Canada in the 1930s

From the Great Depression to the outbreak of the Second World War, Canadians faced hardship and disruption. Government responses included work camps, economic and social legislation, and limits to immigration. By 1940, Canada had a national bank, broadcaster, film board and unemployment insurance scheme. But government help was limited and many people struggled in the “Dirty Thirties.” Canadians staged strikes and protests and joined populist political movements. Some embraced radical alternatives like fascism or communism, including those who fought in the Spanish Civil War. Artists and writers recorded and responded to these developments, embracing modernism and social realism in their work. 

This collection brings together resources in The Canadian Encyclopedia related to Canada in the 1930s, including articles, timelines and primary sources.