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Articles written by Susanna McLeod

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Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
Entertaining North Americans every New Year's Eve for decade, Guy Lombardo and his big band orchestra became world-renowned for their Auld Lang Syne theme song
The Delicious History of Cranberries in Canada
Made into pemmican for centuries by Aboriginals, cranberries are now a holiday favourite. The fruit was first farmed in North America on the east coast of Canada and USA
Canadian Aboriginal Art Christmas Postage
Beautiful, heart-striking native art, works of Aboriginal painters and sculptor composed a small series of postage stamps for Canada Post, issued Christmas 2002.
Louis Cyr, French Canadian Strongman
Travelling with the circus, Louis Cyr entertained audiences around the world with his massive muscles and ability to lift, pull, hoist and resist with physical strength.
The First Pirate to be Hanged in Canada in 1809
A passenger on the 'Three Sisters' ship, Edward Jordan took control of the schooner, viciously murdering several men. He was hanged and left on the gibbet as warning.
John Macoun, Canadian Botanist and Geologist
Enthusiastic in his second career, John Macoun's extensive study of plant and animal life became the basis for today's Canadian Museum of Nature.
Hôtel-Dieu of Québec, Canada's First Hospital
The Duchesse d'Aiguillon funded the building of the religious Hôtel Dieu Hospital in Québec City, the only hospital in North America north of the Dominican Republic.
The Seven Books of Remembrance
Placed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, the Books of Remembrance honour the soldiers who sacrificed all for others.
Lady Frances Ramsay Simpson
Married to a man over twice her age, Frances Simpson came to Canada by ship and to Manitoba's Red River by canoe. Her life in Canada was lonely and difficult.
Dr Barnabas Day, President of the ODA
Realizing the need for proper, sanitary dental care, Barnabas Day organized a group to submit a bill to government, leading to the first regulations on dental profession
Fort Macleod, North-West Mounted Police Outpost
The first town in alberta, the NWMP Fort Macleod was initially built on an island in the Old Man River, then moved up-river. The town sprung up around the police outpost
October is Canadian Women's History Month
Building the country, climbing the ladders of science, arts, business and sports, women in Canada have not sat back to let the men do it all. Women were full participants
Official War Artist of WWII Molly Lamb (Bobak)
Joining the CWACs in WW2, Molly Lamb was sent overseas to paint the soldiers and the aftermath of the war. Prolific, Lamb Bobak's paintings are Canadian treasures.
Canadian Women's Army Corps, the CWACs
During WW2, women were encouraged to volunteer for the armed forces, first as an auxiliary service, then transferred as an integral, essential part of the Canadian Army.
Elizabeth Laurie Smellie, Nurse and Humanitarian
Elizabeth Smellie rose from hospital night supervisor to high-ranking military officer inspiring the CWACs, and to Chief Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses
The Oliver Typewriter Company
The patented Oliver Typewriter was developed by Canadian-born minister and inventor, Thomas Oliver. A million "Visible Print" machines were sold for business and home use
McIntosh Apple a Tasty Canadian Development
Finding seedlings in the brush, the farmers McIntosh replanted and propagated the trees near Dundela, Ontario circa 1813, to produce the favourite McIntosh Red apple.
Canadians in the Battle of Hong Kong
The savage fight for Hong Kong lasted only 18 days but claimed the lives of hundreds of Canadian soldiers during battle and in the miserable prisoner-of-war camp.
Joe Shuster, Canadian Artist of Superman
The Man-of-Steel comic book hero 'Superman' soared but Shuster and co-creator Jerry Siegel were left behind. Shuster struggled to make a living with vision disabilities.
The Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra
Under Conductor Ethel Stark, the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra was the first all-women orchestra in Canada. They reached the pinnacle of music performance in 1947.
Leduc Glacier Avalanche in British Columbia 1965
Portal Camp disappeared, wiped out under ice, snow and mud of the slide. Rescuers were thwarted by wind and icy blizzard weather.
Telegraphy in Canada, Sending Instant Messages
Transmitting code by electric telegraph key, messages were received almost immediately. The Telegraph was used by varying business sectors in Canada for nearly 122 years
Red Rose Tea, A Canadian Brew
An international favourite, Red Rose Tea was blended and sold first in New Brunswick. Estabrooks was one of the first to introduce the simplicity of tea in bags in 1929.
The Empress of Ireland, Canada's Worst Shipwreck
Silty water flowing through the once-elegant rooms, Empress of Ireland now sits 45 metres under the St. Lawrence, its interior disintegrated, its passengers long gone.
