Link to the nature reserve https://www.landconservancykfla.org/visiting-depot-creek-nature-reserve/

Paris is the transmitter site for several broadcast radio and TV stations, and Clara grew up to be a radio actress. Maybe where she grew up influenced her career choice.

To see more historical images of Paris Ontario, click here:

https://www.theparismuseum.com/paris-history

https://www.richardstuttle.com/what-is-spirit-art-portraits-of-loved-one-from-beyond-the-grave/

https://www.sandramartinez.co.uk/what-is-spirit-art/

Here is a link to Ontario Parks which dives further into this invasive moth species and its origins:

https://www.ontarioparks.ca/parksblog/spongy-moth-caterpillars/

"Spongy Moth caterpillars (or larvae) change as they grow. Young caterpillars emerge from egg masses in late May and feed on leaves until early July. Mature caterpillars can be as long as 2.5 inches."

He also infers the exclusion of the workers, explaining that they do not speak to him or the townspeople, and that they only enter town when skating along the river.

Linked is a PDF, dated 1940, of Canada's feldspar mining history.

Informative article covering a brief history of Toronto Union Station and it's immigration usages: https://www.heritagetoronto.org/explore/toronto-rail-lands-history-tour/union-station-immigration-railway/

Link to photo: https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?idnumber=3194884&app=fonandcol

At the same point in time, the Bertillon system was being used by physiognomists and phrenologists to discriminate against and arrest racialized peoples. In SOAL, immigrants must live in poor conditions and navigate Canada being the "other."

Article connecting the Bertillon records and profiling:

https://smarthistory.org/alphonse-bertillon-mugshot-and-record-of-francis-galton/

Video about Ambrose Small:

https://youtu.be/d7YslW1yPwQ

His village burned, causing him and three friends to escape by horse. They travelled through various places, such as Athens, Greece and Switzerland, all the way to France. In 1918, Nicholas boarded a ship headed to New Brunswick from Le Havre, planning his new start.

Ambrose pours kerosene on Patrick and sets it on fire. The flames are cut short by Patrick's quick actions as he heads for the nearby river. During the struggle, Patrick accidentally cuts himself while removing his blazing jacket. Ambrose follows up the assault by throwing a Molotov cocktail resulting in partial blindness in Patrick's left eye. Ambrose doesn't leave unscathed as Patrick slashes his shoulder before running away.

The Rathbun Timber Company supplied raw materials for urban construction in the early 1900s. They most likely provided for building houses and railway tracks.

The Macedonians put on a puppet show in the unfinished waterworks building about the unfair and violent treatment of immigrants. It was so powerful that it took Patrick out of his seat and moved him to action. This gathering changed Patrick's life for the better, introducing him to community.

Attached are archival photos of real Macedonian shopkeepers.

https://macedonianhistory.ca/

It's unknown what Hotel was being referenced in the book, if any, but this hotel in Muskoka is very similar. It features the docks that are talked about in the book which Patrick could have run away to. This hotel has been around since 1870, so it's possible the author could be referencing this one. The hotel offers a view of Lake Rosseau. https://windermerehouse.com/history/

Here is also a link to an article of a hotel that was destroyed by a fire in Muskoka. It was the grand Royal Muskoka Hotel, which was built by a steamer company. In 1952 the entire hotel was engulfed in flames. The article also says "Driven to the fire like moths to light, dozens of curious cottagers converged on the dying building." This was interesting because Patrick always references moths in the book. https://www.muskokaregion.com/life/the-grand-royal-muskoka-hotel/article_2fc48369-d40e-5d6a-a699-65d01715bec1.html

She leaves with the simple instructions "Feed it clover and vetch, lots of water. Rattle the cage before you put food in. Just to let him know."

However, iguanas require much more care than the extent of Patrick's knowledge allows, and are very complex pets. This website explores the many aspects you need to consider when caring for your pet iguana, which Patrick probably would have benefited from if the internet had existed. https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/iguanas-housing

In addition, here is some information on the species of green iguanas. https://animalia.bio/green-iguana

Alice wasn't the only person with this outlook; in fact, many other people in the 1930s had a strong "eat the rich" mentality. This left-wing political swing is mainly due to the Great Depression in 1929 when people were left without jobs or food.

There are no documented political arson attacks during the 1930s. Still, it is possible that Michael Ondaatje based Patrick's attack off of the Royal Muskoka Hotel being burnt down in 1952 for an unknown reason.

Article expanding on the history of agriculture and farming in Ontario: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/agriculture-in-canada

The undeniable similarities between the character Cato and the deaths of these two men add depth and value to the short, undetailed life of Cato in the novel, because it adds more background to his unwritten story.

The deaths of the two men remain a mystery, much like the character Cato in The Skin of a Lion.

This Website shares all the above information and more: https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/plaques/rosvall-and-voutilainen

The hotel was open between 1901 and 1952 and constructed on an island in Lake Rosseau.

The hotel was considered a prime vacation location for many years for the rich and politicians. Prime Minister Robert Bordon stayed in the hotel in early august 1914 before he was summoned to Ottawa before the British Empire entered World War 1.

The hotel struggled through the Great Depression but experienced a brief revival through the 1940s, particularly during the Second World War, since vacations to Europe weren't possible. After world war 2, patronage slowed again.

In the book, the hotel is purposely set on fire. In real life, the origin of the fire that destroyed the hotel is questionable, since it had been significantly downsized in the late 40s and was a failing asset for many years by that point.

The property still retains the name Royal Muskoka Island.

https://www.ceder.net/def/class_notes.php#:~:text=In%20Modern%20Western%20Square%20Dancing,not%20anticipate%20the%20next%20call.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/square-dance-explained

Link to article: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bloody-sunday#:~:text=Bloody%20Sunday%20was%20a%20violent,known%20as%20%22Bloody%20Sunday%22.

Caravaggio ran North of Lake Ontario, along the Trent canal system, and as far North as Bobcaygeon. Caravaggio explores in a canoe and meets Anne. Later he falls asleep in one of the cottages and dreams about his first theft, breaks his ankle, ends up in the mushroom factory and meets Giannetta.

In WW2-era Canada, the Red Scare (the fear that communists would overthrow democracy) led to the creation of Red Squads. Red Squads were groups of police whose jobs were to counter labour unions, communists, and socialists. They broke up (sometimes by means of violence) any meeting or activities they viewed as dangerous. In one year, the RCMP investigated around 70,000 citizens. Working class immigrants were the most affected by the Red Scare due to their suspected connections to unions and communism. In SOAL, working class immigrants hold revolutionary beliefs and are clearly impacted by the Red Squads.

"On May Day 1919, up to 10,000 Toronto workers rallied and cheered for social revolution... and demanded the release of political prisoners jailed under the War Measures Act." At the same time, "4,000 metal trades workers in 232 factories went on strike."

https://activehistory.ca/blog/2019/06/20/the-workers-revolt-in-toronto/#:~:text=On%20May%20Day%201919%2C%20up,under%20the%20War%20Measures%20Act.

This relates to the acts of vandalism and secret meetings held in SOAL—specifically, the puppet scene played by Alice.

The poor conditions immigrants faced did bring them into close-knit communities that celebrated culture, though.

Jacob Riis and Louis Hine are prominent photographers from that period who documented such connections.

Linked below is the Society's "Macedonian Immigration to Canada" page.

https://macedonianhistory.ca/news/immigration.html