Banner

Neither Celebrated Nor Forgotten

By Éric Bédard June 22, 2009 The sovereigntist protests over a planned re-enactment of the pivotal 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham offer an opportunity for Quebecers to forge a new relationship with their own history.

The letters of British General James Wolfe, who stationed his army of almost 40,000 men across from Quebec City on June 23, 1759, show a man dreaming of revenge. “I must admit, I’d be delighted to see the Canadian vermin pillaged, plundered and repaid for its cruel actions,” he wrote. If the Canadian fighters did not surrender, he promised in his June 27 Proclamation, their families in the backcountry would perish “in the most severe famine this winter.” Wolfe’s threats fell on deaf ears: the eleven thousand Canadian militiamen—one in seven residents—held their ground. This …

  • You must be a subscriber to view the rest of this content.
Winter

ISSUE 42 Winter 2011

online content:

also in this issue:

  • Getting Plowed

    by Selena Ross In this exclusive investigative report from Montreal, Maisonneuve exposes the bid-rigging, violence and sabotage at the heart of an unlikely racket: snow removal.

  • In the House of the Lord

    by Andrea Bennett The Jackson Avenue Housing Co-operative and the religious battle raging in one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods.

  • After Jack

    by Nick Taylor-Vaisey Last May, Jack Layton led the NDP to the greatest victory in party history. Now that he's gone, will the party be able to maintain its momentum?
  • [see full issue contents]