150th Anniversary of Queen's Plate Horse Race
Named for Queen Victoria, the Queen's Plate is the oldest, continuously-run horse race in North America. The annual race is open to Canadian-bred horses only.
James Gladstone, Canada's First Indian Senator
A farmer and lobbyist for rights, James Gladstone of Alberta's Kainai Reserve arrived in the Senate of Canada with one big problem - First Nations people could not vote.
Canadians in D-Day Action at Juno Beach
Sixty-five years ago, June 6, 1944, the British, Americans and Canadians began Operation Overlord, a critical offensive attack to turn the advantage to the Allies in WW2.
William Miner, Canadian Train Robber
The Gentleman Bandit, Bill Miner held up stagecoaches and trains with varying success. Spending most of his life in prison, escape was always possible, even in Canada.
Carboniferous History of Nova Scotia
The history of Canada goes back to Nova Scotia as a tropical land, lush with greenery, animals and bug life. Hundreds of millions of years later, fossils tell the story.
Dr. Norman Bethune, Surgeon and Innovator
Dedicated to medicine, Dr. Bethune devised new instruments and treatment, instituted battlefield care with transfusions and surgery and earned a place in China's history.
Astronomer Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg
Dr. Helen Sawyer Hogg spent her life watching the skies through the lens of a telescope, searching for Globular Clusters, encouraging star-gazing and promoting astronomy
The Dominion Observatory
Looking to the heavens for guidance was common practice in history and in the present. People also looked up for time-setting, geodesics and stars at Dominion Observatory
Newfoundland Doctor Began Smallpox Vaccinations
The first vaccinations against disease in Canada credited to John Clinch of Newfoundland. Initial threads of vaccine were shipped to the coastal community from England.
The Russell Motor Car A Canadian Automobile
Motor vehicles were becoming popular, overtaking horse and carriage as means of transport. Russell built cars for the wealthy, with quiet engines and luxurious interiors.
The Walker Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Built by CP Walker, the Walker Theatre was one of Canada's premier venues, staging magnificent symphony concerts, musical productions, operas and the newest live plays
Pablum is Healthy Baby Food, Canadian-Made
Childhood malnutrition was a troubling issue for parents and doctors in the early 1900s. Toronto doctors set to work, developing infant food with essential ingredients.
Sambro Island Lighthouse
The Sambro Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1758 near the shipping entrance to Halifax, guiding vessels through the perilous rocks and shoals of the Sambro Ledges.
Flying Seven – Women Piloting into the Future
Unable to join the American '99s', because of the small, scattered population, the 'Flying Seven' opened in Vancouver, BC, a club for Canadian women pilots.
The Silver Dart: 100th Anniversary of Flight
Constructed of silk balloon cloth, pipe, wood, tape and wire, and with a Curtiss 40-hp engine, JAD McCurdy flew the Silver Dart on Feb 23, 1909 at Baddeck Bay, NS
Black History Month: Elijah McCoy
A young black man, Elijah McCoy didn't let discrimination deter abilities. Educated in Scotland as an engineer, his lubrication devices enhanced the Industrial Revolution
Alexander Mackenzie: Canadian PM 1873 to 1878
Humble beginnings and lesser formal education did not stop Alexander Mackenzie from reaching the top post as the country's Prime Minister after Sir John A. Macdonald.
Canada's First Nuclear Reactor: ZEEP
The research on atomic theories performed with the ZEEP reactor at Chalk River, Ontario, lead to the large scale atomic reactors providing nuclear power today.
Sir John Abbott, Canada's 3rd Prime Minister
John Joseph Caldwell Abbott became Prime Minister in 1891. Though reluctant to be PM, Abbott was an able leader, surviving scandal and pushing through reforms
Pauline McGibbon, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
A success in volunteering, Pauline Mills McGibbon was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1974. Her focus was on the arts, theatre, culture and volunteering.
John Alexander Macdonald, Canadian Boyhood
Born in Scotland, John Alexander Macdonald grew up in Kingston. A quiet boy, John was passionate about books, language, and eventually, law, politics and Canada.
The Group of Seven: Painting Canada's Spirit
Painting wilderness scenes, rough landscapes and, well, the heart of Canada, the unique works of the Group of Seven distinguished Canadian art from European art
This Day in Canadian History: January 1
Prohibition and bootleggers, health care, citizenship and standard time were a few of the announcements made on the first day of the new year over the decades.
