Québec: Changing Tides. The 1950s and 60s

Transcription

1 Québec: Changing Tides The 1950s and 60s

2 1955 Richard Riot Introduction The Richard Riot, CBC Archives, /sports/maurice_richard/clip3

3 1955 Richard Riot Montreal Canadiens fans were (and are) devout: Long Hockey tradition (some argue hockey was founded here) Only NHL team in Québec for many years Montreal Canadiens have been very successful A Montreal Club won the first championship involving the Stanley Cup in 1893 The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 22 times since the NHL took control of the prize in 1926 Stanley Cup Champions with Richard: 1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960

4 1955 Richard Riot Maurice Richard Grew up in Montreal, and played his entire career with the Canadiens (1942/ /60) Known for his scoring ability, exciting play, and physical presence Set many NHL records: scored 50 goals in 50 games in 1944/45 Record stood for nearly 40 years (Gretzky, 1981/82)

5 1955 Richard Riot Maurice Richard Fought NHL leadership in newspaper articles Seen as a hockey hero and cultural icon in Québec Millions of Québecers, especially francophones, considered him their hero Since 1999, the NHL s top goal scorer is awarded the Maurice Richard Trophy Died 27 May 2000 (78 years old); tens of thousands lined the streets to pay their respects Recall: 1944/45 = 50 game season 1995/96+ = 82 game season

6 1955 Richard Riot 13 March 1955 With 3 games left in the 54/ 55 NHL season, the Montreal Canadiens were tied with the Detroit Red Wings for first place Maurice Richard was leading the NHL in scoring Canadiens played an away game against the Boston Bruins on this day (Boston finished in 4 th place that year)

7 1955 Richard Riot Intense match With10 minutes left in the game, Boston defenceman Hal Laycoe struck Richard with a high-stick, leaving a bloody gash on his head

8 1955 Richard Riot What happened next changed the course of the Canadiens 1954/55 season The referee called a penalty, but for Richard it wasn't enough. He went after Laycoe. Lifting his stick high over his head with two hands, Richard swung down and smashed Laycoe with all his might. A linesman grabbed Richard and took away his stick. Richard broke away, got another stick, broke it as he lashed at Laycoe again. He grabbed yet another stick and hit Laycoe across the back. Now the linesman jumped on Richard and pinned him to the ice until a Montreal teammate pulled the official away. Richard then got up and punched the linesman in the face. Twice. Raj Ahluwalia, We Interrupt This Program: The News Broadcasts That Kept Us Tuned In, (Toronto: Winding Stair Press, 2002), p. 32.

9 1955 Richard Riot Laycoe received a 5 minute major penalty for the high sticking, a 10 minute misconduct for not taking his place in the penalty box Richard received a match penalty for his outburst NHL president Clarence Campbell (English- Canadian) suspended Richard for the remainder of the regular season, and the entire 1955 playoffs This was the severest penalty Campbell had ever given a player until this point The chances of Richard winning the scoring title were all but gone, and fans doubted if the Canadiens could win the Stanley Cup without their star

10 1955 Richard Riot Clarence Campbell defiantly attended the next Canadiens game at the Forum against the Detroit Red Wings on 17 March It did not take long for the crowd to react; Richard s suspension had infuriated elements of the Québec population Many of the 16,000+ fans at the forum reacted violently Campbell was pelted with eggs, tomatoes, and bottles, and harassed by fans before a tear-gas bomb sent the angry crowd into the streets The crowd ravaged the downtown core, causing over $100,000 in damages Richard asked the fans to avoid future conflict and to focus their energy on supporting the Canadiens

11 1955 Richard Riot The Detroit Red Wings Eventually Won the Stanley Cup in 1955 Richard s teammate Bernard Geoffrion won the scoring title While resulting in defeat for the Canadiens, the suspension and subsequent riot marked the beginnings of a social / political movement in Québec known as the Quiet Revolution

12 The Quiet Revolution Maurice Duplessis (Premier , ): Union Nationale Promoted Québec nationalism Encouraged British, American, and English-Canadian involvement in the Québec economy la survivance (survival): French Language, Catholic church are the pillars Québec was very Traditional / Conservative during his term Québec had fallen behind the rest of Canada in many regards Jean Lesage (Premier ): Liberal Reform-minded; looked to modernize the province

13 The Quiet Revolution The Quiet Revolution is generally characterized as a period of dramatic change in Québec during the Lesage years Large scale rejection of past values; modernization: Less religious / traditional attitudes More liberal, secular, & international attitudes Changes in education and the economy Move beyond La survivance; wanted greater recognition in the Confederation The concept of the French Canadian is replaced by the Québécois Greater change demands greater support from the government: Québec goes from least taxed / indebted province to the greatest Nationalism and the French Language remain strong pillars of society

14 The Quiet Revolution The Quiet Revolution Movement has been interpreted as a high point in Québec s history. Nevetheless, it also gave rise to a powerful separation movement and fostered the development of some terrorist organizations...

15 Terrorism in Québec Introduction Just watch Me, CBC Archives,

16 Terrorism in Québec The Front De Libération Du Québec (FLQ) was founded in March 1963: Fought against perceived injustices from: English-Canada Foreign Influence The Upper Class Fought for Québec Separation Involved in over 200 bombings in Québec between 1963 and 1970

17 5 October 1970: FLQ kidnapped James Cross, the British Trade Commissioner in Montréal October Crisis FLQ Demanded: Release of FLQ members from prison Broadcasting of FLQ manifesto Manifesto read on Radio-Canada; kidnappers offered safe passage abroad 10 October: FLQ kidnapped Pierre Laporte, the Québec minister of Labour and Immigration

18 October Crisis Québec Premier Robert Bourassa turned to Ottawa for help 15 October: 3,000 people gathered to support FLQ s separatist ideas 16 October: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act: FLQ is banned Suspended basic civil rights and liberties Arrests / Detentions allowed without warrant / charge Increased military presence Over 450 persons detained in Québec (many eventually released having never been charged) Those detained could be held for up to 21 days without being charged

19 October Crisis October 17: Laporte s body was found strangled in the trunk of a car First Canadian assassination in over 100 years The group holding Cross was found in December; Cross was released after negotiations that allowed 5 FLQ members safe passage to Cuba (all eventually returned to Canada - were tried and convicted of kidnapping) FLQ never had more than 35 members FLQ activities ceased in 1971

20 October Crisis The federal response to the kidnapping was intensely controversial. According to opinion polls, an overwhelming majority of Canadians supported the Cabinet s action, but it was criticized as excessive by Québec nationalists and by civil libertarians throughout the country. Denis Smith