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Urban publics - the self-conscious interest groups that emerged to characterize much of the social and political climate of city life - claimed attention, contended for influence, and celebrated their values through performances of a wide variety of rituals in urban public space. In this paper our attention will focus on one dramatic and important episode expressing the nature of public ritual in Confederation-era Canada: the memorialization of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, assassinated in Ottawa, and buried in Montreal on Easter Monday, April 13, 1868. In paying homage to McGee, urban publics in Montreal and across the Dominion seized an almost unparalleled opportunity to bear witness to their images of themselves, in the very particular circumstance of an intensely felt moment in time. The nature of this ritual allows us to explore one significant aspect of a social geography of the city that is otherwise not easily recoverable and often forgotten: the evanescent but powerfully signifying geography of behaviour in public space. Key words: urban rituals, public space, T. D'Arcy McGee

The newspaper coverage and presentation of fire disasters in Quebec in 1845 reveals the existence of innovative methods in news gathering before the use of telegraphic systems. The worldwide similarity of the presentation of news of the Quebec disaster among the editors of different newspapers of several countries reveals that a good communication process existed before the advent of telegraphic systems. The editors often exchanged and circulated the news received by them to editors of other newspapers. Sometimes the editors even had similar interpretations of certain news items.

The Right to the City. Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space by Don Mitchell, Guilford Press, New York and London, 2003, ix+270 pp. paper US$23.00 (ISBN 1-57230-847-8) The [...]

There are three issues crucial to the practice of historical geography. Scholars in this field need to consider their intended audience, to discuss their motivation with peers, and begin to seek consensus on methodology.

Examines the nature of public ritual in Confederation-era Canada, focusing on the assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee in Ottawa and buried in Montreal on Easter Monday, April 13, 1868. Homage which was paid to McGee; Celebrations held by urban publics in Montreal and across the Dominion; Details on McGee's death and burial; Appeal by small urban communities to municipal authority.