John Sparrow David Thompson, Prime Minister
An able negotiator and outstanding speaker, Thompson worked his way up the political ladder from Alderman for the City of Halifax to Prime Minister of Canada
'In Flanders Fields': Remembrance Day
Written in May 1915 on the battlefield in Ypres, Belgium, the day after a friend's death, 'In Flanders Fields' describes the anguish and faith of soldiers mired in war
Black Tuesday, Collapse of Canada's Stock Market
Canada's vigorous economy was strong, growing rapidly with no end in sight in 1929. But then the world balance changed, dragging Canadians into the Great Depression.
Campbell Company of Canada: Soup's On!
Since the 1800s, making soup has been good business for the American food company, Campbell's Soup. OPening a division in Canada was a natural step forward
The Geological Survey of Canada
In 1842, the Province of Canada named geologist William Logan the founding director of the GSC, to map minerals and resources. It was to be a short-term task.
The One-Room Schoolhouse in Canada
One-room schoolhouses were built in rural Canada to meet the educational needs of children scattered across the countryside. One teacher taught Grades One to Eight.
The First Federal Elections in Canada: 1867
Canadians have exercised their rights to vote since Confederation but in the 1800s, voting was a privilege. Few had opportunity to call out their choice in public
Oh Canada!: Canada's National Anthem
Oh Canada! was composed in 1880 in haste as a national song for an event, the lyrics written in French only. The poetic English lyrics were written twenty years later.
This Day in Canadian History: August 31
History is made every day - let's have a snapshot at just what was taking place in Canada on August 31st.
Physics Discoveries in Canada: Ernest Rutherford
Arriving from New Zealand in 1898, Rutherford dove into research in the Montreal, Quebec lab, initiating major discoveries that enlarged the field of nuclear physics.
First Electric Car in Canada, 1893
An open runabout style, the innovative first electric car manufactured in Canada raced around the roads of Toronto, Ontario 115 years ago.
Battle of Amiens, WWI Victory at Great Cost
Canadians at the ready, the Allies took on the Germans at Amiens, France, surprising the overconfident enemy in covert assaults. The battle was won, but thousands lost
Elsie MacGill: Canada's First Woman Engineer
Elizabeth Gregory MacGill - Elsie - not only blazed a trail for women, she blasted open doors in engineering, aeronautical engineering, and business
Dr. Wilder Graves Penfield, Neurosurgeon
An American, Dr. Penfield came to Canada to delve into research on the brain, particulary epilepsy. He founded the world-renowned Montreal Neurological Institute in 1934
Escape of the 'Royal George'
Quickly slipping through a waterway between islands in Bay of Quinte , the 'Royal George' escaped Commodore Chauncey's reach, only to be under fire again at Kingston
Thomas Ahearn: Streetcars to Electric Appliances
Thomas Ahearn was one of Canada's ground-breaking businessmen and inventors in the early age of electricity: Oven, water heater, flat iron, streetcars, telegraphy, radio.
Helen McNicoll, Impressionist Painter
Using oil paints, Helen McNicoll created scenes of children, women, nature and flowers. Her skill with the brush gave her impressionist-style paintings beauty and life
Peter Lymburner Robertson's Screwdriver
A mishap led to the invention of the Robertson screw and screwdriver, patented in 1909. The design remains popular: 85% of screws sold in Canada are Robertsons.
Timothy O'Hea, Victoria Cross 1866
Pte. Timothy O'Hea risked life and limb to save a trainload of immigrants from fire threatening to ignite boxcar of gunpowder and ammunition. He earned the Victoria Cross
Anniversary of Chinese Immigration
Railway, mine and laundry workers, Chinese performed hard labour. Most were paid poorly, racially mistreated, yet they plodded on to build a strong Canada.
Alice Wilson, 1st Female Geologist
Fascinated with science before girls were supposed to be, Alice Wilson overcame barriers and years of roadblocks to become one of Canada's leading earth scientists.
Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia
The American Revolution divided the US. Those faithful to Britain went to Canada - soldiers, freed slaves, indentured servants and families- as United Empire Loyalists
1st North American Oil Well, 1858
One of Canada's significant resources, the rich 'black gold' was first pumped, not in Alberta, but in Ontario. Initially, wells were dug, then drilled by spring pole rig
Building the FlowerClass Corvette
During the Battle of the Atlantic, Canadian shipyards built at least 124 Corvettes for coast patrol and convoy escort. Called Flower Class, Corvettes were British design
Canada in Battle of the Atlantic
With the sinking of SS Athenia - bound for Quebec - Canada joined World War Two in September 1939. Canadians fought German U-boats for freedom of ocean transportation.
