#road camp

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

Doukhobor Conscientious Objectors at Alternative Service Camp, Montreal Lake, Saskatchewan 1941. Most came from Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, or the Doukhobor communities around it. They were sent to work starting in June 1941, as Doukhobors were conscientious objectors and refused to serve in the Canadian military, as they had refused decades ago to serve in the Czar’s army.. Dozens of other young Doukhobor men were imprisoned for their refusal to join the army or do alternative service, or fled to other parts of Canada. The Alternative Service workers built between June and October 1941 forty miles of Highway No. 2 (still in use) connecting La Ronge with points south, through land that was mostly First Nations.

Mostly from the private collection of Peter A. Kouznitsoff, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Doukhobor Heritage.

1) A meeting of camp representatives. Alec Morosoff - blonde, standing; Peter Popoff - sitting far right on bunk; John J. Bondoreff - sitting at table wearing vest; others unidentified. From the private collection of Mike S. Nadane, Kamsack, Saskatchewan.

2) Cutting Cordwood for the Cook Tent - Alternative Service Camp, Montreal Lake, SK, 1941. From the private collection of Mike S. Nadane, Kamsack, Saskatchewan.

3) Life in the Camp: A group of Doukhobors posing for a photo at the alternate service work camp, Montreal Lake, SK, 1941. 

4) Life in the Camp: A group of Doukhobor elders from Blaine Lake, SK visit the workers at the Montreal Lake alternate service work camp, 1941.

5) Road Construction Work: Heavy equipment parked along the grade as it is built up during road construction. Alternate service road construction project, Montreal Lake, SK, 1941.

6) Road Construction Work: A dragline prepares the road bed and ditches along the alternate service road construction project at Montreal Lake, SK, 1941.

7) Moving the Camp: The work camp was built to be portable so that it could follow the course of the road construction. All the tents were built on wooden skids. Here, a tent in the distance is being skidded down the roadway to the next location. Three such moves are known to have occurred during the Montreal Lake alternate service road construction project, 1941.

8) Road Construction Work: Peter A. Kouznitsoff (left) poses with several Doukhobor heavy equipment operators during road construction work. Montreal Lake alternate service work camp, 1941.

9) Road Construction Work: Peter A. Kouznitsoff (left) poses with another Doukhobor worker atop a road grader.

10) Doukhobor conscientious objectors at the Montreal Lake alternate service camp were granted leave on Sundays. On several occasions, men on leave travelled to nearby Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park for recreation. Here a group poses near the beach; Peter A. Kouznitsoff is seated in the center foreground, July 6, 1941.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

Camps for Trans-Canada highway workers, all of whom were unemployed men on relief in Ontario forced to build roads for their meagre welfare. All from the Toronto Star, issues of September 26, September 12 and October 2, 1931. 

Notably these photos have all been produced from negatives that were painted or retouched for publication.  

Toronto Public Library, Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

1) One of the box-like buildings of frame and tarpaper. A canvas top or tent will be placed over this to complete it. TSPA_0018484F.

2) Trans-Canada highway camps to house workers on the North Bay-Pembroke section of the Ontario route are nearing completion. TSPA_0018482F

3)  Forerunners of Highway camps; This board-walled tent camp is typical of those which probably will be built along the northern Ontario route of the trans-Canada highway to house the workers erecting buildings of a more substantial type for the road-workers. TSPA_0018481F.

4) Workmen busy on construction of shacks in one of the camps along North Bay-Mattawa section of trans-Canada highway; to where some of Toronto jobless have gone. TSPA_0018486F

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Were Disgruntled About Work Camps,” Kingston Whig-Standard. March 7, 1933. Page 1. ---- Men Returned to Brantford Because They Didn't Like "Straw" Bosses ---- BRANTFORD, Ont., March 7 - It was learned here today that 15 Brantford men of the 60 who went to the relief camp at Sheba, in Northwestern Ontario, to begin work last December 15, have returned to this city and other places in Western Ontario.

They were said to have become disgruntled over "straw bosses" and because they were charged 50 cents a month for medical fees, but claim they did not see a doctor in camp while they were there.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Send Body of Road Worker To Hamilton For Burial,” North Bay Nugget. December 28, 1932. Page 1.  ---- Authorities Checking Up Death of Harry Faulkner ---- DOUBT ALCOHOL STORY --- Bonfleld, Dec. 29— (Special)— The remains of Harry Faulkner, 26, Hamilton, employed at the Bonfield West Trans-Canada Highway Camp, whose death occurred on Friday morning last after being in an unconscious condition for six days, was disinterred and forwarded to North Bay on Saturday and sent to Hamilton on Sunday for burial. 

Burial was made at Bonfield, pending the outcome of an investigation now being conducted by Provincial Constables Gagne and Berard. An inquest held here on Friday last was adjourned after testimony was heard from Madame DeKerline, nurse in charge of the Red Cross Hospital here, and Dr. Irwin who attended the man. It was believed death was caused by consuming wood alcohol but this is now doubted by the authorities. 

