Remembrance Display: Serving Bar & Country

Canadian Legal Professions and their Long History of Military Service now on display in the Law Library

Part 1: The Mah family of Crystal Bakery-Letters and Legacies

This blog post is part of RBSC’s new series spotlighting items in the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection and the Wallace B. and Madeline H. Chung Collection. This Part One of two long-form blogs.

 

Thank you to Kelly Attrell and Kathleen East from the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre for helping share this story.

 

Often when people ask me about doing archival historical work, they think that it involves sifting through boring stacks of musty papers for hours on end, just cataloging, sorting and writing dates down. While this can sometimes be part of the work, the core of archives are the people and memories they hold. The papers, photos, and artifacts within these collections allow us a window into individual lives, a glimpse of our shared humanity.

 

One of the great gifts of the Dr. Wallace B. and Madeline H. Chung Collection is that there is an abundance of opportunities to have these personal encounters, with countless stories from around the world found in the over 25,000 materials stored. While some of our greatest treasures are currently on display at the Chung | Lind Gallery, I wanted to allow you a peek into the vaults with a humble letter that captures the intimacy of archival encounters.

 

This letter from the Crystal Bakery shows the network of connections that brought together Chinese Canadian communities.

Crystal Bakery. 1940. “[Letter and Envelope Sent from Crystal Bakery in Shaunavon, Saskatechwan to Mar Long & Co. of Seattle, Washington].” C. Chung Textual Materials. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0363223.

This letter, posted in 1940 from the town of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, the “Oasis of the Prairies,” challenges the idea that the Chung Collection is only a BC collection, and that Chinese Canadian history is only about big cities. While we cannot identify the sender, it was mailed to Mr. Harry K. Mar Dong in Seattle, most likely a relative or clansmen, showing how interconnected these networks of migration and business were. The letter itself concerns money, which was always a pressing concern, especially in a society still dealing with the aftermath of the Great Depression, and particularly for Chinese migrants living under the oppressive 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act. But this made me wonder, what is this Crystal Bakery, and who are some of the men behind this letter?

 

The Crystal Bakery is above the second car from the right in this 1930s photo of Shaunavon's Main St.

Crystal Bakery above 2nd car on the right “Post Office Blk, Shaunavon Sask.” 1930, Photographic print, 1988.16.167, Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre, https://saskcollections.org/grandcoteau/Detail/objects/13014

 

The Men of the Crystal Bakery

I began my exploration at the online resources of the Grand Couteau Heritage and Cultural Centre in Shaunavon, cross referencing them with digitized documents from Canada’s vast Chinese immigration surveillance apparatus. I came to discover that Crystal Bakery was opened on November 6, 1930, by Mah Yock Cheong 馬毓祥 and Mah Ark Shim 馬德深, who had been in the Shaunavon area since the 1920s.[i] Both journeyed from the same village in Toisan county in Southern China, to Canada in 1918 and 1921 respectively.[ii] There were many men from the Mah clan employed or share owners in the Crystal Bakery throughout its history. From the 1920s-50s, Shaunavon’s Chinese men worked in industries common to bachelor men on the prairies: Chinese Canadian cafes and restaurants.[iii]

Mah Yock Cheong "Slim" in 1934 applying to go to China with an Exclusion era document called a CI 9

Mah Yock Cheong “Records of entry and other records” 1933-12-14/1935-10-31, Microfilm, Canadian Immigration Service, RG 76, T-16609, Image 1474, CI 9 #83571, Library and Archives Canada.

Mah Ark Shim in 1936 applying to travel to China to visit family.

Mah Ark Shim “Records of entry and other records”1935-10-31/1938-06-21, Microfilm, Canadian Immigration Service, RG 76, T-16610, Image 501, CI 9 #85447, Library and Archives Canada.

