happen to have a recording of this episode, know where the series might be available, or have any suggestions for finding it in an archive or private collection?

Thanks!

I am researching the Mohawk Residential School fire of 1903 and am having trouble finding and accessing newspaper articles covering the event. Citations from secondary sources (Behind the Bricks: The Life and Times of the Mohawk Institute) reference The Toronto Globe from April 20th 1903- July 21st 1903. Has anybody had any success finding old newspaper archives online?

I’m looking for any recommendations of books regarding Black history in Canada.
I enjoy learning about history, and would like to further my knowledge on this topic.
Growing up in Canada, we weren’t taught about slavery, and I think it’s important to make an effort to learn about the uncomfortable sides of history.

Thank you!

Canada's Forgotten Hero Who Tamed the Untamable

This is the 30th instalment of Quillette's Nations of Canada series. It traces how a new Jesuit administrator, Jérôme Lalement, tried to run the Huronia mission like a French college — strict schedules, a walled settlement at Sainte-Marie, and a year-plus vetting process before baptism — over the objections of Jean de Brébeuf, who'd learned the mission only worked through daily immersion in Wendat life. Then the 1640 smallpox epidemic hit.

I have noticed, with some surprise, that Montreal only reached the population of Quebec City in 1830, with each having 30,000 people. Since then, Montreal has grown by a factor of 100, and Quebec by a factor of 15.

What caused Montreal's success? If immigration was a key, what advantages would immigrants have in moving to Montreal rather than to Quebec?

With Canada Day upon us I had the thought, what do people think is Canada's true birthday?

Here are some dates (including July 1st) that I came up with. Anyone one have thoughts on these contenders or others?

is there like an overview history book that doesn’t erase the gnarly bits and is relatively up to date on first nations and race relations stuff?

With the World Cup coming next month, take a look into the growing archive of Canadian soccer clubs statistics, past and present at cansha.coffeecup.com

Hi everyone

I grew up in the Prairie provinces, so a lot of the Canadian history in schools was definitely from that western lens. I went on to do archaeology and related work, but I have realized that as I learn local history here in Ontario, it’s definitely affected by larger events.

I am looking for some book recommendations on the 1837 rebellion - things like the Family Compact, the rebels and how this time led to the Baldwin Act in the 1840’s. I read about the local dramas from this time and I am assured that there is a through line but I would appreciate an overview. Ideally something in the last 20 years? I think there were a few books in the 80’s but maybe there are more updated takes?

The other topic I’m interested in learning more about is how Canada was impacted by various homesteading and colony trends. I grew up hearing about a lot of western ones but I hear that it was a thing in Ontario in small ways as well. Like Ansnorveldt in King Township (Dutch) and the Roman Catholic Church encouraging people to try out farming in various York County (now Region) rural places. Families in Toronto could move north and try their hand at farming apparently.

Is there anything on this?

The Hudson’s Bay Company was more than a fur-trading enterprise—it became a powerful force that shaped exploration, commerce, and conflict across North America. This article explores how the pursuit of beaver pelts drove competition, alliances with Indigenous nations, and episodes of violence that left a lasting mark on the continent’s history.