The Tighsolas letters give a great deal of insight into life on the Prairies in 1910 because many Richmond citizens went there, including Norman Nicholson's brother, Gilbert and son, Herb. Dr. Moffat, relative and family doctor, moved to Vancouver in 1912, after losing his savings in a stock market swindle.  Norman and family kept wondering if they, too, should move out West, but the West was no place for a failed businessman in middle age.


Tales of Saskatchewan, excerpts from a novel

Building a Town a Day (attracting American farmers to Canada).

Using the New Film Medium to attract Americans and Canadians to the West

Immigration Boom 1910

Wheat Boom 1910

"This is young man's country" letter from brother Gilbert

"The streets are wide and clear" Winnipeg

Presbyterians and Methodists strongest, Catholics strong too

"There's much open prairie around Edmonton"

"We have one of the finest cities in the West" Saskatoon

"My pay is 50.00. Not very much around here" Working out West

Invest in the West: Direct mail advertisement from 1911 with populations of  Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon, 1901, 1910

Making the Farm a Factory: 1910 article about farming techniques in 1860 as compared to 1910 and predictions for 'the future.'

1915 Letter from Vancouver. Dr. Moffatt tells Norm, "Don't come here" claiming the city's population has declined by at least 20,000 since 1912... and has some 'controversial' views of WW1.

1913. The New Land Crusade. The state of rural people (farmers) in Britain, Margaret's clipping. Canada must have seemed the land of opportunity to many.

Parks Movement (or how to keep Johnny on the farm and land out of the hands of those immigrants! US article. But Canada had School Garden Movement.