Student Social Studies Activities
Based on the Sir Sam Steele Collection

A)  Before Activities

1. 1  Who are we ?

What factors shape who we are?

Factors	How does each shape you?

my family

		

		

		

		

		

		
What factors shape who we are?

Rank in
Importance	Factors	How does each shape you?

my family

	

		

		

		

		

		

Criteria Used to do the Ranking:

1.2 Sam Steele’s Education and Training

   “I was the fourth son of Captain Elmes Steele of the Royal Navy by his second wife, Anne … MacIan Macdonald.  My father served in the navy during the days of Nelson  and … for some years after Waterloo (1815). …  In 1832 my father and many other British officers … with a large number of soldiers and sailors [emigrated to Upper Canada} … and settle[d] on the vacant Crown lands. He… took up 1000 acres of land in the … county of Simcoe, cleared off the forest, built at his own expense the first Anglican Church in the township, … became the first Member of Parliament for the county,…became a magistrate and a colonel in the militia. …
 
   I was born on January 5, 1849 (or 1848?) at Purbrook, Medonte township, county of Simcoe, province of Ontario…. At the early age of 29 my mother died, leaving 6 children, the eldest myself, being only 11 years old, … Previous to our [ loss ] we had moved into [the town of] Orillia, … and there the older ones of the family were sent to school. My brother Dick and I went to one kept by a talented old English gentleman, Mr. Edwin Slee, whose wife taught French, but before I went there I had the benefit of my father's excellent teaching and a large stock of books, and was in … able to slip into the top class with the older boys. 

In those days every man and boy, and many girls and women, could shoot, swim, and find their way through the forests, which were then a trackless wilderness, and all men and boys could ride well. I had the benefit of all this, and in winter could skate, play any game, wrestle and box; our bouts at school were without gloves, as all boys could not afford to purchase any, and we had to do without. 	

My riding and shooting I learned (from…) my cousins in the township of Oro, Captain Hugh Clarke, then only a lad, … assisted by my cousins of the Maclan clan, who were kind comrades and teachers.  With my cousin, J. B. Clarke, now [a lawyer in] Toronto, I roamed the woods during the holidays, built boats and rafts, assisted Hugh to make gunpowder and ball, using the heavy rifle or fowling-piece as soon as we could carry them. There was nothing in the life of the backwoods pioneer that we did not know and desire to learn. 

   I was thirteen years old when my father moved into the country again, and in 1865 he died full of years, and I lived for a short time with my half-brother, John, who had a leading place in the country, and was thirty years or more my senior. An association with him was a great advantage to any lad, for he was kind and cultured, a true gentleman, admired by all who knew him. He was one of the best shots that I have known, and a good sportsman, who could shoot, run or ride, and he joined the young men and boys in their games. He used the heavy octagon barrelled rifles, with their weighty iron ramrod, and I have often known him shoot the heads off two partridges at once. On such an occasion his Highland Scotch companion used to suggest sagely to his neighbours that the Evil One must have loaded John Steele's rifle! In those days the fanners would assemble at some "corners" and shoot for geese, turkeys, and even horses and cows, at so much per shot… . 

   As a boy I shared in that sort of life, and when the Fenians began to threaten Canada, and made raids on our honest, loyal people, I joined the militia at about sixteen years of age. As I had been given a commission in Number 6 Company of the 35th Regiment, I had to qualify for the highest rank, and did so with the 2nd battalion Leicestershire Regiment, taking the best certificate going, and making one hundred per cent of marks on drills and discipline. 

   I did not remain long with that company, however, as circumstances compelled me to do better for myself, and I got employment as a clerk in the business of a Mr. Turnbull of Clarksburg, [County] Grey. While there I raised and trained the Clarksburg company of the 31st Regiment, and was asked by the leading people to take command, but I felt that I was too young and not prominent enough to take a company when there were fine men there to undertake it. I Ieft there after putting the company in good order and well organized, parting from them with much regret. I was still interested in the force, however, and made a close study of all military matters, at the same time looking well after the interests of my employers, until the disturbances of the Red River Metis under Louis Riel changed the course of my life. 

   [After serving in Manitoba in 1870 during the first Riel Rebellion with the Ontario Rifles, Sam Steele took training with the Canadian Permanent Force in artillery and gunnery in Ottawa and Kingston.] 

“I was next sent to Toronto with a strong party to be stationed in the New Fort …to put the artillery stores, guns and ammunition in order... . {T}he Toronto garrison battery came into barracks for their annual training, and I took charge of their instruction … .  The corps was excellent, and its training a great pleasure… . 		     

 We found Toronto very pleasant, but were kept busy during the spare hours.  After work I attended the Commercial College for a course in business, telegraphy, etc. and when that was concluded I returned to Kingston … [as an artillery] instructor.”  

