Fort Fraser Despatches, May 2015 On May 8th, 1945, the long struggle against Hitler and the Nazis was over. An outburst of joy and euphoria seized Britain, Canada, the Empire, and every city and town across all the lands of the allies. Many Canadian soldiers and sailors were already enroute to the Pacific to assist in the drive for final victory against Japan. Many of those returning were in Halifax on May 8th, and their celebrations became so intense that the authorities closed down stores and bars which, not surprisingly, resulted in rioting by the celebrating crowds. 1 May 1st,1775: The Quebec Act comes into force: The Act created a Governor and Council, and allowed the continued exercise of the French language and Roman Catholic religion. The Quebec Act , formally known as the British North America (Quebec) Act 1774, was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain setting procedures of governance in the Province of Quebec. The Act's principal components were: It expanded the province's territory to take over part of the Indian Reserve, including much of what is now southern Ontario, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. Reference to the Protestant faith was removed from the oath of allegiance. It guaranteed free practice of the Catholic faith. It restored the use of the French civil law for matters of private law, except that in accordance with the English common law, it granted unlimited freedom of testation. It maintained English common law for matters of public law, including administrative appeals, court procedure, and criminal prosecution. It restored the Catholic Church's right to impose tithes. 2 To secure the allegiance of the approximately 90,000 French Canadians to the British crown, first Governor James Murray and later Governor Guy Carleton promoted the need for change. There was also a need to compromise between the conflicting demands of the French-Canadian subjects and those of newly arrived British subjects. In Quebec, English-speaking immigrants from Britain and the southern colonies objected to a variety of its provisions which they saw as a removal of certain political freedoms. French Canadians varied in their reaction; the landowning seigniors and ecclesiastics were generally happy with its provisions although the populace resented their loss of liberties. In the Thirteen Colonies, the Quebec Act, passed in the same session of Parliament as a number of other acts designed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party and other protests, was considered one of the "Intolerable Acts", also known as the Coercive Acts. The provisions of the Quebec Act were seen by the colonists as a new model for British colonial administration which would strip the colonies of their elected assemblies. It seemed to void the land claims of the colonies by granting most of the Ohio Country to the province of Quebec. The Americans had fought hard in the French and Indian War, and now they were angry that the losers (the French in Quebec) were given all the rewards including western lands claimed by the 13 colonies, and the Americans were especially angry that the Act established Catholicism as the state religion in Quebec. 3 Fort Fraser Charitable Causes for 2015: To crawl before we walk as a new charitable organization, the garrison has chosen three specific charitable causes for this year: KidSafe Vancouver Project: providing a safe haven and fun occupation for at-risk kids in several elementary schools which stay open over holidays. CHAMPS Program for child amputees Simon Fraser University: Scottish Studies Bursary Choose your cause and make a donation! Donations over $10 will receive a tax receipt. 78th Fraser Highlanders Association of Vancouver (78th FHA) Registered Canadian Charity #831439922 RR0001 4 Rare 78th Medals: Fort Fraser has, thanks to the generosity of Captain Don Cochrane, a limited selection of medals struck as replicas of those awarded to soldiers and sailors who were veterans of the battles in the Seven Years War, "to recognize individual acts of bravery or distinguished service leading to the capture of Quebec". The original medal is housed in the National Maritime Museum in London. Special permission was granted for the production of 100 medals to be distributed only to members of the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Thereafter, the molds were destroyed. The garrison has for sale: 1 large medal "Louisbourg", 2 miniatures for each of "Quebec" and "Louisbourg" For information please contact the adjutant at "flemingd178@gmail.com" Proceeds of the sale will go to our 2015 Charities. 5 not to be missed: Ste. Foy Dining-In: Saturday 25 April (last chance to RSVP) special guest historian Bruce Watson to speak. Victoria Highland Games: 16 May long weekend (Sat/Sun/Mon) Fort Victoria Games Mess Dinner: Saturday 16 May RSVP now to DMaj. Louis "glouis@telus.net"- black tie at the Union Club of British Columbia, Victoria. BC Highland Games: 20 June @ Percy Perry Stadium come and be a 78th Fraser, help out at the booth, raise some $ for our causes. Canada Day: 01 July @ Port Moody Station Museum come and be a 78th Fraser, help out at the booth, raise some $ for our causes. notices: members are invited to partake of 18th C. infantry foot, musket & sword drill and musket care & firing certification instruction. There will be live-firing events in the summer. Uniforms available. Watch for email advice. the HDU civilian costume group is proceeding apace to outfit volunteers who wish to join in the garrison historical display efforts. Watch for email advice. 6
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