Objective Conditions
Jewish refugee's on board a train, Canada - 1927
Since anti-Semitism has always existed within Canada, specific acts of hatred against Jews commonly occured. Below are examples of significant conditions and rights they were deprived of.
Education Rights
The first general act of discriminaiton occured in the British North America Act of 1867, which did not give Jews proper educational rights, as they were ascribed to Protestants and Catholics only. Although this problem was later solved, and by the 1920's and 1930's Jews would often enroll in top Canadian colleges and universities, there were still large amounts of discrimination on campus. As a result, Jewish enrolment would significantly decrease, for example at McGill University the Jewish student population declined from 25 to 12 percent between 1925 and 1935.
Career Rights
Movements such as the "Achat Chez Nous" were invented during the 19th centuary. They were attempts by the Church and nationalist leaderes to boycott all Jewish businessess. Around this time Jews in Canada had many personally owned businesses, since most industries refused to hire them. Even people who had proper credentials could not obtain jobs. Jews who were trained in respectable fields, such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers or teachers, had to hide their identity in order to find work.
Education Rights
The first general act of discriminaiton occured in the British North America Act of 1867, which did not give Jews proper educational rights, as they were ascribed to Protestants and Catholics only. Although this problem was later solved, and by the 1920's and 1930's Jews would often enroll in top Canadian colleges and universities, there were still large amounts of discrimination on campus. As a result, Jewish enrolment would significantly decrease, for example at McGill University the Jewish student population declined from 25 to 12 percent between 1925 and 1935.
Career Rights
Movements such as the "Achat Chez Nous" were invented during the 19th centuary. They were attempts by the Church and nationalist leaderes to boycott all Jewish businessess. Around this time Jews in Canada had many personally owned businesses, since most industries refused to hire them. Even people who had proper credentials could not obtain jobs. Jews who were trained in respectable fields, such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers or teachers, had to hide their identity in order to find work.
Property and Location Rights
There were also restrictions on places Jews could go, and what they were allowed to buy. Several clubs, resorts, beaches etc. did not give access to Jews, and could even have signs reading things like "No Jews or Dogs Allowed" or "Christians Only!"
Display of anti-Semitic symbols/propaganda - Christie Pits Riot
During WII organizations such as the National Social Christian Party took it upon themselves to distribute anti-Semitic propaganda from Germany, and along with the the signs informing Jews they were not allowed to enter a specific area, there could also be offensive posters, cartoons, articles etc. published or put up across Canada.
A notable example of anti-Semitic material being displayed and the effects it could have on the Jewish community was the Christie Pits Riot. It occured on August 16, 1933 in "Christie Pits" (Willowdale Park), located in Toronto, Ontario. The riot broke out after a quarter-final baseball game between two local clubs, one of which was predominantly Jewish, and the other was a team sponsored by St. Peter's church at Bathurst and Bloor. During half-time, a Nazi Flag was held up, causing a fight between the two teams. Fortunetly, no one was killed, and the incident would assist in bringing to light the negative attitudes many Canadians had towards Jews and other immigrant minorities.
Government Restrictions
Lastly, the most immportant act of discrimination was by the government, who created limitations against Jews that wanted to immigrate to Canada, especially during World War II. Since The Great Depression had only recently hit Canada, the public was particularily intolerant of immigrants, and Prime Minister W.L Mackenzie King was urged to restrict immigration to only those who were "acceptable". This included understanable requirements like work skill, but was also based off if you were British or American.
Even if Jews were able to meet these immigration requirements, they could still be turned down. Although The Canadian Jewish Congress allocated funds to financially sponsor 10,000 Jewish refugees, the government still rejected the proposal. Unfair decisions like that often occured, and can be attributed to the widespread anti-Semitism in Canada during the 1930s. Historian David Rome’s wrote
“The reluctance of the Canadian government to admit Jewish refugees in any great numbers was a fair reflection of public opinion [...] which was a strong Anglo-Saxon nativism permeated with Anti-Semitism.”
The results of such public opinions can be seen when Canada remained adamant to Jewish immigration, even with many Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecutionwho were pleading for admittance. In comparison, the United States granted entry to 240,000 Jews, Palestine took 100,000 and Great Britain 85,000, while Canada allowed access to only 4000 immigrants.
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Photographic Evidence of Objective Conditions
Although there is no written identification attached to this photograph, it believed it was taken at The Lake Winnipeg resort in Manitoba, which had been promoting it was a "Jew Free" area since 1912. Signs like this were not uncommon during the 1930's and 1940's, and were often seen in Halifax golf courses, outside hotels in the Laurentians, throughout the cottage areas of Ontario, the lake country of Manitoba, and the vacation lands of British Columbia. In the photo two utility poles can be seen, with various signs posted on one of them. The first reads "Christians ONLY" followed by another reading "JEWS NOT ALLOWED" and lastly, "DANGER".
There are no people present in the photograph, but it can be assumed due to the resort's policies that all guests would have been Anglo-Saxan Christians.
The reason why the photo was taken is unknown, although it is possible it could have been for the purpose of being published. During this time, Jewish organizations and the Jewish press were attempting to increase the public's awareness of Anti-Semitism, and photo's such as these would have been printed as convincing evidence of the social problem since unfortunetly, signs such as these accuretly depicted the attitude of Manitoba's population towards Jews.
At the time, they were not welcomed at recreational clubs, who denied membership to anyone that opposed their religious ideals. Whole neighbourhoods often excluded Jews from purchasing a home or living in the area. Jews were unwanted at local beaches, where local newspapers urged residents to “keep our beach free of ... the unwanted grades.” As well, even the University of Manitoba`s admission was based off the student`s race rather than their academic performance. Preferred students were Anglo-Saxon or French Canadian, and even if such a student failed the required courses they could still gain admission over a Jewish applicant. On top of the "NO JEWS ALLOWED" signs placed throughout the province, people would also paint swastikas on Jewish stores or businesses. Therefore, if this photo had been shown to the public it definetly would have impacted their views on the social problem, or at the least, would have informed them one existed.
There are no people present in the photograph, but it can be assumed due to the resort's policies that all guests would have been Anglo-Saxan Christians.
The reason why the photo was taken is unknown, although it is possible it could have been for the purpose of being published. During this time, Jewish organizations and the Jewish press were attempting to increase the public's awareness of Anti-Semitism, and photo's such as these would have been printed as convincing evidence of the social problem since unfortunetly, signs such as these accuretly depicted the attitude of Manitoba's population towards Jews.
At the time, they were not welcomed at recreational clubs, who denied membership to anyone that opposed their religious ideals. Whole neighbourhoods often excluded Jews from purchasing a home or living in the area. Jews were unwanted at local beaches, where local newspapers urged residents to “keep our beach free of ... the unwanted grades.” As well, even the University of Manitoba`s admission was based off the student`s race rather than their academic performance. Preferred students were Anglo-Saxon or French Canadian, and even if such a student failed the required courses they could still gain admission over a Jewish applicant. On top of the "NO JEWS ALLOWED" signs placed throughout the province, people would also paint swastikas on Jewish stores or businesses. Therefore, if this photo had been shown to the public it definetly would have impacted their views on the social problem, or at the least, would have informed them one existed.