Better Together

In the spirit of the No (thanks) vote following Scotland's referendum last week,

Further Reading
BBC News 2014, Scotland Decides
CBC News, 2014, After the Scottish Referendum: What Happens Next
The British Monarchy 2014, The Queen's message following Scotland's referendum
The Telegraph 2014, Scotland News
Maclean's 2014, Referendum
The Economist 2014, Scotland's Referendum: Britain Survives
The Scottish Government 2014, Scotland's Referendum 2014
The Guardian 2014, Scottish Independence
What Scotland Thinks 2014, Opinion Polls
UK Government 2014, Scottish Independence Referendum
Huffington Post 2014, Scotland's Referendum
Herald Scotland 2014, Scotland Decides

The Scottish Referendum

Today the people of Scotland are being asked "Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No".

While I've been keeping track of the referendum for just over a year, many have been on top of it (and part of it) for decades (and some would even argue centuries). If you're new to the issues, or are simply looking for some clarification, here are some links to help you learn more. They cover news of the referendum, why it's happening, and what might be the possible outcomes of today's vote.

BBC News: Scotland Decides - As always the BBC has done an excellent job of keeping it's readers informed. Everything from what would happen to food prices, currency, defence, and citizenship have been covered from multiple angles. They also have a poll tracker that compiles data from several different sources, and maps out events that may have changed the minds of voters.

The Scottish Government: Scotland's Referendum - This site offers highly accessible and easy to understand facts on the history of the Scottish Government, and answers questions that every day people would have about a possible Yes outcome. They even claim to have an entire section of infographics to help people understand the various issues related to the vote... I say claim because I don't think that coloured font qualifies as an infographic, but you can see for yourself.

The Telegraph - The UK-based newspaper has compiled its articles (which include opinion pieces, polls, and photos) on the referendum online; one of which explains how everyone's finances will be effected by the referendum. Likewise, The Guardian has dedicated a page to their coverage.

Here in Canada, the CBC has also covered the election, although not nearly as comprehensively.

If you'd like to learn more about the YES campaign for an independent Scotland, you can visit www.yesscotland.net For the Better Together campaign for a continued United Kingdom, visit www.bettertogether.net The Better Together site also claims to have infographics, and ones that you can share on Facebook no less... the thing is, is that these aren't infographics* either, they're just photographs.

Going through the above sites should give you a pretty good idea about what's at stake for either campaign. If you'd like even more background about why the Scots feel the need to have a referendum in the first place, the following histories are recommended:

Neil Oliver / BBC's, A History of Scotland
J.D. Mackie's, History of Scotland (You can read my review of this work here)
Michael Lynch's, Scotland: A New History
Daniel Szechi's 1715: The Great Jacobite Rebellion
Geoffrey Plank's Rebellion and Savagery: TheJacobite Rising of 1745 and the British Empire

Final results of the Scottish referendum will be made public the morning of September 19th 2014.

*For the record, an infographic is "a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data". Here is an example, and one of my favourites: Star Trek The Original Series

Waste Not, Want Not (When Mackenzie Came to Town)

No matter where you're from, being able to make a connection to a (in)famous individual through a specific location can be a source of pride. While I'm not personally for violent rebellion, I was nonetheless a bit starstruck that William Lyon Mackenzie had once visited the fair little village of Galt. His effigy was there too... and as it turns out, neither of them fared too well.

William Lyon Mackenzie

It was 1833 and William Lyon Mackenzie was touring the province; speaking to small crowds of men from all walks of life, attempting to drum up support for political reform. He was a well known critic of the ruling Family Compact and its individual members, and indeed had been expelled numerous times from the Upper Canada Assembly (only to be re-elected back in each time). What he wanted were investigations into past alleged abuses of power on behalf of the government, and better representation for the people of the growing settlements in the province.

While support for Mackenzie continued to exist throughout Upper Canada, it began to wane as his ideas became viewed as too radical, or disloyal to the Crown. Thus, when he decided to speak at the little (and only) tavern in Galt in 1833 there were both fellow reformers and adversarial Tories in attendance. From neighbouring townships there amassed a crowd estimated to be a few hundred strong, but as we all know, it only takes one to ruin a party.

As supporters were eagerly listening to Mackenzie in the afternoon sun, there could be seen an unusual pair of shapes coming toward them from Main Street. Those shapes were in fact, "a person with a blackened face and fantastic dress... carrying a hideous-looking effigy" (Young). Supposedly to continue the theme, the effigy (meant to be Mackenzie) was also fully dressed for the occasion with the addition of a parcel of gunpowder hidden within. A group of Mackenzie and reform detractors were looking to make it quite clear that such men and policies were not welcome in their village.

Men's Leather Shoe, 1799
Bata Shoe Museum Collection

The gun powder lit and the effigy exploded into flames in front of its horrified audience. Mackenzie meanwhile continued his speech completely unfazed - shouting his words with a smile on his face from the tavern window to the crowd below. Among his supporters, and a member of that crowd, was a young farmer by the name of Marshall. By his attendance at Mackenzie's speech that day Marshall demonstrated his desire for political change. Equally, by his exceedingly hasty exit from that speech along with the very boots that adorned the inflamed effigy, he demonstrated his desire for decent footwear.

Why let good things go to waste?

Sources
James Young's 1880, Reminisces of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario.
James Young's 1912, Public Men and Public Life in Canada: The Story of the Canadian Confederacy
Historica Canada, 2013, "Rebellion in Upper Canada"
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1976, "William Lyon Mackenzie"

Further Reading
Bata Shoe Museum, 2014

Mill Creek

The confluence of Mill Creek and the Grand River is where William Dickson and Absalom Shade first decided to begin the settlement that would eventually become Galt, and later Cambridge. For some reason Mill Creek is plainly visible in Google Maps... but disappears once it hits Main Street in the Satellite view. Is it there or isn't it?

It turns out that Mill Creek was in fact there in a very big way, and still is. It has simply been altered over time to suit the needs of those developing the area since the early nineteenth century. Today, the creek has simply been diverted underground to accommodate a more modern way of living - one that's not as dependant on the productivity of mills and water-powered factories, etc. The following two images are part of a series of six completed by PLANT Architect Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. I encourage you to visit their site to see all of the maps in sequence.

In an upcoming blog I'll be detailing the importance and inner working of various mills in the Galt area; so stay tuned! In the meantime, feel free to browse the Further Reading links provided.

Sources

PLANT Architect Inc. 2012, "Mill Creek Galt"

Google Maps, 2014, "Cambridge"

Further Reading

Grand River Conservation Authority, 2014, "Low Water Response: Mill Creek"

April Souwand and Derek Coleman, A Natural History of Cambridge, Ontario

The Township of North Dumfries, 2014, "History"