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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 "[email protected]"
Proceeds of the sale will go to our 2015 Charities.
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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 "[email protected]"- 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.
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