4 minute read
Hidden History: Prohibition & Mocktails
Hidden History: Prohibition & Mocktails
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village had several new programs and themed weekends this season, including a guided prohibition tour that highlighted that intriguing period of history.
Historical Interpreter Anika Lukie developed the unique event and guided participants on an immersive experience that proved to be insightful, informative and interesting. She started off by asking participants what they already know about prohibition.
“Often when we think of prohibition we think of American prohibition all across the US that went on for about 13 years, from 1920-1933. But Canada didn’t have that. We had a series of different prohibitions for the most part in individual provinces and it was over a number of years and those provinces had the exact same years of prohibition. So, in Alberta, prohibition was enacted in 1916 and rescinded in 1924. But of course, there were a number of restrictions on the consumption of alcohol after that.”
Lukie noted that, years prior to enacting prohibition, there had actually been some interest in varying different groups to enforce some rules on alcohol consumption and selling alcohol. “This was mostly popular here, and to some extent in the US, because, when the British Empire was forming Canada, there was some interest in making the new world better than the old world.
They wanted to get rid of some of the immorality, drinking, gambling, violence; these sorts of things associated with consuming too much alcohol. So, the temperance movement gained some popularity, particularly within Methodist and Baptist Churches prior to prohibition and of course, during prohibition as well. Because there was a concern that allowing alcohol to be consumed freely was making society worse. So, as early as the 1870’s, 1880’s, some interest in bringing in restriction of alcohol, but it didn’t gain any traction or popularity until the First World War.”
She explained that, “There was more support for prohibition during the First World War because of this desire to win the war through the stamina of your country.
Prohibition was “not necessarily popular with everyone” as well as people of Ukrainian descent. “Prohibition was not necessarily popular with Ukrainians because there was an established culture of making your own alcohol. So, this was something that had been brought over from the old country because, although there were taverns, it was a really good way of preventing your grains from going to waste, and also religious and cultural traditions associated with alcohol.”
Participants were given further insights on this from Mr. and Mrs. Grekul at the Bukovenian farmstead and by Alberta Provincial Police Constable William Reay at the small office, complete with jail cell and residence that was built in 1913 and depicts the years from 1925-1928. It was originally located in the Town of Andrew.
Lukie said, “The Alberta Provincial Police were an extremely small police force, and generally had one constable for a very large area so difficult for them to catch people breaking the law. After the First World War there wasn’t this incentive to pool all resources, time and money to the war effort, so drinking wasn’t really seen as something that was anti-patriotic in the way it had been during the war.”
The Alberta Provincial Police was responsible for provincial policing in Alberta from 1917 to 1932.
The tour ended at the Hilliard Hotel. Participants were treated to a mocktail class with JoAnne Pearce of Mock-Ups Mocktails and Spilt Zero Proof Bar, the first of its kind in Alberta. While Pearce said the venture happened completely by accident and not design, she has created a niche market and growing interest amongst mocktail enthusiasts.
“It’s allowed me to access my audience. This way, I can try and see what’s possible. My ultimate hope is for people to see mocktails as a culinary exercise.” Well, the experiment is clearly working and judging by the smiling faces sitting at tables in the Hilliard Hotel pool hall, the class was a most enjoyable experience for participants. Armed with mocktail recipes, and new memories, participants expressed their thanks to Pearce before departing for another adventure in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
