Inglis Falls

My own photos, featuring my dog Perry.

Last weekend I decided to get out of the city and back to nature... just over two hours drive later, I found myself at Inglis Falls in Owen Sound, Ontario.

"...Inglis Falls is an 18 metre high cascade, created by the Sydenham River meeting the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. The erosive power of the water has carved a deep gorge at the base of the falls." (Inglis Falls Conservation Area)

While the seeing the falls and hiking through the conservation area was very enjoyable (save for the few mosquito bites on my hands and legs), it was also fun to learn about the area's own beginnings as a Scottish settlement. In 1845 a Scotsman by the name of Peter Inglis purchased the 300 acre property (which included the falls and an unfinished grist mill that had been started by another Scotsman in 1842). Inglis' finished mill would become very successful, and he would eventually add to it a sawmill, a store, a house, and by the 1870s a wool mill. Inglis lived in his home with his wife and six children who went on to take over the family business. (OAP) The mills at Inglis Falls produced flour, bran, wool, and lumber for 87 years. (Visit Grey)

I would recommend a visit to Inglis Falls to anyone. Not only is it worth the drive, but the drive is worth the drive. Highways 10 and 6 are stunning in the summer with high rolling hills of forest and field, interspersed with small villages and late Victorian brick homes.

Sources
Grey Sauble Conservation, 2013, Inglis Falls Conservation Area
Conservation Ontario, 2012, Inglis Falls Conservation Area
OAP (Ontario Abandoned Places), Inglis Falls
Visit Grey, Inglis Falls

Further Reading
Niagara Escarpment Commission, 2014, Niagara Escarpment 
Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013, Glaciation

The Canada Company

Canada Company Coat of Arms
The country does not alter the race

The Canada Company, founded in 1825, was established to promote and assist in the colonization of Upper Canada. As a private firm however, its main goal was the sale of land (primarily in south-western Ontario) to new immigrants. The company had purchased about 2.5 million acres from the government in 1826 for this purpose, and in so doing ushered in a new era of development; private firms in charge of land administration rather than the crown.

Many Scottish immigrants took advantage of the new organization and had nothing but praise for the company (and land) after having been settled: "The land here [North Easthope Township, now the Township of Perth East in Perth County] is good and well-watered, the terms of the Upper Canada Land Company are liberal, requiring the settler only pay a fifth of the purchase money when the land is applied for, and the remainder in five yearly instalments with interest at six per cent. The Company at present [1836] sell their land at 12s. 6d. currency per acre being equal to 10s. 8d. British, and the only stipulation is to clear off each year about three and a half acres for every 100 acres owned by a settler... There are grist mills and saw mills within a few miles of us east and west, also a store where goods of all kinds are sold. This settlement is mostly Scotch, almost wholly so where we are settled, and the utmost goodwill and unanimity prevails. We enjoy, though obtained at present by hard labour and perseverance, all the necessary worldly comforts and with the prospect, if we and our families are spared, of seeing them and us all independent and comfortable farmers, farming our own land." (Campey, 131) 

Canada Company Poster

While a great many immigrants benefited from the company as settlers, the company was not without its controversies. One Reverend Patrick Bell, a Presbyterian minister from Angus referred to the men working for the Canada Company as "cruel seducers" who would lead poor Scots out into the wilderness to starve (Campey, 130). Some settlers in later years would complain that the price per acre had become too high. Still others considered the professional relationship between the Canada Company and the Family Compact to be a little too close for comfort. In fact, many considered them to be one and the same; An exclusive club of elites who only work for and with each other. Political animosity towards the ruling Family Compact resulted in open rebellion in 1837 and 1838. After that period and the sharp decline of those ruling elites, the Canada Company streamlined its operations, became far more inclusive, and continued to operate until all of its lands were finally sold off in 1951.

John Galt (the Scottish novelist and founder of Guelph and of Goderich in 1827, and the namesake of the former Shade's Mills) was the first Secretary and Superintendent of the Canada Company. His tenure was cut short however, by company directors who considered him a little too interested in the actual welfare of settlers over profit margins. Galt spent only three years in the province before heading back to Scotland; dying in 1839. A further discussion of Galt and his achievements will be forthcoming in another post. In the meantime, please check out the further reading links below to some of the original documents related to the creation of the Canada Company.

Sources
Wikipedia, 2014 "Canada Company" (not a bad place to start for some good overview and a list of members/positions)
Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013 "Canada Company"
Canada in the Making, "Post-Loyalist Settlement (1814-1830)"
Canadian Dictionary of Biography, 1988, "John Galt"
Lucille H. Campey's 2005, The Scottish Pioneers of Upper Canada, 1784-1855

Further Reading
'A Bill to enable His Majesty to grant to a Company, to be incorporated by charter, to be called "The Canada Company," certain lands in the province of Upper Canada, and to invest the said company with certain powers and privileges relating thereto' (London, House of Commons, 1825).
National Archives of Canada, Map of the Lands of the Huron Tract Belonging to the Canada Company by Samuel Oliver Tazewell.