Faulkner was taken suddenly ill on Sunday December 18 and was removed to the Red Cross Hospital, the Wednesday following. He died on Friday the same week without regaining consciousness.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Flatly Denies Story That He Was Badly Treated at Camp,” North Bay Nugget. November 30, 1932. Page 1 & 2. ----- Highway Worker Tells How He Was Attended at Pembroke ---- GOT BEST OF ATTENTION ---- In direct contradiction of a statement contained in a story carried by a Toronto paper dealing with the mythical trials and tribulations of a disgruntled worker at the Stonecliffe camp of the Trans-Canada highway project and in which it was alleged that one man was denied care and treatment when suffering from a serious throat aliment, Arthur Sullivan, the sufferer, alluded to voluntarily wrote the Northern Development Branch, North Bay, to explain that he couldn't have been accorded better treatment. 

In explaining his experience, Mr. Sullivan lauds those in charge of the camp and the doctor and the nurses who attended him in hospital in Pembroke. 

His letter follows: - 

"In the issue of a Toronto publication of Nov 23., there appealed an article dealing with an interview between certain Trans-Canada highway employees and a representative of the paper. 

"In the course of this interview, there was a certain ex-employee of this (Stonecliffe) camp who, not content with casting reflection on the camp in regards to medical attention provided the men, mentioned particularly the instance of non-attention to a man suffering from a sore throat.. Now, I being the man who he undoubtedly referred to would like, in due, fairness to the Department as well as the doctor and nurses at the Pembroke General Hospital who attended me during and after the operation, to place with you the true facts of my case. 

Was Operated on During the latter part of August my throat had been troubling me to a considerable extent, I decided to as a doctor and went to Pembroke. There Dr. Galligan after an examination, decided that an operation would be the only way to relieve the tonsil trouble. This operation was performed satisfactorily and every attention was given me by the Sisters in charge at the Pembroke General Hospital. 

"I returned to this camp again on Sept. 10 being fully recovered from the operation. I went to work Monday morning, Sept. 12, but apparently the throat had not fully healed as bleeding started during the night and next morning. I was very weak from loss of blood, Mr Hicklin, who arrived at the camp, that morning arranged for a conveyance back to the hospital and everything was done to make me as comfortable as possible on the return trip. 

"I remained In the hospital this second time from Sept. 13 until Sept. 24 and then the doctor pronouncing me fit and ready for work. I returned to this camp where I have been employed since then. 

Not Charged For It "A sense of appreciation for the good care and attention which I received from the Department during this illness, prompts me to forward you this statement, and in closing, I might say that no deductions for medical fees have been made from my pay since my arrival at the camp nor to the best of my knowledge, the pay of any other employe.”

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Experimental Camps Being Carried On,” North Bay Nugget. May 4, 1932. Page 1. ---- Work on Trans-Canada in This Section is Entirely Closed Down --- Other than for two small camps at Moor Lake, operating on an experimental basis, all operations on the Trans-Canada Highway stretch between North Bay and Pembroke ceased on Monday night. The engineers and their staffs were the last to come in on Monday and their departure left the new route in a deserted state. As yet there has been nothing heard to indicate that the work will be resumed this summer while Hon. William Finlayson, speaking at Port Arthur this week, stated that Trans-Canada operations are not likely to be resumed next Winter. 

The Moor Lake Camps are being operated as an experiment and the men there engaged are being remunerated on the $5 per month with everything "found" plan. The operations consist of light work in that section. 

Operations ceased with the North Bay-Pembroke stretch 55 per cent graded but other than for the completed part immediately west of Pembroke, no part of the road is fit for traffic. 

Outside of regular maintenance work, the only operation being carried on by the Northern Development Branch in this area is between Sturgeon Falls and Field where a force la engaged at improving the trunk road. Part is being rebuilt while the remainder is being brought up to standard. The men so employed are residents of the locality.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Highway Camps Are Still to Operate,” Kingston Whig-Standard. April 21, 1932. Page 11. ---- Announcement About Those Between North Bay and Pembroke ---- NORTH BAY, April 21 - Hon William Finlayson, Minister of Lands and Forests, yesterday announced the highway camps between North Bay and Pembroke would remain open. They were to have been closed at the end of this month but the local branch of the department of northern development received word countermanding the order. The camps will remain open as a straight relief proposition. The men have been offered the option of remaining at the camp for their board and $5 per month wages or getting off the job. They will be notified today of the new condition.

There are at present 550 men at the five camps. They have been receiving $2.40 per day of eight hours until a recent cut in the number of hours work and from this they paid 80 cents a day for their board. These men have been on the job since last October and it is questionable if they will remain at the reduced wage.