The 1960s was a decade to remember. A period of time that makes me proud to be Canadian. The 1960s rebellion. This decade was full of strikes and protests for non-existent values such as, local and economical inequalities like racism, women’s rights, opportunities for non-whites, and so many more. This was a time when Canada stood together as one, proud country. They fought along side each other rather than against. To achieve these goals some turned to communes and shared living spaces and possessions in an effort to redefine community and family. Canadians also evolved into the sixties by going to school, playing loud music , and wearing new styles of clothing. To further spread equality, both men and women wore the same style hair. They replaced granny glasses, jeans, and sandals for bobby sox, sweater sets and coiffed hair from the 50s.
This decade was also highly influenced by television, most Canadians became “television witness” as they watched hundreds of thousands of deaths from the Vietnam war, and the assassination of both president Kennedy(1962) and Robert Kennedy(1968). These gruesome events had an enormous impact on how those Canadians viewed their once pure, forgiving world. In the 1960s, music could be heard around every corner in Canada, it was a way of attempting to heal the deep wounds of war. some artists that were buzzing around this time are, Bobby Curtola (“The stroll”, “Hand in hand with you”, “fortuneteller”), The Guess Who (“shakin’ all over”, “american woman”), Neil Young (“ohio”), and so many others who contributed to the crazy sixties. Along with music people also could be seen preforming signature dances like “the twist”, “the hand jive”, and “the mashed potato”.
In 1963, the aboriginal peoples thought that they also deserve equality and joined the fight. They demanded justice and equality. With freedom being all the rage at the, women hoped that their thoughts would finally be heard and, oh boy, they were. One ms. Betty Friedman “the feminist mystique” shattered the happy-house wife myth. Women were and still are insanely strong and were finally being seen as people and not just incubators for tiny humans. These reasons are why the sixties were so significant, because we evolved, and began to respect one another. If you were from another country and knew nothing about Canada, you’d probably think of us Canadians as kind and peaceful people.
Sources:
- Canada, community and change textbook
- Historyofcanadianrock.com
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