Ballistic Protective Helmet
Artifact
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look at this helmet. What does it remind you of? Where would you expect to see it being used? Read the Historical Context below. Does it confirm what you thought or does it surprise you?
THINK
Take the perspective of someone living in Montréal when the War Measures Act was invoked. How might the presence of soldiers make you feel? Protected against violence, or wary of arrest? Explain your answer.
THINK
Take the perspective of someone living in Montréal when the War Measures Act was invoked. How might it have changed your daily life? To inform your answer, read the Historical Context below.
DO
Do some external research about what else was happening around the world at this time. How might the Vietnam War, the women’s rights movement, the civil rights movement, the Cold War or the Troubles in Northern Ireland have influenced Canadian reaction to the Front de libération du Québec?
Details
Date 1960s
Materials - Metal
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- The day before the War Measures Act took effect, the Quebec government (fearing a violent FLQ attack) requested Army support from the federal government.
- The Army protected important people and strategic buildings, and generally eased citizens’ fears.
- After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police arrested and imprisoned more than 500 people. Very few were tried, and only a handful were found guilty.
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. The troops’ mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. Around 12,000 troops were deployed in the province of Quebec, and in Ottawa. Their mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
Similarly, Premier Robert Bourassa issued an unprecedented decree that gave the Sûreté du Québec responsibility for all of the province’s police forces, numbering some 13,000. Sûreté director Maurice St-Pierre also coordinated the in-province activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Army.
Beginning on Friday, October 16, 1970, once the War Measures Act had been invoked, police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned — some for several hours, others for several months — in 13 Quebec prisons. The most famous of these was Parthenais Prison, headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.
- The day before the War Measures Act took effect, the Quebec government (fearing a violent FLQ attack) requested Army support from the federal government.
- The Army protected important people and strategic buildings, and generally eased citizens’ fears.
- After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police arrested and imprisoned more than 500 people. Very few were tried, and only a handful were found guilty.
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. The troops’ mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. Around 12,000 troops were deployed in the province of Quebec, and in Ottawa. Their mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
Similarly, Premier Robert Bourassa issued an unprecedented decree that gave the Sûreté du Québec responsibility for all of the province’s police forces, numbering some 13,000. Sûreté director Maurice St-Pierre also coordinated the in-province activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Army.
Beginning on Friday, October 16, 1970, once the War Measures Act had been invoked, police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned — some for several hours, others for several months — in 13 Quebec prisons. The most famous of these was Parthenais Prison, headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.
Summary
- The day before the War Measures Act took effect, the Quebec government (fearing a violent FLQ attack) requested Army support from the federal government.
- The Army protected important people and strategic buildings, and generally eased citizens’ fears.
- After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police arrested and imprisoned more than 500 people. Very few were tried, and only a handful were found guilty.
Essential
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. The troops’ mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
After the War Measures Act was invoked on October 16, 1970, the police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.
In-Depth
On October 15 — the day before the War Measures Act took effect — the Quebec government requested Army support, via the National Defence Act. Around 12,000 troops were deployed in the province of Quebec, and in Ottawa. Their mission was to protect key figures, guard strategic installations, and ease citizens’ fears.
Similarly, Premier Robert Bourassa issued an unprecedented decree that gave the Sûreté du Québec responsibility for all of the province’s police forces, numbering some 13,000. Sûreté director Maurice St-Pierre also coordinated the in-province activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Army.
Beginning on Friday, October 16, 1970, once the War Measures Act had been invoked, police launched a series of arrests. More than 500 people were imprisoned — some for several hours, others for several months — in 13 Quebec prisons. The most famous of these was Parthenais Prison, headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec. Although offences ranged from concealing evidence to possession of weapons and hiding FLQ members, very few people were tried and only a handful were found guilty.
The police also carried out more than 30,000 raids, looking for FLQ members or those who appeared to sympathize with their cause.