Social Studies 5: Ways of Life: Newcomers Settling the West

You'll learn about the long history of Black pioneers in Alberta right from the founding of our province until 2011.

Learn more about immigration to Canada as you explore this timeline, from 1753 up to 2016.

At the turn of the century, many Black families in Oklahoma wanted to escape the state’s racial violence and discrimination for a new start in Canada’s “Last Best West.” To stem the tide of Black immigration, the government began a secret campaign of disinformation.

Alberta was shaped by Mavericks – men and women who were adventurous, hard-working, and spirited. Discover our province’s history through their stories.

This site explains how people came in several "waves" to live in the Canadian prairies.

In the early days of Canada, the federal government faced a huge problem: how to settle an immense land with a weak treasury. Learn how they did it!

This early film is about the Ukrainian Pioneer immigrants of central Canada. It begins by showing recreations of early pioneer life dominated by hand tools--including farming techniques and building techniques.

A Scattering of Seeds is a video series of 52 stories focused on the stories of Canada's newcomers and immigrants, exploring their histories, struggles and determination.

This short documentary film documents Amber Valley, one of the first all-Black settlements in Canada. Arriving in 1909, the pioneers of this community battled the elements and racism to not only survive but thrive.