Other businesses in Shaunavon run by Chinese people included tailors, laundries, hotels, and of course special stores like confectionaries and bakeries. Most of the Chinese men in the town came from regions that sent a lot of their sons to North America, such as Toisan 台山, Hoiping 開平, and Hoksan 鶴山 counties. They were well connected to other men in the towns and cities of the region, many of them being village cousins and relatives, often meeting for special holidays, recreation, and to share a meal. These networks were critical in that harsh Prairie winters, as well as keeping folks connected to major Chinatowns across Canada. People, goods, and services were facilitated by the ties of shared town of origin, clan, schoolmates, sworn brotherhood, business partnership, and friendship.[iv]

 

In April 1940, the same spring our letter was written, a glowing column was written about the Crystal Bakery in the local Shaunavon Standard Newspaper:

“During the winter, the Crystal’s modern equipment turns out an average of 500 loaves per day…In hot weather the daily output of the bakery rises to an average of 700 and more loaves per day. Capacity of the steam-heated oven is 210 loaves at a time and the bread is baked at a temperature of 350 degrees F. Alongside the oven is a warming oven where the bread rises and in a separate room are the cooling racks where the product cools for market.  An average of 400 lbs. flour per day or 300 sacks per week is used.  Bread is baked six days per week, the idle day being Saturday since there are no trains on Sunday.  Modern, electric, machinery is used for mixing, etc. Bread from the Crystal is shipped as far east as Meyronne and Assiniboia, west as far as Senate and Manyberries and all intermediate points, as well as to towns on the southline.”[v]

Many men across Canada thought about their hometowns and families with significant fear and anxiety during World War Two. The men of the Crystal Bakery collected $10 dollars to be donated to the Chinese War Relief Fund drive that was organized in nearby Swift Current, SK, in 1943, most likely sending more donations on other occasions.[vi] As the War continued, Chinese community leaders, working alongside allies across Canada, began to advocate for the end of the Exclusion Act and for civil rights for all. They were later joined by some Chinese Canadian veterans, who took the fight to Ottawa.

 

In 1949, after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947, Mah Yock Cheong was one of four Chinese men to be the first Chinese granted Canadian citizenship in the Shaunavon region. That cold February day they braved snow-blocked roads to finally be recognized as equals in a country that had been their home for so long.[vii] Now the men of Crystal Bakery entered a new era, the period of family reunification after the repeal of the cruel separating provisions of the Exclusion Act.

 

Despite the act’s demise, Canada still maintained a system of race and nation-based quotas that kept Chinese families trapped in a web of paperwork, delays, and even invasive interrogations and medical examinations in order to come together again. For Mah Yock Cheong, the same year he got his citizenship, he was able to bring his wife May and teenage son Danny through the maze of regulations to join him in Shaunavon after thirteen years of separation. He had left China four months before his son was born, not uncommon for many bachelor men, and had not seen them since. He explained to The Standard’s reporter that “he was very happy that when the opportunity came for them to sail to San Francisco, their passports were in perfect order and all other details had been attended to. ‘There is too much trouble in China, Mr. Mah said, ‘this country will be a lot better for them.’”[viii]

 

Demand for baked goods was booming in those post-war years, especially for staples like bread. The Crystal Bakery also became famous for its donuts and cream puffs. Sweet treats that had once been unaffordable luxuries during the Depression, became weekly indulgences for those who benefited from Post-War prosperity. With new help from his son Danny and Mah relatives who had also reunified with their families, Yock Cheong was able to install new modern equipment in 1953, like a slicer that cut 400 loaves an hour, and a fully automatic bread wrapper that could package over 800 loaves per hour.[ix] Responding to increased demand, the Crystal Bakery extended family of workers and partners still had to work extremely hard. Sadly, Yock Cheong would pass away suddenly of a heart attack in 1958.[x] He had been in Canada for forty of his sixty years on earth and was sorely missed by his community of Shaunavon that he had supported through the hard Depression years.

