The Politics of Participation: A Study of Canada's Centennial Celebration BY Helen Davies A Thesis Subrnitted to the Facuity of Graduate Studies in Partial Fultiiment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Histop University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba G Copyright September 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Weilington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Cntawa ON Kf A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seil reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of ths thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. 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THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION PAGE The Poiitics of Participation: A Study of Camdi's Centennid Celebntion by Helen Davies A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Facalty of Gnduate Studics of The University of Manitoba in partial fiilfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Pbüosophy Helen Davies O 1999 Permission bas been gnnted to the Librrry of The University of Manitoba to lend or seIl copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Librrry of Canada to microfilm this thesis/practicum and to lend or seil copies of the film, and to Dissertations Abstracts International to publish an abstrrct of this thesidpracticum. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither this thesidpncticum nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's written permission. In 1967 governent officials planned an ambitious program of events to mark the historic occasion of Canada's one hundredth anniversary of Codederation. Existing accounts of Centennial, however, primarily personal reflections, are largely anecdotal in tone, and, to date, there fias been no comprehensive scholady consideration of the 1967 celebration. In contras& this study, a critical analysis of Centennial, explores how organizers designed events and programs that advanced the official objectives of the Centennial to bolster national pride and reinforce political unity. Adopting a culnual studies approach, the thesis examines "non-traditional" texts such as official reports, speeches, minutes, pamphlets, commemorative programs and public events. Also, employing a comparative mode1 of analysis, the thesis considers contemporary films and documentaries, exploring how officials advanced the Centennial message in an attempt to generate pubIic interest, and persuade Canadians to participate. From an organizational perspective at least, Centennial was a rernarkable achievement, with public participation far exceeding official cxpectations. Key to this success \vas the fact that Canadians, encouraged to celebrate in their own persona1 way, were not forced to express one vision of Canada or Canadian identity. In the end. Centennial functioned as a catalyst that engendered in many Canadians a new belief in thsmselves and the nation, launching thern into what they believed was a bright fùture, full of promise. 1 would like to express my appreciation to Professor John Burnsted for his words of encouragement, guidance, and ongoing support. Thank you also to Karen Morrow and the History department administrative support staff for dl their assistance over the years. Thank you to Neville A. Grey for his unwavering support. 1 am forever indebted to him for his understanding and patience, as well as his belief in the importance of my work and confidence in rny ability. Thank oualso to Margaret M. Davies for her unfailing encouragement and support over the years. To my &ends, Catherine Howett, Professor Rohan Maitzen and Professor Paul Dutton, thank you for al1 your help dong the way. Page CHAPTERONE: Planning the Party of the Century CHAPTERTWO: Canadians Catch Cenrennial Fever: Promoting Canadian Unity CHAPTERTHREE: Out of the Past: The Futwe CHAPTERFOUR: A Fair to Remember: EXPO '67 CKVTER FIVE: Centennial RS.V.P. ,~PPE'(;DIxA: Centennial Statement of Expense (Year End March 3 1. 1968) APPENDIXB: Programs & Projects of National Significance (March 3 1, 1968) APPEIIDIX C: Grants to Provinces for Projects of a Lasting Nature (March 3 1, 1 968) '~PPENDIXD: Lyrics to Bobby Gimby Song, Ca-na-da "...the primary and most general hnction of the festival is to renounce and then to announce culture, to renew periodicaliy the Iife Stream of a community by creating new energy, and to give sanction to its institutions." Alesandro Falassi Pd-] Time Out of Time: Essays on the Fesfiual, 1987. In 1967 Canadians joined together to mark Canada's one hundredth anniversary of Confederation, and with uncharacteristic enthusiasm and genuine national pride, they took part in extraordinaxy numbers. Thousands of people participated in the many officially organized national events and even more Canadiam took part in local, grass roots activities. Encouraged by govemment organizers to celebrate Centennial in their own particular façhion, Canadians expressed their national prïde in astonishing ways. They created Centennial hair-dos, participated in neighbourhood beautification projects, sewed Centemial toques. planned dances, arranged contests, sponsored sports toumaments, hosted youth exchange programs, presented historical pageants and organized parades. Everyone was invited to the celebration and, as if to emphasize the point. the residents of one northem Alberta community constructed a UFO landing pad, just in case. Given that officiais had had little time to plan and prepare for an event of such magnitude, the success of Centemial was a remarkable accomplishrnent.' While solid official support of the national event was an important factor, in the final analysis, hile non-governmental organizations started planning for centennial year as early as 1959, the governrnent was slow to formalize a plan of action. An Act Respecthg the Observance ofihe Centennial of Confederation in Canada received Royal Assent on September 29, ,196 1, but the Commission did not begin its work in earnest until early 1963, when Commissioner John Fisher undertook to staffsenior positions. was Canadians themselves who, by participaihg in exceptionai num bers, ensured Centemial was a positive and mernorable event. Marvelling at the extraordinary level of public involvement, one participant remarked that "something intangible happened. Al1 sorts of barriers between people - sociaI, religious, and so on - seemed to break down when people started working on . Centennial projects."' Reflecting on the spectacle, Canadian historian Jack Granatstein maintained -'the hundredth birthday ceiebrations combined with Expo . [gave] Canadians a sense of national pride . and the feeling quickly spread that the good, grey outlook that had long been said to characterize Canadians was gone forever.'" A feeling of optirnism and confidence in the future typified the Centemial year, an attitude that was reflected in coverage by the international press. Remarking on the success of the Montreal exposition, one British journaiist wrote Expo 67 isn't just a world fair, it has glitter, sex appeal, and it's given impact and meaning to a word that had neither: Canadian.' Over thirty years latsr, Centemial continues to figure pmminently in the minds of many Canadians. Writing on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Expo '67 and Centennial: journalist Alarma Mitchell observed, It seems a long ago time now, but there was a moment, a shining moment. '&Lacleans, December 1967, pp. 89-90. '~ac2,L. Granatstein, Canada 1957-1967.- The Years of Uncertainty and Innovation (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1986), p. 304. ondo don Observer, quoted in Robert Fulford, Remember Expo. A Pictoriaf Record (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, I968), p. 25. 3 when Canada felt good about itself." Similarly. in their recent handbook on Canadian popular culture, writers Pevere and Dymond suggest "it was probably the most fun the country ever had doing something it was told to do.'" With each successive anniversary, joumalists mark the eveat with nostalgie articles about a time when, in our "memory, the sun is always bright, the St. Lawence River sparkling blue, and the breeze gentle-" Pierre Berton's recent book chronicling Canada's Centennial year is no exception. With the titie 1967: The Last Good Year, Berton implies Centennid signalled the zenith of Canadian optimism, success, and patriotic feeling, with everything thereafter having been something of a let down. Conceding there were tensions between Canadians, Berton nsvertheless c haracterizes 1967 as "a special year - a vintage year . a turning-point yrar.'" Many Canadians, it would seem, agree. Whether remembering Bobby Gimby's hit Song, CA-NA-M, their tour through the Confederation Train or Caravan exhibits, a farnily vacation to EXPO 67, or taking part in a