Custos Borealis : the military in the Canadian North
The notion of the Canadian North is best understood as the region beyond the frontier of civilization defined by the national road and rail grid. The northern frontier has continually receded in the face of encroaching development to where today, the North could be defined roughly as encompassing the Yukon and Northwest Territories--the lands and seas ~North of 60~. Strategic perceptions of the North have changed several times during the twentieth century. Initially, the North was simply ignored; later--by the mid 1930s--it was perceived as a strategic barrier more formidable than either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. During the Second World War and the Cold War, with the views of the United States in the dominance, the area was seen as an approach--initially to Europe and Asia; later to the heartland of North America. In contemporary Canada, the North is seen as having instrinsic value, and as such is deserving to be watched over, protected and, if necessary, defended. Military forces have been involved periodically in the North since the days of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. The intensity and degree of this involvement has reflected the changing perceptions of the North. Military presence can be analyzed
Eyre, Kenneth Charles
History
Custos Borealis : the military in the Canadian North. The notion of the Canadian North is best understood as the region beyond the frontier of civilization defined by the national road and rail grid. The northern frontier has continually receded in the face of encroaching development to where today, the North could be defined roughly as encompassing the Yukon and Northwest Territories--the lands and seas ~North of 60~. Strategic perceptions of the North have changed several times during the twentieth century. Initially, the North was simply ignored; later--by the mid 1930s--it was perceived as a strategic barrier more formidable than either the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. During the Second World War and the Cold War, with the views of the United States in the dominance, the area was seen as an approach--initially to Europe and Asia; later to the heartland of North America. In contemporary Canada, the North is seen as having instrinsic value, and as such is deserving to be watched over, protected and, if necessary, defended. Military forces have been involved periodically in the North since the days of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898. The intensity and degree of this involvement has reflected the changing perceptions of the North. Military presence can be analyzed
military canadian north notion canadian north best_understood region beyond frontier civilization define national road rail grid northern_frontier continually face development today north could define roughly encompass northwest land north strategic perception north change several time initially north simply ignore perceive strategic barrier formidable either atlantic second world war cold_war view united_states dominance area see initially europe asia later heartland north_america contemporary canada north see value deserve watch protect necessary defend military_force involve periodically north since day gold intensity degree involvement reflect_change perception north military presence analyze