Learning goals
In this learning activity, we are learning to:
- develop an awareness of the role of the Canadian Armed Forces in Canadian history
- understand Canada’s history in world conflicts
- recognize the sacrifices made by the Canadian Armed Forces and civilians during times of war
- reflect on the meaning of service and how it relates to your community and to your own observance of Remembrance Day
Did you know?
On Remembrance Day (November 11), Canadians honour members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict, and peace. We also observe Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8) to honour the contributions Indigenous Canadians have made, and continue to make, in support of our country.
We will be learning about the importance of Remembrance Day, and the service and sacrifice of our Canadian Armed Forces for all Canadians.
Think
Think about the following questions:
- Why do we observe Remembrance Day?
- What do the Canadian Armed Forces do, and how do they support Canada?
- What is Canada’s history with war and world conflict?
- What sacrifices have Canadians made during times of war?
- Why do we remember?
Explore the following images to learn about how the Canadian Armed Forces have supported Canada in the past and how they continue to support Canada today.
Now that you are more familiar with how the Canadian Armed Forces support Canada, we will discuss the importance of honouring veterans on Remembrance Day.
Discussion
Why do we observe Remembrance Day? Use the questions in the “Think” section to guide your discussion.
You may use the tips below to guide your discussion. Be mindful of appropriate discussion etiquette, and be respectful of your classroom community.
Press the Show Tips button to learn more.
Show Tips
Join in – Discussions are shared learning spaces. It’s true that the more you participate, the more you will gain in your own learning journey.
In support of inclusion – Everyone’s opinions and thoughts count. Be respectful of others when you share your thinking or respond to the thinking of others. Be open to changing your mind and considering new and different ways of understanding.
Use examples from the learning activity – Depending on the discussion topic, it’s always a good idea to relate what you are learning and sharing to the experiences that you have had in the learning activity. It’s a great way to reinforce your learning.
Think before you share – Consider the value, relevance, and tone of your shared ideas, so that it is appropriate for everyone in your class, including your teacher.
In your discussion about Remembrance Day, you may have explored how the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces contribute to our safety and security. Take a moment to reflect on what security, service, safety, and sacrifice mean to you.
Journal
Record your thoughts to the following questions in a method of your choice. You may choose to use the following Journal Reflection to complete the activity.
Security:What are some world conflicts Canada has been involved in?
Service: Why might someone join the Canadian Armed Forces?
Safety: What are some of the challenges that the Canadian Armed Forces may face?
Sacrifice: What does the word “sacrifice” mean to me?
Security
A History of Canadians in World Conflicts
In the “Minds On” section, you explored images of the Canadian Armed Forces, and started to reflect on the security, service, safety, and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces. We will now explore some of Canada’s history in world conflicts.
Try it
Complete the following self-check quiz to determine what you may already know about Canada’s involvement in world conflicts.
Try the following questions and select the correct answer.
The quiz in the “Try it” section helped us understand more about Canada’s involvement in world conflicts.
Press the following tabs to learn more about Canada’s history in different world conflicts.
In 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany. As Canada was still part of the British Empire, it was automatically at war too. Many people enlistedTo sign up as a member of the Armed Forces. because they felt helping Great Britain win the war was the right thing to do.
During World War II, Canada independently declared war on Nazi Germany. Canada saw fascismA political system where the government has total control. Fascist governments often promote nationalism and racism. as a global threat and many Canadians enlisted to stop Hitler and his policies from spreading around the world.
In 1945, countries came together to create the United Nations (UN)An international organization that aims to promote cooperation between its 193 member states, to reduce and regulate international tensions and to promote human rights. to help prevent other international conflicts. When North Korean soldiers invaded South Korea, the UN Security Council voted to send troops to try to restore international peace and security. As part of the UN, Canada sent troops to help with combat and peacekeeping in 1950.
In 1949, Canada joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO countries agree to help each other if one of the treaty countries is attacked. In 2003, Canada entered the War in Afghanistan as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States.
Did you know?
