From Wall Street To Bay Street

A documentary series inspired by the work of Joe Martin, author of the published book ”From Wall Street to Bay Street: A Comparative History of the Financial Systems of the US and Canada.” WNED PBS distributed our first documentary in the series,  carried by over 85% of PBS stations and broadcast nationally across the United States.

The series takes a closer look at the history of the financial systems of these close neighbours and provides exciting insights into banking in both countries, which may help avoid the next financial panic. Canada and the United States are, in reality, financial brothers. The basis of both financial systems was laid by the revolutionary founding father – Alexander Hamilton. In a sense, he was the ‘father’ of banking in both countries.  Canada built its banking system on the Hamiltonian model and never departed from its Hamiltonian roots. The United States, however, turned its back on Hamilton’s Bank of the US in the 18th century. As ‘brother’ economies, there are many similarities between both systems. 
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A New Chapter

This episode of 'From Wall Street to Bay Street' examines the financial systems of the United States and Canada during the American Civil War and the creation of Canada. These pivotal events deeply impacted the basis for both economic systems. This is a compelling follow-up film to 'From Wall Street to Bay Street.’ The documentary examines civil war economics, the contrast between Jacksonian banking and the central monetary control of Lincoln's government that significantly contributed to the North's Victory.  In contrast, the film will also focus on Canada’s evolutionary banking system around the time of the Canadian Confederation and how it impacted and was impacted by the United States during the War. The film is another study of how these two great financial systems differ and sometimes parallel.  

Historic Story

This documentary explores the importance of national currency during the American Civil War and Canada's newly formed government.  The film will outline the strength of a central currency and its impact on warfare, economics and histories impact on the modern world.

The National Banking Act of 1863, was a far-reaching financial reform which authorized the government to charter a new system of banks, which would be required to purchase federal bonds, thus helping to finance the war. The law’s official name was An Act to Provide a National Currency —  essential to a modern nation-state. The film traces the desire for a national currency which began in British North America.  In the United States, President Andrew Jackson stopped this economic advancement and interstate banking, which contributed to the loss of the War of 1812 and had many repercussions that can still be felt today.  However, a national currency was eventually adopted by Salmon Chase, with input from Alexander Galt, Minister of Finance of the Province of Canada. This forward-thinking move significantly contributed to the North winning the Civil War and caused economic ripples that impacted modern economics.  North of the border, the British North American Colonies came together in 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada. The Jacksonian model of small local banks was rejected in favour of sizeable multi-branch banks that spanned the continent. These decisions significantly impacted how these two national siblings have faced the crisis and booms throughout the modern economic history of North America.  

The film features interviews with an impressive list of experts, including a former secretary of the treasury and a former Canadian Minister of finance, bank CEOs, academics, and other business writers and leaders.

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Mackenzie

This documentary will tell the story of the journey of Alexander Mackenzie, the first person to explore and venture across North America to the Pacific Ocean. Many believe Lewis and Clark were the first to traverse North America and cross the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. But Alexander Mackenzie accomplished this remarkable feat 12 years earlier. Mackenzie's diary inspired Thomas Jefferson to undertake his expedition.  Jefferson gave Meriweather Lewis Mackenzie’s journal when he tasked him with leading the famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. To tie the narrative of both stories together, the film is told from the perspective of Thomas Jefferson as he discovers Mackenzie's thrilling adventure for the first time.  

Impact on North America

This is an extraordinary North American story. The documentary revisits Mackenzie's daring and dangerous journey: the wonders he witnesses and the perils he encounters. His journey would have tremendous implications for the settlement of North America and the birth of two countries that spanned from sea to sea. It ties together Mackenzie, Jefferson, Lewis, and Clark in a never before examination of the adventure and relationship that united these four men: an American President, two American soldiers and a Scottish/Canadian businessman. 
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The documentary also examines the realized and unrealized visions of the two men.  Jefferson saw and forged the western expansion of the United States – north from Louisiana to Minnesota, west to Montana and southeast from Wyoming to Oklahoma; and Mackenzie, who saw a similar opportunity for British North America in what became Canada.  However, his vision would not be realized or exploited until the end of the 19th Century.  Interestingly, the Louisiana Purchase was the world's second-largest land purchase.  The largest was the sale of Rupert’s Land by the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canada in 1869.  Compared to the Louisiana Purchase of 828,000 sq. miles for $15 million in 1803, the sale of Rupert’s land of 1.5 million sq. miles for $1.5 million was an even greater bargain. Ultimately, the sale of Rupert’s land did spark Canadian expansion and development of an area one-third the size of modern-day Canada. The program will also examine some of the powerful impacts these events had on the indigenous communities, the dramatic changes they faced and the impact that it still has on the community to this day.  

A Shared History

It's important that this production also focuses on the many indigenous communities that we're a part of this story.  This documentary will not only focus on the historic relationships Mackenzie formed throughout our story but also on the lasting impact that the growth of North America had on those different communities. Our production team works closely with and will interview community leaders and first nations historians to attempt to describe a shared history, effects and hardships that are felt and an inclusive view.  It's also important to touch on a more modern story of community difficulties and the success of retaining indigenous culture in a new assimilating world.  

Being Different

Drawing inspiration and research from Mark S. Bonham’s book, Notables: 101 Global LGBTQ People Who Changed the World, and the website QueerBio.com, this documentary will explore how LGBTQ people throughout history have influenced the world as we know it. Using archival footage available through the Library and Archives Canada, the Library of Congress, and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, our film will showcase historical narratives and perspectives of well-known members of the LGBTQ community, as well as lesser-known figures who have been overlooked or erased from our history books and cultural memory.

As a society, we often think of LGBTQ history as a history of activism, confined to the fight for equal rights. That history is invaluable and incredible n itself, but LGBTQ history encompasses so much more. Our documentary will educate people of all ages about how LGBTQ people have been at the forefront of innovation and exploration, changing and shaping the world in profound ways. From biology to physics, medicine to literature, art to politics... the list goes on and on.

The film will tell the untold stories of famous figures whose LGBTQ identities or non-normative relationships have often been downplayed or erased. It will also explore their impact on the world and the perception and reception of LGBTQ lifestyles.

The aim of Being Different is to reclaim these LGBTQ contributions and create a forum to celebrate Notables, not only for their societal contributions but also for the struggles that they overcame. Being Different will historically, politically, and socially contextualize these efforts to demonstrate how these individuals balanced their mandate to effect societal change with personal and social discrimination due to their sexuality. The documentaries will examine how sexuality-based discrimination influenced, negatively or positively, their efforts. The goal is to shine a light on the heterosexist erasure of these individuals’ sexuality in an attempt to uncover the true historical significance of their efforts and gain a fuller appreciation of the individuals and their contributions.