Baby Boomers, Protest, and Counterculture in Canada

In this episode of Mr. Hutchings History, we explore the rise of Canadian youth culture and protests in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by the baby boomer generation. Amid the backdrop of post-World War II prosperity, university campuses became hotbeds of activism, challenging authority and advocating for greater social justice. Inspired by global movements, Canadian youth fought against the Vietnam War, with many rejecting U.S. imperialism and offering sanctuary to draft dodgers. In Quebec, the quest for independence spurred militant activism, exemplified by the FLQ and the October Crisis. At the same time, the hippie movement sought personal liberation, rejecting materialism and embracing communal living, music, and spiritual exploration. This episode examines how Canada’s counterculture blended political activism with a quest for personal freedom, while also addressing the social, cultural, and political ramifications of this transformative period. Through the lens of primary sources, like the FLQ Manifesto and the Manual for Draft Age Immigrants to Canada, we will explore how Canadian youth reshaped their society and why their revolution never fully arrived. #Paper3HLoption2 #CanadianYouthCulture #1960sCounterculture #QuebecIndependence #DraftDodgers #FLQ #BabyBoomers #ProtestMovement #HippieMovement #SocialJustice #VietnamWarProtests #YouthRebellion #CanadianHistory #CulturalHistory #PoliticalActivism Works Cited Bothwell, Robert. The Penguin History of Canada. Penguin, 2006. Bumsted, J.M. The Peoples of Canada: A Post-Confederation History. Oxford UP, 2007. Cohen, Leonard. Beautiful Losers. McClelland & Stewart, 1966. Manifesto. Front de libération du Québec. 1970. Purdy, Al. The New Romans: Candid Canadian Opinions of the United States. Ryerson, 1967. War Measures Act: October Crisis. Government of Canada, 1970.