It was not until World War I that a French-speaking unit was created in the Canadian army. At the time, there was no permanent battalion for French-speaking soldiers. At the beginning of the war, a delegation from Quebec traveled to Ottawa to request the creation of such a unit. Shortly thereafter, on October 21, 1914, the Royal 22nd Regiment was created.
To learn more about the participation of French Canadians during the First World War, visit our exhibition Mobilizing a Country: Canada and the First World War!
Discover more
You may press the following external link to learn more about the Canadian Armed Forces over the years.
Service
Reasons for Enlisting
We have explored some of Canada’s history in world conflicts. We will now consider reasons why Canadians may choose to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Discussion
Many Canadians choose to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces to serve their country. Discuss some of the other reasons Canadians may choose to enlist.
After your discussion, press Reasons to Enlist to learn more.
Reasons to Enlist
Canadians may want to:
- see new places
- serve their country
- follow in the footsteps of family members
- make a difference in their community
Enlistment into the Canadian Armed Forces is voluntary. Although conscriptionWhen a government passes laws requiring individuals to sign up for military duty. occurred during both World Wars, most individuals voluntarily served. There are many reasons why people may choose to serve, but it often comes down to a desire to help others.
Explore the following story to learn more about reasons why someone may choose to enlist.
Snapshot of a soldier: Seizaburo Kimura
World War I started when Seizaburo Kimura was a student at the University of Toronto. He chose to enlist in the Medical Corps because he felt it would allow him to help the most people. From November 1915 to May 1917, he worked at the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Salonika, Greece. While there, he provided comfort to hurt and dying service people when they needed it most.
Did you know?
While the government was initially aiming for 25,000 people, in the first month of World War I, 33,000 Canadians volunteered to serve.
In total, 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders, including 15,000 French Canadians, enlisted during the war.
Supporting the Home Front
Not everyone can, or wants, to serve in the military, but that never stopped Canadians from helping during world conflicts. During both World Wars, Canadians on the home front found many ways to help support the war effort.
Press the following tabs to find out more.
Fundraising was an important job for those on the home front. Women’s groups held bazaars and sold homemade products to raise money for military members and their families. Women and school children knitted socks, scarves, and other clothes for military members on the front lines. Other care goods, from soap to canned foods, were sent along with the clothing. Sometimes, people even tucked inspirational messages in the packages to keep up the morale of those overseas.
Beginning in 1914, the Government of Canada and provincial governments pledged foodstuffs to the war effort. Farms needed to produce more food to help with the demand, but many farm workers were leaving to fight overseas. Many high school children, who were still too young to go overseas, stepped up and became part of the Soldiers of the Soil program. This national program sent students from cities to help in farms across the country. In Ontario, many women joined the Farm Service Corps. These “farmerettes” worked on farms, doing everything from picking vegetables to canning fruits. A new generation of “farmerettes” provided similar help to Ontario and Quebec farms during World War II.
As more men joined the fight overseas, businesses found a need for workers. Canadian women took on these roles and helped to manufacture many products needed in the war. As production of wartime goods increased, certain materials, like metal, rubber and paper were in short supply. People all over the country collected scrap materials and brought them to local recycling drives where they would be used in the war effort.
Did you know?
The poppy is worn as a symbol to honour the sacrifices made, and as a reminder of the need for continued peace. While the symbol comes from a Canadian poem, many other countries around the world use the same symbol.
Safety
The Dangers at the Frontline of War
Life on the Front
Being of service sometimes means having to make sacrifices. This includes sacrificing your own comfort to go into dangerous areas with conflict. During World War I, the most dangerous place for service members was in the trenchesLong narrow ditches where most of the fighting took place.. The enemy’s trenches were only a short distance away, past an area known as “no man’s land”. Life in the trenches was in no way comfortable. While in the trenches, individuals did not have proper beds. Instead, they slept in dugouts or on the trench floor. Waste accumulated from nearby latrinesA trench toilet. It was usually a ditch that could be used by multiple people at one time. which also meant trenches were very unhygienic. Service members lived with rats, lice, maggots, and flies, which carried diseases and posed other health risks. The trenches were also open to the elements. Exposure to cold weather and snow led to frostbite in the winter. Whenever it rained, trenches flooded. As a result, many people suffered from “trench foot”A painful condition that happens from having constantly wet and cold feet. Serious cases of trench foot often had to be amputated. .