One Log at a Time

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Galt or any other village for that matter. Here's an interesting illustration taken from A History of Canadian Architecture Vol. 1 that demonstrates the growth of a Loyalist homestead in Upper Canada. Note that if a building was still structurally sound it was kept and re-purposed; the 1784 log cabin eventually becoming a pig shed for example. Many of the buildings are located close together - as much for safety as for ease of completing the many daily chores required of the farmer. While most trees certainly would get the axe, others were kept as a means of shielding the home from sun and wind. Fences were not only handy, they were a legal requirement in many districts - keeping your animals from wandering onto your neighbours' pasture or from obstructing narrow roads.

Sources

Harold Kalman's A History of Canadian Architecture, Vol. 1

Further Reading

Images of extant log homes in the province can be seen on the Ontario Architecture website

Mini-Review: A History of Scotland

J.D. Mackie's A History of Scotland is exactly that - a comprehensive history of Scotland from 11th century to the 1970s. At only 380 pages, this book is packed with information, and has long been regarded as the book to reach for on the subject. Mackie  was Professor of Scottish History and Literature at the University of Glasgow from 1930 to 1957, and became Her Majesty's Historiographer in Scotland in 1958. He had published numerous books on various related topics until his death in 1978.

"For a generation, this book - intelligent, fair-minded and accurate - has been acclaimed as the definitive one-volume history of a great nation." (From the publisher)

A History of Scotland has been immeasurably helpful to me in three ways. First, it provided a detailed introduction to the places and people of Scotland's past which helped me to further appreciate everything I saw during my trip to Edinburgh and the Highlands this past March. Second, it gives an amazing historical background to any examination of Scottish settlement in Canada - knowing the push and pull factors of why settlers were compelled to leave their homes and start anew. And lastly, it has helped me to better understand the current political and social climate in Scotland with regards to the upcoming September referendum - seeing all sides of an argument and being able to put everything into context is strangely satisfying.

When reading this book, I strongly advise you to have a map of Scotland handy, and be prepared to look up names and terms. There is so much information in this book that at times it can feel as though you're simply reading lists of battles, treaties, and nobles. Don't be intimidated, however; when a person or event is of great significance, Mackie will spend a paragraph or two explaining why before moving on.

If the book has any shortcomings it's that it has no illustrations or images, and only five historical maps. For a region with such a stunning landscape and a wonderful visual culture, it was a bit disappointing. Additionally, many early kings share the same name, and it would've been nice to be able to "see" each individual. I found it helpful to pause between sections of the book to watch episodes of the BBC produced "A History of Scotland", hosted by Neil Oliver. Being able to visualise the personalities through the ages and have names repeated is one of the best ways (for me anyway) to memorise things.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Scotland and its peoples, or are interested in British history in general.* I've shared some links below where you can pick up your own copy.

Sources
J.D. Mackie, A History of Scotland, Penguin Books, 1984 (Revised Edition)
BBC One, "A History of Scotland"

Further Reading
You can find your own copy of A History of Scotland on Amazon or Chapters
BBC News, 2014 "Scotland Decides"
Diana Gabaldon's Website
The Outlander series on Amazon and Chapters

* I will also mention (for those readers of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series) that this book provides a perfect background to the social, political, and religious undertones to the Jacobite rebellions and life in 1740s Scotland.

Embro Highland Games 2014

This Canada Day (July 1st) I very happily made a drive out into rural Ontario for the 77th Embro Highland Games. Located within Zorra Township (close to Woodstock, Ontario), Embro is a small village set amongst rolling green fields of corn and pasture. By chance I happened to hear about the Games on the radio, and decided to visit.

There were a number of events taking place throughout the day: tug-of-war, caber toss, hammer throw, stone throw, pipe band competitions, and highland dance competitions. I also watched a sheep herding demonstration and was able to peruse the vendors' stalls. It was great to hear the pipe music and see so many people in kilts celebrating the culture.

There were really only two things that I found to be a bit disappointing about the Games: There was no haggis, and not enough vendors. I am a big fan of haggis - I love it. I was hoping that this would be a great opportunity to eat some and take some home with me for later. I settled for a steak and haggis pie that was mostly steak (and still delicious). As for vendors, I was hoping to see more in way of traditional crafts, or products from traditional Scottish livestock.

The cover charge is a bit steep at $15 for this small (but long-running) event, but it was a fun day out in the sun in bucolic Southern Ontario, and I'd recommend it for next year.

Sources

Embro Highland Games Website

You can buy some pretty decent haggis from The Healthy Butcher in Toronto and in Kitchener.