Excursions

It seems the more I investigate this story the more interesting it becomes. I
have always had a love of history and now that I am retired I have more
time I suppose and can focus my energy on doing things that I like. I was
born and grew up in Valcartier Village, a farming community north of
Quebec City in the Province of Quebec. I came to Manitoba in 1974 and
worked here until I retired a few years ago. I have lived in Landmark since
1986..
This is a story that has been developing in my mind over the years. As a
youngster growing up in Valcartier, I heard stories about excursions made
to western Canada to get work during the harvests. At the time, I thought
these excursions were only taken by local people. I recently discovered
these excursions were much more extensive than I realized.
It was the days before the combine and labour was badly needed in
Manitoba during the harvest. The Canadian Pacific Railway organized
these excursions between 1890 and 1930. The Free Press reported that
the first Harvest Excursion carrying about 100 men in 4 cars departed
Toronto on August 13, 1890. They also reported that in 1901 nearly
15,000 men were leaving from the east but this was not considered
sufficient as farmers along branch lines in rural areas were taking some of
the men. The number of young men coming west was increasing every
year. The young men from Valcartier that came were sons of farmers or
farmers themselves who could easily find work as labourers. About a
dozen men came west each year from Valcartier.
As most of the families in Valcartier are related in one way or another, a
few of my ancestors probably made the trip. The only one I remember
talking about it was my uncle who made at least one trip. He is the one
standing on the horse in one of the pictures.
Looking at these old pictures makes me realize that there is a time for
everything. All the people in the pictures have passed, the equipment is
totally outdated and a prairie farmer using it today would be laughed out of
town and worse, be unable to find helpers to assist him. It was a hard and
dusty job. I don't think anyone wore face masks to keep their lungs
protected.

Apparently the major drawback for the men from Valcartier was finding the
$15.00 train fare to Winnipeg. Valcartier was not a rich farming community
at the time and people were getting by with just the essentials. My uncle
told me that he had wanted to stay in the west but got too lonesome.
Many came with the intention of staying and many did.
What was good for western wheat was disastrous for eastern industries.
Adversely affected were the fishing, shipping and lumber and mining
industries. Young men could make much more money in the harvest. The
result was an increase in the price of coal because of decreased
production. The railways ignored the complaints of industries as the
harvesting meant more shipping of wheat and more profits.
The labour allowed the west to prosper and without it Manitoba would not
have expanded so greatly during the era. It allowed Winnipeg to become a
major player in wheat marketing with grain companies such as James
Richardson and Sons and the first grain exchange building in Manitoba to
develop. The economy shifted quickly and painlessly from the fur trade to
wheat production.
The excursions are preserved through pictures, family lore and the rhymes,
poems or songs attributed to James McCartney who was born in Valcartier
March 16, 1889 and died there February 15, 1931 at the age of 41 years.
“The Far Saskatchewan” and “The Banks of the Souris” were composed
during the harvests in the early 20 th century. If you are interested in looking
at other rhymes attributed to him, you can go to History of Valcartier
website and look under stories.
This story continues for me as I try to dig up more dirt with the use of
modern equipment.
Robert Hicks, c2023