 

Danny Mah (Mah Yock Cheong's son) and an unidentified man, most likely a worker or partner at Crystal Bakery

Danny Mah and Unidentified Man, most likely a Crystal Bakery partner or employee, c.1950s. “Crystal Bakery Men,” Unknown, Photographic print, 1986.6.18, Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre

 

The bakery was put up for sale in 1958, after his death but was purchased and operated by longtime partner King Yee 余景, who had known Yock Cheong since the 1920s.[xi] After the passing of Yee and later Chan Wah Sen 陳華銓 , another partner in the bakery for many years, the bakery was closed permanently in 1970 (Shaunavon Standard, October 7, 1964, and July 22, 1970).[xii] It became an appliance store, and then was vacant for a time, before being torn down at the end of August in 1986. The Chan, Mah, and Yee families remained in Shaunavon and in Saskatchewan for years to come, continuing to participate in many businesses and community-oriented activities.[xiii]

 

“The old Crystal Bakery is due for demolisation [sic] at the end of August,” July 15 1986, Photographic print, 2004.13.168, Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre

Please join us for part two of this blog exploring Harry K. Mar Dong, the letter’s recipient, and connections to Seattle’s rich Chinese American history.

 

Footnotes and References

[i] “Chinese C.I. 44 forms and index cards” 1923-1946, Microfilm, Canadian Immigration Service, RG76-D-27, T-16181, Image 163, CI 44#46558.

“Chinese C.I. 44 forms and index cards” 1923-1946, Microfilm, Canadian Immigration Service, RG76-D-27, T-16181, Image 468, CI44#46860

[ii] Their hometown: Taishan (Toisan) County 台山 Sanhe (Samhop) Town 三合鄉 Lidong (Laitung) Township 黎洞鄉新華里 Xinhua (Sunwah) Hamlet

[iii] Details about aforementioned: Mah Ark Shim “Sam” 馬德深 also known as 馬世孚 (Grave Name) born in the town above, Ark Shim immigrated in 1921, and spent time in the Frontier, SK and Shaunavon area before opening the Crystal Bakery. He lived in Halifax in 1949, according to immigration documents, and then moved to Calgary in 1955. Was later reunited with his wife Mah Fung Siu 馬余鳳秀; his wife and three children, William, Helen, and Anne all lived in Canada when he passed. Mah died in Calgary in 1977, and was buried in Queen’s Park Cemetery.

[iv] Marshall, Alison R. 2014. Cultivating Connections : The Making of Chinese Prairie Canada UBC Press., Cheung, Helen Kwan Yee. 2022 Mercantile Mobility: Chinese Merchants in Western Canada University of Alberta Library.

[v] Unknown. 1940. “The Crystal Bakery Supplies Large Area.” The Shaunavon Standard, Apr 10.

[vi] Unknown. 1943. “China Fund Going Up.” The Regina Leader-Post, Sep 9, 11.

[vii] Unknown. 1949. “Chinese Receive Citizenship.” The Shaunavon Standard, Feb 24.

[viii] Unknown. 1949. “Three Chinese Families are Re-united Here.” The Shaunavon Standard, Dec 15.

[ix] Unknown. 1953. “Crystal Bakery Instals [sic] New Equipment.” The Shaunavon Standard, Oct 15

[x] Unknown. 1958. “Rites for ‘Slim’ Mah Tomorrow.” The Shaunavon Standard, Mar 19

Posthumous (Gravestone) name is 馬世纘

[xi] Unknown. 1958 “Crystal Bakery Sale.” The Regina Leader-Post, Sept 25, 36.

Yue King “E.King” Yee King 余景 Imm. Docs. CI 44#8593, CI 36#15858, multiple CI 9s. From Sanhe Township 三合鄉  Taishan County 台山. Born in 1889, Yee arrived in Canada in 1911. He worked as a farm hand in the Steveston, BC area, contracted through the famous Lee Yune/Yuen Co. before coming to Shaunavon to work at the Royal Cafe alongside Yock Cheong, then becoming a owner-partner at the Crystal Bakery. Ran the bakery after Yock Cheong’s death. Brought part of the family over after repeal, and was related to Mr. Mah Poy who worked at the Ohio Café in town, and who had himself brought his wife back from China in 1955 to Shaunavon. Yee King died in 1961.