Sam Steele, Forty Years in Canada. (New York, 1915)  pp. 1-5, 49-51

What factors shaped Sam Steele when he was growing up?
Think about his family, education, interests and training, 

Rank in Importance	
Factors	

	

	

	

	

	

	

 1.3 Continuity and Change

Compare the factors that shape you and the ones that shaped Sam Steele

Factors that are Shaping You 	
Factors that Shaped Sam Steele 	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

Continuity and Change

Compare the factors that shape you and the ones that shaped Sam Steele

Factors that are Shaping You 	
Common  and Different Factors	
Factors that Shaped 
Sam Steele 	

		

	

		

	

		

	

		

	

		

	

		

	

		

	

1.4 Evidence

Some Sources of Evidence from the Past in 19th Century Canada

Evidence from 
The Past

Strengths and Weaknesses of Different
Types of Primary Evidence

Strengths	
Types of Evidence	
Weaknesses
	
	buildings &
structures		
	
clothes		
	
diaries		
	
laws and 
court cases		
	
letters		
	
newspapers		
	
paintings  		
	
pictures		
	
tools		
	
utensils		
	
weapons		
	bones & skeletons		

Reflection
a) Which types of records would have survived best in Canada over the past 100 
       years? 

b) Which people would have the most records survive and who would have the
       fewest?  How could this affect their place in history?
1.5 Recreating the Past

What can you remember after

1 hour ?

1 day ?

1 week ?

1 month ?

1 year ?

5 years?

Reflection

a) What things do you have or do you do to help you remember?

b) What do you think that you will be able to remember about this year in the 
	year 2060 ?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these 
4 types of Evidence from the past?

Check these letters, reports & diaries from the Sir Sam Steele Collection website: 
- (EC 5) 2008.2.1.1.1.76 (courtship letter)
- (EC Sam and Marie 4a) 2008.1.1.1.1.96  Marie letter to Sam 
- (EC 6) 2008.1.2.1.3.9 Official Roll of “E” Division [Calgary 1884 ]	 
- http://steele.library.ualberta.ca/br/2008/1/1/2/5#page/4/mode/2up Sam Steele Pocket Diary 1890
- Sam Steele’s story of his upbringing from Forty Years in Canada. (New York, 1915)  

Documents	
Strengths	
Weaknesses

Letters

Reports

Diaries

Memoirs

			

 1.7 Prediction

Rank	Factors that shaped Sam Steele’s Life	How important do you think this factor was in Sam Steele becoming a Mounted Police Officer?

		

		

		

		

		

		

		

How could you test your predictions ?  What evidence would you need and where might you find this evidence?

1.8 Sam Steele and his Relatives

Samuel Benfield Steele, born 5 January 1848 in Simcoe County, Canada
 West, and died Putney, England, 30 January 1919

Father, Captain Elmes Steele, Royal Navy, emigrated to Simcoe County,
Upper Canada,1832; received 1000 acres became a magistrate, colonel in the militia an M.P. for Simcoe County, Canada West, 
born @ 1780 and died 1865

Great-grandfather, Captain Godfrey MacNeil, British Army

Great-uncle, Colonel Donald MacNeil, British Army

Grand-uncle, Colonel Samuel Steele, British Army

Uncle 1, Royal Navy	    Uncle 2, Royal Navy

Uncle 3, British Army	    Uncle 4, British Army	Uncle 5 , British Army

Cousin, Captain Hugh Clarke, Simcoe County	

Mother, Anne Macdonald Steele, married his father April 8, 1847 age 29
 and died in1859

Step-sister 1, Miss Steele, lived in Toronto   

Step-sister 2, Miss Steele, lived in Toronto

Oldest step-brother, Elmes Steele was a doctor who lived in England and
 	did not come to Canada with his father and mother in 1832-8133 

Older step-brother, John Steele , 30 years older than Sam, came to Simcoe
County, Upper Canada (Ontario) 1832 with their father

Younger brother, Richard (Dick) Steele, member of NWMP and Steele’s
 	Scouts 1885

Younger brother, Godfrey Steele, member of NWMP and Steele’s Scouts
 1885

Younger brother, James Steele, member of Steele’s Scouts 1885

Wife, Maria Elizabeth Lotbiniere Harwood Steele, married 15 January 1890

Father-in-law, Robert Harwood, M.P. and Seigneur of Lotbiniere, Quebec

Daughter – Flora Macdonald Steele, born 7 December 1891& died1948,			 nurse in World War I
Daughter – Gertrude Alexandra Elizabeth Steele , born 2 August 1895 &
 	died 1963

Son - Harwood Steele, born 5 May 1897 & died 1978, Captain in Canadian
 	Army in 	W. W. I and Colonel in British Army in W.W.II

Reflection

How do you think that Sam Steele’s family tradition of serving in the military
may have influenced Sam Steele’s decision to serve in the North
West Mounted Police and the Canadian Army? 

How do you think that Sam Steele’s family tradition of serving in the military may have influenced the decision of two of his children to serve in World War I?