great canadian inventors -...

Great Canadian Inventors from the 1920s

Canadians rarely recognize their inventive genius and … the vast majority of these geniuses derive little financial gain from their brainchild. … Like so much of Canadian history, the story of our technical achievements has largely gone unchronicled. … Perhaps … we have simply underestimated our own native ingenuity. Self-‐effacement [avoiding drawing attention to oneself] has long been considered a Canadian trait; inventiveness has not. Source: Pierre Berton, cited in J.J. Brown, The Inventors: Great Ideas in Canadian Enterprise (Toronto) McClelland & Stewart, 1967), p. 7.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your reasoning: Analysis of Primary Source Photos:

Instructions: • Examine the following primary source and complete the chart below.

What do you see? What do you think? What questions do you have? Hint: that you will find an answer to in

the story!

Do you know the names of these men? If yes, what are their names?

Do you know what they invented? If yes, what did they invent?

Do you think that they became rich after they discovery?

Banting & Best: Charles Best (left) and Frederick Banting pose in the above picture with one of the dogs used in their groundbreaking research that found a treatment for diabetes. Banting had thought of using a hormone produced by the pancreas to treat people with diabetes. Their discovery of insulin has saved millions of lives and is one of the greatest medical discoveries of the 20th century. However, they did not profit from their work. They sold their idea to the University of Toronto for just $1. The university then licensed drug companies to make insulin and used the fees for medical research. For reflection: 1. Do you think they made the right decision when they sold their idea for just $1? Why or

why not? 2. Why do you think that they made this decision?

Great Canadian Inventors from the 1920s Instructions:

• Using the Canadian Sources Investigated, examine the indicated documents that explain developments in transportation and communication in Canada during the decade of the 1920s and complete the questions that follow.

Transportation - Wallace Turnbull Step 1: Examine Evidence 2.35, page 43 and complete the chart below.

What do you see? What do you think? What questions do you have? Hint: that you will find an answer

to in the story!

Step 2: Can you predict what he invented? _________________________________ Step 3: Read Turnbull’s story and the postscript and answer the following questions:

1. What did Turnbull begin to study in his private lab located in Rothesay, New Brunswick? 2. What invention did he develop while he was at Camp Borden? 3. What did he do to the patent rights of his invention? 4. Would you have done the same?

Transportation - Joseph-Armand Bombardier Step 1: Examine Evidence 2.37 and 2.39, pages 44 and 45 and complete the chart below.


to in the story!

Step 2: Can you predict what he invented? _________________________________ Step 3: Read Bombardier’s story and the postscript and Answer the following questions:

1. What did Bombardier invent in 1922? How is this invention described in the source? 2. What were some of the design faults in Bombardier’s early inventions? How did he

resolve this problem? 3. What did Bombardier apply for in 1937? 4. Speculate why Bombardier chose to submit an application?

Communication - William Samuel Stephenson Step 1: Examine Evidence 2.40, page 46 and complete the chart below.


to in the story!

Step 2: Can you predict what he invented? _________________________________ Step 3: Read Stephenson’s story and the postscript and answer the following questions:

1. What did Stephenson invent in 1922? 2. What does his invention do? 3. Who supported him when he was developing his invention? 4. Do you think that he could have developed his invention without the help that he

received?

Communication - Edward (Ted) Rogers Step 1: Examine Evidence 2.41, page 48 and complete the chart below.

What do you see? What do you think? What questions do you have? Hint: that you will find an answer to in the

story!

Step 2: Can you predict what he invented? _________________________________ Step 3: Read Rogers’ story and postscript and Answer the following questions:

1. What did Rogers invent in 1925? 2. What was the great advantage of his invention over similar products? 3. In what way was Rogers different from the other inventors? (Hint: what type of

independence did he have?) 4. With Rogers being already independently wealthy do you think that he should have

applied for a patent to further enrich himself?

Patents and Innovation For Reflection: 1. a) Of the five inventors that we studied who do you think is the most famous? b) Why? 2. a) Of the five inventors that we studied who do you think is the richest? b) Why? 3. If you were a great Canadian inventor what would you do with your ideas? Would you

protect your invention though an application for a patent or would you share them so that everyone can benefit from your discovery?

great canadian inventors -...

Documents