[xii] Unknown. 1964 “Services Held for Joe Chan.” The Shaunavon Standard, Aug 12, Unknown. 1970 “Announcement: Crystal Bakery Now Closed.” The Shaunavon Standard, Oct 7 1964

Chan Wah Sen “Joe” 陳華銓, Imm. Docs. CI 44#3340, CI5#88604. Born in Taishan County 台山 Sanhe Township 三合鄉 Gangmei Village 崗美村 in 1901 and immigrated to Canada in 1918. Worked in the Weyburn district of Saskatchewan, operating cafes in Ponteix, Orkney, and Limerick SK before coming to Shaunavon and working at the Crystal Bakery in 1942. Married in 1924 in China, after he traveled back during the year of Exclusion Act registration. He returned to China in 1947, the year of repeal. He got citizenship in 1949, reunified with wife and one year old son the same year, and worked at Crystal Bakery, most likely until his death in 1964.

[xiii] This is further reinforced by volunteer Kathleen  and materials in the GCHCC Archives.

Collection Spotlight: Climate Action Week (Nov 2-8, 2024)

Dry Cleaning/Laundromat Industry Overview

Dry Cleaning/Laundromat Industry Overview zannelle

Thrive Month: Wellness welcome after practicum

November is Thrive month at UBC, a time to explore ways to support our mental health. The Education Library and Teacher Education Office are offering a series of Library Lunchtime Wellbeing events. Join us in the library between 12-12:50 to explore activities and resources to promote wellbeing. Participate in a Lego challenge or meme competition for a chance to win prizes!

Schedule of activities:

November 4 + 8: “Let’s play” with French, English, and bilingual games, and get to know our Yoga Cards.

November 13 + 15: “Art therapy” through paper arts. Create your own bookmarks, blackout poetry, or paper folded flowers.

November 18 + 22: “Sustainable growth” by planting your own salad, button making, and needle felting.

November 25 + 27: “Walking wellbeing” through a story walk or nature scavenger hunt, and get to know our Pacific Northwest Plant Knowledge Cards.

New Books at Education Library: November 2024

Below are the new arrivals for November 2024.  Clicking on the book cover will take you to the Google Books page while clicking on the title will take you to the item’s UBC Library catalogue page.

GV1073.15.L68 A3 2023 Boundless / Chaunté Lowe.

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PZ7.H39356 Gh 2023 Girl forgotten / April Henry.

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PZ7.N835 Rt 2024 Rootbound / Grace Nosek.

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PZ7.1.Y365 Fi 2023 Finally seen / Kelly Yang.

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PZ7.1.K8946 Go 2023 Good different / Meg Eden Kuyatt.

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New Books at the Law Library – 24/10/29

LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): K230 .D38 2023 M. Davies, Asking the Law Question, 5th ed (Thomson Reuters, 2023). ©2023 LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): KE919 .E53 2018 C.L. Elderkin & J.S. Shin Doi, Behind and Beyond Boilerplate: Drafting Commercial Agreements (Thomson Reuters Canada, 2018) LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): KE1232 .C65 […]

A Conversation with Corrina Sparrow

A graphic with a pink background and rainbow ribbon on the left, and a photo of Corrina Sparrow beside text that reads A Conversation with Corrina Sparrow, EDI Scholar-in-Residence 2024/25 on the right

CORRINA SPARROW

UBC Library EDI Scholar-in-Residence 2024/2025


Corrina Sparrow is a current PhD candidate with the Institute of Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice (GRSJ) at UBC, whose research investigates contemporary Coast Salish Two Spirit/Indigiqueer (2SIQ) identities, resiliency, and the use of traditional nation-specific, land-based values and knowledge in strengthening 2SIQ queer safety and wellness. Corrina’s ancestors come from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nation, the Qualicum Nation of the Pentlatch People, and the Netherlands. Read Corrina’s full bio.


Q: What have been your biggest professional challenges?

