Scots in CanadaDundurn, 2003 - 183 pages In Canada there are nearly as many descendants of Scots as there are people living in Scotland; almost 5 million Canadians ticked the "Scottish origin" box in the most recent Canadian Census. Many Scottish families have friends or relatives in Canada. Who left Scotland? Why did they leave? What did they do when they got there? What was their impact on the developing nation? Thousands of Scots were forced from their homeland, while others chose to leave, seeking a better life. As individuals, families and communities, they braved the wild Atlantic Ocean, many crossing in cramped under-rationed ships, unprepared for the fierce Canadian winter. And yet Scots went on to lay railroads, found banks and exploit the fur trade, and helped form the political infrastructure of modern day Canada. This book follows the pioneers west from Nova Scotia to the prairie frontier and on to the Pacific coast. It examines the reasons why so many Scots left their land and families. The legacy of centuries of trade and communication still binds the two countries, and Scottish Canadians keep alive the traditions that crossed the Atlantic with their ancestors. |
Contents
CHAPTER ONE The Ship Under Sail | 1 |
CHAPTER TWO Land and Habitation | 23 |
CHAPTER THREE Men Fare Well Enough | 45 |
CHAPTER FOUR A Kind of Kingdom by Itself | 69 |
CHAPTER FIVE A Wanderer in this New Land | 93 |
CHAPTER SIX The Right Sort for Canada | 113 |
CHAPTER SEVEN True Canadians | 137 |
Scotland | 157 |
Chronology | 164 |
| 170 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aberdeen acres Alexander Angus Arctic arrived became British Columbia British North America Brunswick Canadian Pacific Railway Cape Breton century coast colonial communities crossing the Atlantic Donald Smith Edinburgh emigration expedition farm forest Fraser French fur trade Gaelic Galt Glasgow Glengarry Greenock Halifax Highland Hudson's Bay Company James John joined journey Kildonan labour Lake land grants large numbers left Scotland lives Loch Lower Canada Macdonald MacDonell Mackenzie Manitoba ment Métis miles Miramichi Montreal Mountains Museum of Scotland National Native Nor'Westers North West Company Nova Scotia novel Ontario organised Orkney passengers Pictou pioneer population ports prairie Prince Edward Island provinces Quebec recruited Red River Rocky sailed Saltcoats Saskatchewan Scots Scottish Canadians Scottish Highlands Selkirk settled settlement settlers ships St Lawrence story tenants territory timber took Townships trading posts traditional travelled Uist Upper Canada Vancouver Island voyage wilderness William Winnipeg wrote York Factory