The Collapse

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-Jeremiah

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The Collapse refers to the economic collapse of the Canadian - and wider North American - economy "in the mid-20XX." As a result of The Collapse, Great Bear Island was initially cut-off from the mainland and residents were forced to become self-sufficient. Later, supplies were brought from the mainland, and islanders were split between those who welcomed the supplies and those who supported continued self-sufficiency.

Grey Mother refers to the collapse that started "years ago," and states that Milton needed help "ten years ago. During the collapse." A note by the front door of the Milton Credit Union states that it was forced to close due to "economic realities" in September 2012.

Economic Collapse

History

The Collapse is detailed in four worldbuilding journal entries entitled Knowledge: History of the Collapse. (History of The Collapse)

Part 1

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In the mid-20XX, the ongoing global economic crisis, fueled by continued political instability in the US and Europe, contributing to increasing volatility in the financial markets, led to the sudden catastrophic collapse of the Canadian, and in general, the North American banking system. This immediately rendered Canadian currency worthless, triggered super-inflation of the US dollar, and all trade and economic activity promptly shifted to the Chinese Yuan or crypto-currencies (a la Bitcoin). Crippled economically, Canada was bought under the financial oversight of the North American Economic Zone, which positioned Canada as a kind of protectorate of a larger US-based economic bloc. From this point onward, the majority of economic activity became centralized on Canada's already densely urbanized population, with smaller rural and remote communities being essentially cut off. Without a local economic lifeline many of these communities had become dependent on for their continued existence, most rural or remote communities became hollowed out, as people fled to urban areas in search of greater economic stability.{{#if:|

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Part 2

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For places like Great Bear, already quite remote and suffering after decades of economic decline, the sudden Collapse was the final straw. Without any major local economic drivers of their own, the remaining communities of Great Bear became completely dependent on a supply lifeline from the Mainland -- regular shipments of basic staples designed to keep them alive: fuel, food, medical supplies, etc., in many ways, akin to WW2-era wartime rationing. In exchange for regular supply drops, the “Mainlanders” -- in some cases, at the behest of their economic overlords South of the border -- felt justified in taking whatever supplies and raw materials they needed to maintain the urban communities, including dismantling some of the heavy industrial infrastructure left on Great Bear.{{#if:|

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Part 3

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Part 4

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Seismic activity

From conversations between Will Mackenzie and Grey Mother, The Collapse may also refer to literal seismic activity that took place on Great Bear and the mainland, but this is not canon.

The Milton Water Tower and water mains were shut off in June 2012 due to seismic activity. Furthermore, Paradise Meadows Farm contains a lockbox with an Emergency Kit distributed by the Great Bear Earthquake Memorial Society. Additionally, seismic activity contributed to Milton Park's decision to stop people using the area for climbing, and the failed attempt to re-open Carter Hydro Dam.<ref name="Safety and Shutdown">Carter Hydro Dam -- Safety and Shutdown Notice collectible.</ref>

Trivia

The Collapse may be based off of the real-world economic turmoil of the 2000s, including the Great Recession of 2008 due to the Housing Market Collapse. However, the in-game economic crisis had become much worse than reality, possibly even turning from a recession into a depression.

References