Social work, for me, is about helping and supporting folks to empower them to do the work they already know they need to do for themselves, their families, and within their communities. It’s really about helping and finding ways to be of good service to people… Our job is to be good active listeners, connecting people with resources so they can do the work they want to do. We act as a breakwater between the bureaucratic systems and the people, helping them navigate through barriers created by those systems. The biggest challenge in my work is understanding the different contexts we’re working in and navigating the spaces and systems impacting folks. We need to help them move forward as smoothly as possible toward their own transformations, healing and wellness.

Returning home for the first time almost ten years ago—and working within my own home community—was also a big challenge, as an Indigenous person, born and raised on reserve. I’ve always worked predominantly with other Coast Salish families and urban Indigenous communities throughout my helping journey, but actually being home in Musqueam struck the heart and the spirit in a more visceral way. I remember standing at the edge of the Fraser River on my first day of work in Musqueam, praying to the Land and Water, and committing to be the best helper I could be for our families—to support them and to do everything I can to ensure they have dignity, that they are proud, strong, safe, and happy in their own territories.

Q: What has been the highlight of the last year for you professionally?

Being on leave from my role as Musqueam Social Development Director has allowed me to move more into my studies and focus on Coast Salish 2SIQ empowerment, safety, and community development.

I worked with our local communities and relatives to incorporate the first Coast Salish 2SIQ wellness society, Transforming Embers. We’ve been operating for the past two years, offering land-based learning and education for Coast Salish 2SIQ folks, but also other Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ relatives who come to our territories from other places, to learn about how to be on the Land, how to be good guests, how to be in relationship, and to walk gently on our Coast Salish territories. And that’s been really magical to be part of that community building.

“I think libraries are our best friends when it comes to Indigenous helpers and Indigenous researchers. Librarians are amazing!”

Q: Why did you want to participate in the EDI Scholar-in-Residence program at UBC Library?

I heard about the program through some friends who work at UBC Libraries. I think libraries are our best friends when it comes to Indigenous helpers and Indigenous researchers. Librarians are amazing! I’ve also worked in the past with UBC’s Equity and Inclusion Office, specifically on creating the first Coast Salish Two Spirit Pride Mosaic, which was installed outside xwi7xwa Library this past year. I’ve also worked with that office in the past to put on Coast Salish Two Spirit knowledge and awareness workshops for students and staff. So, when I heard about the EDI Scholar-in-Residence program through some friends, I thought it would be a great opportunity to continue that good relational work.

Q: In your consultation sessions with UBC faculty, staff or students, what topics would you love to discuss or what questions would you love to get?

I’m open to anything. My [public session] is going to be about decolonizing, Land-based education and learning, disrupting colonial spaces, as well as Indigenous practice and theory. How we can create and nurture spaces at the university and within the institution more inclusive, respectful and welcoming of diverse folks, whether they’re Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, neurodiverse and representative of all different abilities? I think it’s really important that we continue to have these talks in order to counter colonial policy and practices that are automatically going to be embedded within the institution itself. It’s up to us to disrupt that every day, to take action and challenge the status quo – and to encourage transformation, strengthened relationality, and decolonize our shared spaces together in culturally meaningful ways.

“I think it’s really important that we continue to have these talks in order to counter colonial policy and practices that are automatically going to be embedded within the institution itself.”

Q: Are there any resources at the library that you’re hoping to access while you’re here?

I do like keeping an eye on special collections. I’d love to see a collection [that is] Two Spirit/ Indigiqueer specific. But I’ll also be looking at UBC spatial histories, and specifically at the Irving K Barber Learning Centre and UBC Farm. I think it’s really interesting to see colonial/institution history, and local Land-based Indigenous histories in juxtaposition – and what this means for our policy and practice today.

Library services at UBC are fantastic—there are so many knowledgeable, like-minded folks there who really want to help people find the resources they need for the work that they’re doing – and not only just find these resources, but also to teach us how to find them ourselves. There’s a lot of skill-based learning and education opportunities that I don’t think that students are aware of [through the library]. It actually cuts our time in half as researchers, to learn how to research properly and how to navigate these systems. Librarians to save the day!