What you can’t understand is the conditions to start off with. You’re filthy, you’re muddy, you’re lousy, you stink and that’s the way, everybody else stinks too so you don’t notice it.
– Roy Henley, 42nd Battalion
Casualties of War
War is dangerous. In World War I alone, there were over 172,000 Canadian casualtiesThe military defines a casualty as any person who can no longer serve in the line of duty. This includes injuries, deaths and people held as prisoners of war. in WWI. There are many risks associated with being on the front lines.
Press the following tabs to explore stories about some of the risks associated with service.
Ethelbert “Curley” Christian was born in the United States in the early 1880’s. He enlisted in Selkirk, Manitoba on March 22, 1915. While delivering supplies to the front lines, he was severely injured by a shell. Christian became the only member of the Canadian Armed Forces to survive a quadruple amputation during World War I. After the war, he moved to Toronto and helped create a social assistance program for injured veterans. He also worked closely with community organizations, including the War Amps, to help other amputees.
Kenneth Allen Gray was born in Port Arthur, Ontario in 1931. In 1951, he enlisted with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse and was sent to Korea. While there, he contracted hemorrhagic fever, which was a relatively unknown illness to Canadian military staff. At first, Gray and his squadron members thought he had the flu, but his condition worsened, and his squadron sent him to the 8228th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Sadly, Gray died on June 14, 1952. He was buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan and commemorated on the Korean War Wall of Remembrance in Brampton, Ontario.
Retired Corporal (Cpl) Chris Dupee served in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly ten years. In 2008, he left for an 8-month tour during the War in Afghanistan. After arriving home, he began to struggle with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)A condition that affects individuals who have gone through or witnessed traumatic experiences. Common symptoms include problems sleeping, agitation, anxiety, and depression.
“I didn’t know what PTSD was in the sense of self. I only knew of it as a ‘thing’ some soldiers get. It’s hard to identify with it. You can only recognize the byproducts of it. While my life crumbled, along with all of my dreams, I did start fighting back. The fight is an invisible one. It’s like swinging in the dark trying to make contact with an invisible enemy. And until someone was able to slow me down and turn the lights on, I was never able to identify as having PTSD myself. PTSD is an invisible beast that I spent a long time grappling with; one that I now for the most part, have a handle on. But one whose bite is minimal now, even when showing teeth. This was done with a lot of hard introspective work.” – Retired Cpl Chris Dupee
Through his own mental health journey, Dupee realized the importance of peer support. In 2017, he and his wife founded Cadence Health and Wellness Inc., which provides mental health services to members of the military and first responders. Dupee continues to bring awareness to mental health issues related to military service.
It’s my vision and dreams that I’ve restored back into my life. And it’s my vision and dreams that keep pushing me forward now.
– Retired Cpl Chris Dupee
William Foster Lickers was a Mohawk soldier born in Brantford, Ontario. During the Second Battle of YpresAn important battle in World War I that took place in Belgium in 1915. It was also the first mass use of poison gas by German forces., he was taken as a prisoner of war and sent to Goettingen Camp in Germany. At the POW camp, he endured terrible treatment and was forced to work in a salt mine. After the war, he continued to suffer from muscle pain and had a hard time walking.
We have explored some of the many risks and challenges faced by the Canadian Armed Forces during times of conflict. Let us further understand the sacrifices made by veterans.
Did you know?
The number of fatal casualties in a conflict often hides a much larger number of non-fatal wounds and injuries, which can affect the wounded for the rest of their lives. Over 2,000 armed forces personnel were wounded or injured in Canada’s most recent war (Afghanistan).
Snapshot of a soldier: Jean-Napoléon Maurice
Montreal native Jean-Napoléon Maurice was with the Fusiliers Mont-Royal during the disastrous Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. That day, the Allies failed to defeat the German defences on the beaches of Dieppe and sustained machine gun fire for many hours. Maurice bravely saved the lives of four wounded soldiers before safely making it back to a boat. Maurice then fought in Italy with the Royal 22e Régiment and did so until he was wounded in 1944.
