March 8, 1971 – Closing of Halifax’s Pier 21.
This Canadian History for Kids exclusive, looks at Pier 21, the Gateway to Canada.
Located on the Halifax Harbour front, Pier 21 has long been called the Gateway to Canada – and with excellent reason. Between 1928 and 1971, the ocean liner terminal and immigration building welcomed over 1 million immigrants to Canada, mostly from Europe. The pier was also the most important departure point for almost half a million Canadian military personnel during World War II.
The facility became known informally as the ‘Gateway to Canada.’ It closed in March 1971, due to a considerable drop in immigration traffic as transportation methods switched from ocean-going-ships to jet airliners.
Upon the immigrants’ arrival, officials supervised the screening and completion of the paperwork needed for their right of entry into Canada. Among those who anxiously waited to be granted entry into the country were those looking for employment in the New World. Also British Home Children, Jewish war orphans and refugees from across war-torn Europe.
Canadian History for Kids has learned that in 1996, the Canadian government recognized Pier 21’s important role in the lives of so many immigrants and their descendants by naming it a National Historic Site of Canada. It is also the last immigration building still standing in the country, making its protection even more important.
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 opened as a National Museum of Immigration in 1999, offering visitors the chance to look into the immigrants’ experiences and to possibly discover a family connection to a place that offered hope for a better life.
Visitors can now take an emotional journey through the stories of the immigrants, seeing and listening to their experiences as they arrived in Canada after days at sea through a collection of arrival and departure sources dating back to 1865.
March 17, 1955 – Hockey – Montreal Canadiens star Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard- suspended from NHL
This Canadian History for Kids exclusive, looks at the infamous Richard Riots.
St. Patrick’s Day, 1955 will be a day Montreal will never forget.
In Boston on March 13th, 1955, Maurice Richard became riled at Boston Bruin’s Hal Laycoe – a former teammate and a tennis buddy of Richard’s. Laycoe had high-sticked Richard, and the Rocket got even with crazy stick swinging duel.
Richard lumber jacked Laycoe several times – including at least once to the face – eventually breaking his old wooden stick over a fallen Laycoe. When linesman Cliff Thompson tried to get involved, Richard struck him down, too, landing multiple punches.
Boston police tried to get involved, but they were unable to arrest Richard as his team-mates stood in their way. Eventually Boston Bruins management was able to convince the police that this was a matter for the NHL to handle. Richard was never arrested.
NHL president Clarence Campbell suspended the great Maurice (The Rocket) Richard for the rest of the regular season and the entire playoffs.
It was NHL president Clarence Campbell who suspended the Rocket, and it was no long before he was receiving threatening calls. But Campbell refused the advice of Montreal police not to attend the March 17th game against visiting Detroit. The fans in the Montreal Forum were very hostile towards Campbell, with another 10,000 gathered outside of the building.
Fans approached Campbell with insults and threats all night. Garbage was thrown his way. One fan fired a tomato his way, splattering both Campbell and his female companion. Another fan actually sucker punched Campbell, but he refused to leave.
Then all heck broke lose as a tear gas bomb we set off near ice level. The building was evacuated. Detroit, ahead 4-1, was awarded the game by result of forfeiture.
Canadian history for kids has learned that the night was still young in Montreal and soon all mayhem broke out outside of the arena. The crowd smashed windows along Ste-Catherine Street. Stores were looted, newsstands were set on fire and cars were vandalized. The undermanned police could not control the crowds. The police enlisted the help of the Rocket himself. He helped police to calm to crowds through a plea in a radio address.
The riot resulted in 37 injuries (including 12 police officers), over 100 arrests and approximately $100,000 (approximately $1 million in today’s dollars) in property damage.