Bu Brian Roulston
It was no joke 50 years ago. April 1, 1975. Canada officially adopted the Metric system. The day before, an ad by Canada’s newly formed Metric Commission appeared in newspapers nationwide captioned “Say Goodnight to Fahrenheit.” The ad went on to say, “Tomorrow morning when you get up and turn the radio on or open the paper, there will be no more Fahrenheit in your weather forecast.” Canada began Metrification under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to align Canada with international science and trading standards.
In Hamilton and for dailies country wide, that didn’t happen. Because of government cost restraints, many weather offices didn’t receive Celsius thermometers. Meteorologists had to manually convert temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius for many newspapers. The Hamilton Spectator still reported the weather in Fahrenheit for several more weeks.
The Metric Commission had no legal authority, and switching to the new measurement system was voluntary. However, the Metric Commission did something that very few government agencies have done: it successfully persuaded Canadians to do something without making it law. The changeover was expected to be gradual and be fully implemented by 1980.
The first changes began with weather forecasts and gas pumps changing from gallons to litres. June 1, 1975, rainfall was reported in millimetres and snowfall in centimetres. In August of that year, clinical thermometers switched to Celsius, with normal body temperature 37°C. By April 1976, wind speed, visibility, and barometric pressure were also converted.
Speed limit signs changed from Miles per hour to Kilometers per hour Labour Day weekend of 1977. All cars made after this date must have speedometers showing km/h. Pre-packaged foods had to show their weight or volume in metric units, which was a legal requirement. Most companies opted to display both metric and Imperial measurements on their labels.
Today, the construction industry uses both measurements. It depends on what the carpenter or the company he works for prefers. Hardware stores or lumber yards use a mixture of the two. Architectural companies will use metrics where they are legally required, but in some cases, depending on the client’s preferences, they can use one or the other.
Commercial kitchens, such as restaurants and hotels, use one measurement system or the other, not both, to keep things simple and consistent. The choice of measurement system is often determined by the kitchen’s policies and the chef’s or kitchen manager’s preferences.
The change was welcomed by those who moved to Canada from many parts of the world. They had used the Metric system and thought it was time for Canada to join the rest of the world.
Metrification has been considered one of the top 10 events in Canadian history since Confederation in 1867.
While many embraced the change, some seniors found it confusing. Some schools began teaching both systems to help younger generations, but the Metric Commission frowned on this. Teaching both resulted in the last of the baby boomers becoming familiar with imperial and metric measurements, helpful for communicating with older adults who didn’t want or couldn’t make the change and for visiting the United States.
The metric system’s origins date back to the Age of Enlightenment aka the Age of Reason (1688 to 1789). The French government officially adopted the metric system in 1795, replacing the traditional system with a decimal system based on the kilogram and the meter. The word “metric” derives from the French word “mètre,” which comes from the Greek word “metron” meaning “measure.” Metric is also known as “SI” or International System of Units. The metric system spread to other countries after France made it mandatory in 1840.
On May 20, 1875, the Treaty of the Metre established an international body to oversee systems of weights and measures and created standards for the meter and kilogram. The first 16 countries to sign on were France, Argentina, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Venezuela, and the United States. Currently, about 97% of the world uses the metric system, but the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar have yet to fully adopt it. Liberia is slowly progressing, while Myanmar faces issues that slow its change. U.S. policy requires government agencies to use the metric system. It is essential in science, medicine, and international trade, but its full adoption across the U.S. faces cultural resistance.
Great Britain didn’t adopt the metric system until 1965. Australia started switching in 1966 with the change to decimal currency. The complete conversion to metric measurements began in 1971. By 1988 it became Australia’s only legal measurement system. Since 1861, the metric system has been the official, mandatory measurement system for trade, construction, and scientific research in Italy.
Traditional measurements like “Palmo” (hand span) and “braccio” (arm’s length) are still used out of habit or cultural preference among older generations or in certain regions.
The metric system had some unexpected positives; for example, it standardized and clarified medication dosages, reducing errors. Metric labelling on food packaging made it easier for consumers to understand and manage their nutritional intake. Measuring fuel consumption in litres per 100km encouraged more efficient driving habits, therefore reducing fuel and emissions.
There were some downsides. Many Canadians, especially older adults, believed the change was unnecessary and forced upon them. Updating infrastructure, road signs, legal forms, documents, and packaging created financial challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, educating and retraining the workforce became both expensive and time-consuming.
Canada’s move to the metric system was a big step that helped the country keep up with the rest of the world. While some people found it tricky to adjust, many appreciated metric measurements’ clarity and simplicity. This change made it easier for everyone to communicate and do business at home or abroad. Embracing the metric system shows Canada can grow and adapt, making life simpler for everyone, from students to seniors!
