HELP! Canadians needed- questions about Canada.?

Question

I'm writing a novella that is based in Canada in the late 1960's counter-cultural movement. A native Texan, I am a fool when the subject is Canada, but i find that Canada is extremely interesting when the subject is the 1960's counter cultural movement, because i understand that Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, etc.) was a huge part of the movement. The novella is about an LSD dealer who lives in Jamestown, NY- who travels through Canada (along the U.S. border, Cities like the ones mentioned above) in order to experience the late 1960's in Canada. I need Canadians (or anyone who knows something) to please help me with facts. Other ideas appreciated! thanks, SMM.

Answer 1

Try finding a video of a cross Canada music trip, by train. A lot of the current rock bands were involved, including Janis Joplin, and many others. The title , I think was The Peace Train.



Lots of back stage videos, and drug use.



At that time, there were a lot of US draft dodgers in Canada, and they were all worried about being picked up and sent back to the USA. Public sentiment in Canada was divided with just about equal numbers of Canadians who supported the war in Viet Nam, and others who were strongly against it



Our Prime Minister at that time, was Pierre Trudeau, who was about as left wing as LBJ was right wing, so they sure did not get along. PET was really close with Fidel Castro, too.



The hang out place in Toronto in that time period was Yorkville Avenue, with a number of coffee house/ clubs, with nightly entertainment, such as Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and bands like The Sparrow, Mina Byrd, and what would later become Steppenwolf, and Buffalo Springfield.



Rochedale College, on Bloor street, was originally a part of the U of Toronto. but rapidly became a highrise drug market. Do some google on that name. It was said that if you couldn't find your drug of choice at Rochedale, there wasn;t any in the city, man.



ON a side note..........did you know that the CIA did some secret LSD experiments at a private clinic in Montreal, in the mid 60's, to see what it would do to mental patients .......They wound up paying a large cash settlement , years later, to the victims.



At that time, Canada had just made the move to recognize Communist China, and the USA Feds were pissed, and made all kinds of thinly veiled threats to us. In Toronto there were a number of student Maoist inspired groups, like Risiing Up Angry and Red Morning. They were infiltrated by the Toronto cops and the RCMP, as well. Don't ask me how I know that.......Nudge wink wink.



Most of the Toronto drug use was so called "soft drugs ' like acid and pot, but there was smack and morphine, and mushrooms, all of which were controlled by the bikers. The three major MC's were the Vagabonds, Black Diamond Riders, and the Stan's Choice. All were one percenters, and the Vags had a direct connection to the Angels in LA. Regular supply trips were made, by club "old ladies " who were OK to cross the border, with no criminal records.



Just about no one was growing pot in eastern Canada back then, so it was coming from the USA or Mexico. Low grade stuff, but cheap too. A bit was coming in from Jamaica, too.



The Toronto Star newspaper, might be a good source for actual archival news stories, from that time period. And photos.



The main street in Toronto, then and now, is Yonge street. In those days, it was the place for suburban kids to "score some dope " and to see the best bar band acts around. The Mayor of Yonge Street was Rompin Ronnie Hawkins, at the Cock D=Or Tavern. He came to Canada from Arkansas in 1957, and never really went home. He and his band the Hawks tore up Toronto and were and are legends. You might recognize the names of his back up band...Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson,



Later on they became THE BAND, after a period of time backing that kid from Minnesota, little Bobby Dylan. Hawkins is still alive but retired. At his 65th birthday party, the guest list included Bill Clinton, BB King, Bo Didley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Johnny Winter, Santana, and THE BAND. Not bad for a guy from the sticks, north of Little Rock.



I could go on forever, but supper is ready, grin.



Good Luck with the project.



Jim B



Toronto.

Answer 2

Many things, actually. Canadians care for each other in ways Americans just don't seem to understand. Health care is the big example - in the USA it is a business, making money off sick people. In Canada, it is a service, much like fire or police protection. Thus, while we pay about 1/2 of what Americans pay (per capita) for health care, we get far better coverage. Our infant mortality rate is better, and so on. We are also a much more peaceful country. While our military can fight like demons - man for man we are FAR better than the US military (I know this from personal experience as well as my studies), unless someone provokes us, we do not fight. We have, however, helped many other countries over the years - we were once the biggest peace-keeping country in the world, and we are still involved in about 2 dozen missions around the world - keeping the peace. There are a host of Canadian inventions out there (look up Canadian inventions on Google - you would be surprised at what you find!). Canada typically rates higher than the USA on the "best countries to live in" lists. Now, Americans are very, very patriotic. "My country, right or wrong" is a prevailing opinion there. Canadians are not like this at all. We are patriotic, but in a much quieter way. And, if our country messes up somehow, the people let the government know about it! Many Americans say they are the best country, and assume they are, but the vast majority are in fact very ignorant about the world, so really cannot say this with any accuracy. The USA is a great country, to be sure, but I, and most Canadians would certainly not want to live there! Having travelled a lot in the USA (and having grown up in a border town), I do know a lot about your country. Simply put, Canada is much better, for many, many reasons. Simple proof of this is that the world loves Canada, but few other countries love the USA.

Answer 3

There was a group in the Quebec area that used to gather up busloads of draft dodgers and go for a drive in the country to a party. The bus always seemed to breakdown on this country road far from the big city. Help always came from the nearby US military base. Those darn borders you need a map to find them. A nudge and a wink to who the driver worked for.

Answer 4

Google - Canada's 1960s

Answer 5

I don't really see a specific question here. I hope your novella is more clearly written than this question.

Answer 6

What kind of facts are you looking for?

Answer 7

do your own research it will work out better, there is lots of information online.