This thread is basically all of our game-canon that we've established thus far, and exists as a reference for old and new members as to what kind of things have happened and what kind of world Stonewall inhabits. It is a very useful resource for new and old members alike, and is particularly helpful when creating a new character.

Canada has a large magical population

There are approximately 200,000 (two hundred thousand) Canadian wizards and witches, with the largest population centres being found in Ottawa, Winnipeg, an all-magical settlement in the Canadian Shields, two all-magical settlements in the Yukon and the magical part of Stonewall town. Stonewall's magical district has a stable population of about 500 (not including students, who push this population to at least 1000, and in years where more students are in attendance, 1500).

The town of Stonewall is largely seen as backwater

Stonewall town's magical district, Annwn, is not a very important place in the grand scheme of things. It boasts only 500 of the country's 200,000 wizards but it has a thriving artistic community that grew up around the school. It has a theatre and an art gallery and several recreational establishments. It has a very limited number of shops, mostly family-owned. Its presence in the magical world is generally ignored, and the Muggles seem not to notice it, either, though this is largely due to powerful notice-me-not charms applied to the area.

Canada has multiple magical schools, private and public

Canada is a large country with a growing population of magical people. To cater to their needs there are a number of schools. Public schools in Canada generally follow a similar kind of system to Muggle schools, but private schools have implemented a number of systems, including but not limited to, emulations of Hogwarts (in the case of Stonewall Institute). These schools include:

• Toronto Institute of Magic [TIM, a private, non-Ministry-funded school]
• The Ottawa Centre for Magical Study [OCMS, a public, Ministry-funded school, largest magical school in the world and hidden partly underneath Ottawa]
• St John's College of Magic [SJCM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• Vancouver Island Institute [VII, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• Stonewall Institute for Magical Arts [SIMA, a private school funded by Rivulet Potions]
• The Winnipeg Academy of Magic [WAM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• La Centre pour Excellence Magique [CEM, a private, non-Ministry funded school]
• L'Academie des Arts Magies [LAAM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• The Barbara Moonsong Young Witches' Preparatory [BMYWP, a private, witches-only, non-Ministry-funded school in Victoria]
• Sudbury Academy of Magic [SAM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• Victoria School of Magic [VSM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• The Iqaluit College of Magic [ICM, a public, Ministry-funded school]
• The Farley Academy of Magic [FAM, a public, Ministry-funded school, noted for its strong Quidditch players]
• The Xavier Lawrence Academy [XLA, a public, Ministry-funded school hidden in a mountain]
• Knifehorse School of Sorcery [KSS, a public, Ministry-funded school noted for its excellent care of magical creatures classes]

These schools serve all of Canada's magical educational needs, and generally try to recruit students from within the province or territory, although some of the more remote schools recruit students from all over Canada due to an increased ability to house large numbers of students.

The Quebecois are very insular

Although most magical Canadians are rather accepting of new peoples and cultures, the Quebecois are very insular and very French. Many of the Quebecois pureblood families are still blood purists and they are all very French. There are three prominent Quebecois families: Prideux, Rousseau and Grand-Chevalier [see this thread for more information].

There is a secret society for the richest of the rich

Clavis Aurea is a society open to only the richest and most powerful purebloods of old, prestigious lines. It is a very powerful group and its members are well looked after.

There are a variety of recreational magical drugs available illegally

The most popular (and dangerous) of these drugs is doxy powder, which is made from the remains of crushed doxies and their eggs. The magical world's biggest exporter of doxy powder is Russia. Doxy powder has been likened to cocaine, but the high is far more powerful and when combined with practising magic it leads to quite the trip. Prolonged and repeated use of doxy powder can lead to uncontrollable outbursts of magic and in extreme cases death caused by the user's own magic eating them from within. Some common slang terms for doxy powder are "black sugar", "fairy dust" and "whore's reprieve".

Another popular recreational drug is powdered boomslang skin, which is not particularly dangerous and induces very pleasant feelings in its users. Powered boomslang skin is illegal, however, unless sold as a potions ingredient. This drug is popular amongst some older Astorian students due to its calming and relaxing effects. This has no long-term effects other than an occasional tingling of the nostrils.

A recently released drug known only as Liquid Delirium has been spotted on the market. Its effects are largely unknown, but many users have reported a feeling of complete and utter happiness upon drinking the potion. Its side-effects and long-term consequences are unstudied.

The Ministry of Magic is not a democratically elected government

The Ministry of Magic is not a properly elected government, with the only elected officials being some Wizengamot members (with the Minister being selected by Wizengamot vote). All other members of government are appointed by committee or by the Minister. There have been calls recently for more democracy, but these have always been ignored.

Canadian wizards are generally more mggleborn-tolerant than British wizards, but a sizeable traditionalist culture still exists

Younger Canadian wizards and witches have been really appreciating Muggles and Muggle culture, but still tend to remain rather quite baffled when confronted with technology. Some wizarding groups (such as Stream of Consciousness) have been adapting, and adapting quite quickly, to the use of Muggle technology and ideas.

Several new magical industries have been developed

Due to increasing muggle influence on muggleborns combined with creative programmes such as those once found at Stonewall Institute, several new industries have evolved in magical Canada. One of these is a vibrant and growing fashion industry, with all sorts of new designs and spells being designed as time goes on. Other growing industries include commercially-brewed potions and a thriving community of actors and musicians based in Stonewall town.

Canada's magical musicians are diverse and many

The musical scene in Canada continues to grow, with many different magical artists spanning various genres touring magical venues across Canada. Popular artists and groups include Poisoned Unicorn, a classical/pop fusion group utilising traditional magical music techniques as well as ideas taken from Muggle musicians; Wendy Wu and the Wicked Witches, a rock group featuring heavy magical guitar solos; The Geissler Effect, a group incorporating arithmantic knowledge into their music and The Vampire Appreciation Society, a group whose music can only be described as 'powerful', utilising traditional methods such as magical voice-throwing and music magic designed to get the emotions moving.