Ol Gabe:
The picture I posted is online at the National Archives of Canada, so I don't have access to a higher-resolution version. - however, I have enlarged the center part as much as seems feasible so we can take a better look. (I have also split that enlargement in half, since this website automatically reduces images to a 600 pixel width ...)
I think it is apparent that there isn't a fez in the lot (
) but there is undeniably quite a variety of headwear - and other dress, for that matter. The majority seem to be wearing standard "field service caps" (very like what Americans now refer to as fatigue caps) and there may be some pillbox hats (though I have my doubts, since these men all appear to be infantry, and the pillbox was headress primarily for cavalry, horse artillery, etc.)
The one fellow near the center of the third row does indeed appear to be wearing a pith helmet of some kind (not as "flared" as the later Wolseley pattern, though seemingly a bit bulkier than the standard foreign service helmet of the day) but I think the other man in the back row is actually wearing a peaked cap with a white Havelock cover and neck curtain, like the chap on the left end of the second row, and perhaps a few others.
Others seem to be wearing examples of the field caps improvised (along with other gear) during the campaign from feedbag fabric. Here is a photograph of Rifleman J M Austin of Company "H", Midland Battalion wearing such a cap, as well as a bandolier improvised from the same material:
I'm not convinced that there are any fur hats in evidence - they
are seen in photos taken during the campaign (April/May) but this picture was taken on their return to Ontario - in June or later. Mind you, it does look like one or two of them are wearing toques (i.e. relatively long knitted "watchcap"-type headgear) - such as the fellow sitting on the fence third from the left end in the back row.
There is at least one officer wearing a peaked "forage cap" - he is the chap reclining in front, on the right.
The lack of "uniformity" apparent here is likely a result of the composition of the forces dispatched to the west. The total number of personnel in the field was several thousand but, since Canada had virtually no "regular" military at that time, it was composed almost entirely of Militia mobilized for the purpose. Canada had many Militia units, but they varied rather greatly in degree of organization and strength, so many of them could not field an effective battalion for expeditionary service such as was needed here - especially since these were all part-time soldiers - with businesses, jobs and families - serving in Militia units whose primary intended purpose was local military service and defence. As a result, Provisional Battalions were formed of those men available and fit for service from several different Militia units in a given area.
A prime example was the Midland Battalion (put together in an area of Ontario known as the Midlands) from units designated as Infantry, Light Infantry, Rangers and Rifles. Its composition was as follows:
"A" Co. from the 15th Battalion, Argyll Light Infantry, Bellevile Ont.
"B" Co. from the 40th Northumberland Battalion, Cobourg Ont.
"C" Co. from the 45th West Durham Battalion, Lindsay Ont.
"D" and "E" Co. from the 46th East Durham Battalion, Port Hope Ont.
"F" Co. from the 47th Frontenac Battalion, Portsmouth Ont.
"G" Co. from the 57th Battalion, Peterborough Rangers, Peterborough Ont. and
"H" Co.from the 49th Battalion Hastings Rifles, Hastings County, (Belleville) Ont.
It is not surprising that such groups lacked uniformity of appearance!
While I'm at it, here is another photograph taken during the North West campaign in 1885 - a number of Troopers of the Governor-General's Body Guard (in the pillbox hats) and members of the York & Simcoe Rangers (Other Ranks in blue "Home Service" helmets, and two officers - one in a field service cap and the other wearing a peaked forage cap ...) Dashing fellows from Eastern Canada on an adventure in the Wild West - having their photgraph taken with some non-hostile Natives .... (I'm not sure
what you'd call that thing on the head of the Indian standing at left!)