The 'Toronto No. 2' Locomotive
James Good's Foundry in Toronto produced the first steam locomotive made in Canada. The 'Toronto' pulled carriages on the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad
Pierre Berton, Canadian Historian
Author, television personality, war correspondent and humourist, Pierre Berton was a man of many hats; one great accomplishment was illuminating Canada's history
We Want Margarine!
Invented in France in 1867, oleomargarine was banned in Canada in 1886. The spread was enriched and affordable, and it was a threat to the dairy industry.
Thomas D'arcy McGee
An Irishman, McGee joined the political fray, gaining a reputation as one of Canada's best speakers. His enthusiasm earned him both praise and enemies.
De Havilland's Beaver Bush Plane
Nicknamed "Workhorse of the North", the versatile and ruggedly functional DHC2-Beaver made history as an essential part of aircraft fleets in Canada and the world.
Canadian War Rations Coupons, WW2
Due to ships sent on other missions and to overseas soldiers needing essential nutrition, shortages of food and fuel in Canada lead to rationing during World War 2
Snowbirds, Canada's Aerobatic Team
Blazing across the sky, the Snowbirds have represented Canada's military with displays of dangerous and exacting aerial maneuvers
The Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal opened for business in Montreal, Quebec, printing its own currency. As the country grew, the Bank prospered, launching branches across Canada.
The Stagecoach Era
Over rough trails and dirt roads, the stagecoach carried passengers, money and mail between cities and towns across Canada, and kept to schedules, too.
Nova Scotia Artist Maud Lewis
With no formal training, Maud Lewis painted the colourful scenes and character of rural Nova Scotia using random art supplies and painful hands
The Red Cross Society in Canada
Dr. George Ryerson organized the first Canadian branch of the British Red Cross. Through volunteers, the Canadian Red Cross Society provided relief in Canada and abroad.
Cairine Wilson,First Woman Senator
The first woman appointed as a Senator In the Government of Canada. Cairine Mackay Wilson dedicated her work to bettering the lives of women, children and refugees
Dr. Alexander Milton Ross
Under the guise of nature research, Dr. Ross visited plantations where black slaves lived. He helped many make an escape to the Underground Railroad and freedom
RCAF Women's Division, WWII
Though not permitted as pilots, over 17,000 women joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during WW2 in jobs ranging from clerical duties to driver to airframe maintenance
'Romance of Canada' Radio Plays
The Canadian National Railways Radio station in Montreal, Quebec produced Canada's first series of national radio dramas for avid listeners across the country.
Canadian Women at Wartime Work
Women took on jobs when men were drafted to fight in WWII. New careers opened to women in munitions factories, sciences, and jobsites - anywhere men worked.
Princess Louise, Royalty in Canada
Though she spent most of GG's term in England, Princess Louise was adored by Canadians. While here, she was plagued with an accident, Fenian threats and icy cold
The National Gallery of Canada
Governor-General Campbell opened the National Gallery of Canada in 1880 to display Canadian visual art along with exhibits of art work from across the globe.
Canada's New Stampede: Diamonds
Mineral-rich, the Northwest Territories became the center of exploration for the prized stones. Canada is now the third-largest diamond producer in the world.
Canada's North Pole
Is it the Geographic North Pole, the North Magnetic Pole or somewhere else that Santa Claus lives? The North Pole's ownership is now in dispute.
Canada's First Coins Issued 1858
Coins of the Province of Canada included a 20-cent piece that was not generally accepted by the spending public. A 25-cent coin later became standard
Christmas Seal Campaign in Canada
A small paper stamp sold at Christmas brought in enough money to fund buildings and research, and help those with lung disease, now through the Canadian Lung Association
Canada's First Christmas in 1535
On his second trip to the New World, explorer Jacques Cartier and his men spent the winter near Stadacona and celebrated Canada's first recorded Christmas.
Alaska Highway Opened in 1942
The Alaska Highway was built by the US Army across Canada's north to Alaska, a road across mountains, permafrost and rivers, as a military supply route
Dr. Frederick Banting and Insulin
Dr. Frederick Banting earned Nobel Prize in 1923 and was knighted in 1934 for Insulin discovery. Sir Banting was also an artist, painting with members of Group of Seven
Robert W. Service, Canada's Poet
Robert Service earned international fame with his book "Songs of a Sourdough" and two lively ballads, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee".
Dr. Gerald Bull, Missile Scientist
Dr. Gerald Bull spent his life researching, reinventing and creating new methods of missile launching. His munitions science eventually lead to his murder.
The Halifax Explosion of 1917
Haligonians watched with curiosity as Mont Blanc drifted to Halifax, the ship ablaze from an accident. Minutes later, the ship exploded, with many injured and killed
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