The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Scholars-in-Residence program is open to scholars who hold degrees in any discipline. Residency at UBC’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre allows Scholars to participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary public programming with a clear impact on equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more information, visit the program website. This program is made possible with support from the Peña Fund.

Map of Guangdong Province, 1924

This blog post is part of RBSC’s new series spotlighting items in the Phil Lind Klondike Gold Rush Collection and the Wallace B. and Madeline H. Chung Collection. 

Welcome to our second short-form blog highlighting items from the Dr. Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection. This week we will be introducing one of the of many large and oversized materials we have in the collection: a historic map of Guangdong Province (廣東省).

 

This map of Guangdong Province, c.1924, highlights the Chung Collection’s transnational holdings CC-OS-00034, https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0216272

 

This vibrant and colourful map was published in February 1924 by the Commercial Press of Shanghai (上海商務印書館), the first modern publishing house in China, which is still running today. It belonged to Vancouver’s prominent Yip family of merchants associated with the Wing Sang Co. Guangdong province, also known as Canton or Kwantung province during this period, is the ancestral origin place of the vast majority of Chinese Canadians before the immigration reform of the late 1960s, including the Yips. Similarly, many generations have emigrated from Guangdong to other places overseas, including from the Chaoshan (潮汕) and Hainan (海南) regions to Southeast Asia, as well as to other parts of North and South America. Maps like these are a valuable resource for rediscovering family roots.

A particularly cool detail of this map includes the line showing the Sun Ning Railway (新寧鐵路) one of China’s first railways, and entirely financed by Chinese rather than colonial capital. Its main proponent, Chin Gee Hee (陳宜禧), was a titan of the Pacific Northwest Chinese community, especially in Washington. Also indicated is the Chao Chow-Swatow Railway, the very first Chinese owned line, that was favourably supported by overseas donations from Southeast Asian Chinese. Sadly, both these important railroads would be torn up and destroyed during the 2nd Sino-Japanese war in the late 1930s.

We welcome you to explore these themes and connections between migration, memory, transportation, and colonial conflict in the Chung Lind Gallery, as well as through the Rare Books and Special Collections Reading Room.

 

Further Reading

Willard G. Jue, “Chin Gee-hee, Chinese Pioneer Entrepreneur in Seattle and Toishan”, The Annals of the Chinese Historical Society of the Pacific Northwest, 1983, 31:38.

Hsu, Madeline Y. (2000). Dreaming of Gold, Dreaming of Home: Transnationalism and Migration Between the United States and South China, 1882-1943. Stanford University Press

Reeling in the Past: Game Fishing in Canada

One of the most charming aspects of game fishing is the thrill of the unknown—what lies beneath the surface, whether the day’s efforts will yield a prize catch, or if luck will be on the angler’s side. This unpredictability adds to the excitement for all anglers, from seasoned fishing enthusiasts to weekend hobbyists. But as knowledge deepens, anglers gain an edge in what feels like a blend of skill, patience, and chance.

In this post, we will dive into Canada’s iconic game fishes through vintage publications, exploring the beautiful illustrations preserved in the BC Historical Books and the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection.

“It was always a battle if they made for the reeds”

Illustration in Going Fishing (1946?), p.39

 

A Timeless Tradition

Fishing has long been woven into the fabric of Canadian life, standing as one of the country’s most cherished outdoor activities. Canada’s vast wilderness, cold rivers, and countless lakes have earned it a global reputation as a sportfishing paradise.

Throughout human history, fishing has played a dual role: both as a means of survival and a source of enjoyment. Ancient carvings and drawings suggest that people have been fishing for over thousands of years. By around 3500 BCE in Egypt, tools like spears, nets, and rods emerged, and some of these techniques still influence fishing practices today.

