Canada

Origins

When seeking the origins of Canadian journalism, two seemingly unrelated events begin the investigation. One form of journalistic expression sprang up in an army camp in 1759 commanded by an arrogant British general, James Wolfe, who had been told to drive France out of North America. General George Townshend used his skills as a political commentator to communicate his dislike of Wolfe to those around him. Townshend's messages were relayed in numerous sketches, one of which showed Wolfe probing the depths of camp latrines. Wolfe was less than enamored and threatened to bring his tormentor up on charges when they both returned to England. As it turned out Wolfe died in the campaign.

With Wolfe's victory over the French, British influence extended from the islands of Arctic Canada to the Spanish and French colonies that are now part of the southern United States. Bartholomew Greene (who had been posted to Nova Scotia from Massachusetts) decided to remain in the Atlantic colony to establish some form of journalistic activity in what is now the city of Halifax. He began the Halifax Gazette, predecessor of the contemporary Halifax Chronicle Herald. The unfortunate Greene died before the first issue appeared under the watchful eye of John Bushell, a friend and confidant. Unfortunately, Bushell was more successful at establishing the role of the journalist as an alcoholic than at practicing the craft. His paper survived in spite of its relationship to death and disease. At the same time magazine publishing began as both Halifax and Quebec City provided homes for early ventures though none survived more than a couple of years.

Canadian journalism did not really become Canadian until the United States severed itself from the British Empire. That separation would prove profitable for those attempting to establish a press in the four colonies that would eventually form the base for Canada. Before the British and the Americans would once again tangle in conflict between 1812 and 1814, no fewer than twenty newspapers emerged, publishing in both English and French. When English troops occupied Quebec following the conquest of 1759, they soon discovered that the only printing press in French Canada was assigned exclusively to the publication of religious documents. The situation amongst English occupants was not much better. Early newspapers regularly reissued information extracted from European papers received in the colonies. Like their French speaking counterparts, English newspapers also concentrated on religious documents. Real news of life in the colonies was transmitted orally.

In keeping with the pronounced Scottish influence on the development of the country, the first Canadian journalist of note was a Scot. With the establishment of his Colonial Advocate in 1824, William Lyon Mackenzie was determined to become (and succeeded in being) a thorn in the side of the colonial regime. Mackenzie took great delight in reporting on the sermons of the head of the Church of England in Canada, Bishop John Strachan, who was not amused by Mackenzie's analysis. But Mackenzie was no model of perfection. He often had to go into hiding to avoid angry creditors. He managed to get himself elected to the legislative assembly but his behavior got him expelled on numerous occasions. His final act of defiance came in 1837 when he encouraged disgruntled colonists to attack the governing council with a view to overthrowing its authority. The rebellion failed and Mackenzie made it to New York barely ahead of a hanging posse.

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