By 2000, fishing had become not only a beloved pastime in Canada but also a major attraction for both Canadian and international anglers. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, a survey from that year reported 3.6 million active anglers in Canada. While the anglers reeled in over 233 million fish, they kept only 84.6 million approximately. Among those kept, trout topped the list at about 34.6 million. These statistics illustrate the abundance of fish in Canada’s waters as well as the enduring appeal of sportfishing for enthusiasts from near and far.

“Then the trout fell through a hole in my wretched net”

Illustration in Going Fishing (1946?), p.133

 

Iconic Game Fishes

Back in 1928, the Canadian Pacific Railway collaborated with the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology and the University of Toronto’s Department of Biology to publish The Game Fishes of Canada, a booklet with beautifully detailed fish illustrations. At that time, over 550 species were believed to inhabit Canadian waters, with more than 150 thriving in freshwater.

As the guidebook put it: for every type of angler, there is a game fish waiting.

An excerpt from page 11 of The Game Fishes of Canada (1928)

 

Atlantic Salmon

The Game Fishes of Canada crowns the Atlantic salmon as the “lord of all freshwater fishes” (p. 12). Sea-run salmon can grow impressively large, with Canada’s record catch weighing 47 pounds (21 kg) on Quebec’s Cascapedia River. Freshwater Atlantic salmon are typically smaller, though some can still reach up to 20 pounds (9 kg).

While their size is notable, it is their active and fierce nature that truly justifies this regal title. According to the Suncor Energy Fluvarium, young Atlantic salmon prefer large, cool rivers with gravelly bottoms, where they hide under overhanging plants and undercut banks for cover.

Atlantic Salmon, illustrated in The Game Fishes of Canada (1928), p. 36

 

Small-Mouthed Bass

The small-mouthed bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a member of the sunfish family, is a powerful freshwater predator. As noted by the Government of Canada, its diet spans a wide range of prey, such as insects, fishes, frogs, and plant material.

Described by Dr. James A. Henshall as “plucky, game, brave, unyielding to the last,” the small-mouthed bass has earned a reputation as “the gamest fish that swims” (The Game Fishes of Canada, p. 13). It thrives in Canada’s cold, clear streams and lakes, favouring rocky habitats with some current.

Small-Mouthed Black Bass, illustrated in The Game Fishes of Canada (1928), p. 4

 

Speckled Trout

According to The Game Fishes of Canada, the speckled trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) holds the widest range of any trout in Canada. Whether in small brooks or mighty rivers like the Nipigon, this fish draws more anglers than any other. It is not just the fight that makes it a favourite; its delicate flavour and the breathtaking landscapes it calls home add to its lasting appeal.

Moreover, speckled trout are also known for their stunning colour variations, shifting from rich olive browns with bright red spots to pale silvers.

Speckled Trout, illustrated in The Game Fishes of Canada (1928), p. 19

Around 1940, the Canadian Pacific Railway released a vibrant poster promoting fishing destinations accessible through its rail network, featuring a speckled trout hooked on a fishing line.

Advertising poster by Peter Ewart (1940?)

 

Thank you for reading this week’s blog post!

If you are interested in diving deeper, follow the links in “Further Readings” to explore more history and illustrations that showcase the rich heritage of fishing.

“An imperturbable scene which fills you with contentment”

Illustration in Going Fishing (1946?), p.115

 

Further Readings

Canadian Pacific Railway Company (1928). The Game Fishes of Canada. From the Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0228150.

Farson, N. & Tunnicliffe, C. F. (1946?). Going Fishing. London: Country Life Limited. From the BC Historical Books: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0385862.

Hawthorn Fly Fishing & Angling Collection: https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/hawthorn.

 

References

Government of Canada (2021). Smallmouth Bass. Retrieved from https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/smallmouthbass-achiganpetitebouche-eng.html.

The Suncor Energy Fluvarium (2019). The Suncor Energy Fluvarium Fact Sheets: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Retrieved from https://fluvarium.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Atlantic_salmon.pdf.

Tuomi, A. (2013). Sportfishing. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sportfishing.