A man of few words, Maurice spoke very little about his wartime experiences. In Canada, he became a train porter and helped many wounded soldiers when they got back home from the war. He eventually moved to Magog, a town in the Eastern Townships, where he became a well-known local figure.
Sacrifice
The Cost of War
Not everyone who goes to war is lucky enough to go home. Many Canadians have paid the ultimate sacrifice in their service.
War by the Numbers
Explore the following interactive to learn more.
Death Tolls of Canadian Armed Forces Members
Press on each area of the image to explore the content.
Did you know?
The 20th century is sometimes called the bloodiest century in history. The two World Wars alone are thought to have cost 60 million lives around the world.
Toll of War on Families
War not only affects members of the Armed Forces, but also the families that they leave behind.
Explore the following examples:
Gérard Doré was 15 when he left Val-Jalbert to join the army in 1943 without his family’s knowledge. He lied about his age to enlist and was sent to Europe shortly thereafter. Doré was directly involved in combat in France, as the Fusiliers Mont-Royal deployed on July 8, 1944 as part of the Normandy campaign and made their way to Calvados. Doré received a fatal wound on July 23 during the Battle of Verrières Ridge and died the next day. The news of his death came as a great shock to his family, who had tried to bring him back to Quebec, arguing that he was too young to serve. Doré was just a month away from his 17th birthday when he died, making him the youngest Allied soldier on the Western Front.
George and Joseph Hong were brothers from Windsor, Ontario. Before World War II, Joseph worked in the advertising department at the Windsor Star Newspaper. George, who was two years younger, worked at his parent’s restaurant, the Sunnyside Café. Joseph enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, while George enlisted in the army. Sadly, neither brother survived the war. Joseph’s plane went missing on May 23, 1944. The Hong family hoped for news that Joseph was alive, but in August 1945, officials confirmed their son’s death. Soon after Joseph went missing, the Hong family received news that George was killed in Italy. Within a span of four months, they had lost two of their children. As both George and Joseph died overseas, the family could not easily visit their graves. Their mother sent a letter asking how she could arrange flowers to be sent to George’s grave but was told that it was not possible.
Émilien Dufresne knew very little about war when he volunteered for the Canadian army in 1941. This young man from the Gaspésie region joined Le Régiment de la Chaudière and spent several months garrisoned with them in Great Britain. During the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, Private Dufresne was one of the first to arrive on the beaches. Unfortunately, the next day he was captured by a German patrol and taken as a prisoner of war (POW). During his ten months in captivity, Dufresne had a hard time staying in touch with his family. POWs could write letters, but these were carefully read over and even censored by the German guards. He therefore had to endure the harsh camp conditions on top of the lack of communication with his family until his release in 1945.
John Arthur Alexander was born in 1918 on the Six Nations Reserve. In 1942, he married his wife, Jean. Only eight months later, he left to fight overseas. On June 6, 1944 John and his fellow soldiers of The Queen’s Own Rifles stormed Juno Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion. Of the 33 men in his platoon, only one third survived. Back at home, Jean was still waiting for news of her husband. She learned about the invasion through newsreels at the cinema and in the newspaper. She did not know about her husband’s role until long after the invasion finished. Recalling the time, Jean said “It wasn’t like today where you hear about things almost as soon as they happen…I never knew when – or if – I would see my husband again”. John was wounded on multiple occasions throughout his service. In September 1944, Jean received official telegrams saying that her husband was injured, but they did not explain what had happened. It really was not until after the war that Jean found out the cause of her husband’s injuries.
Discussion
We have explored the true stories of Canadian Armed Forces veterans. What are some specific examples of sacrifice in these stories that we have examined in this learning activity? Why do you think these people risked or sacrificed their lives?
Record your examples for the previous question in a method of your choice. You may choose to use the following Mind Map to complete the activity.
Self-reflection
Why is it important to learn about the service and sacrifice of members of the Canadian Armed Forces during Remembrance Day? After reviewing this learning activity, has your understanding of the word “sacrifice” changed?
Remembrance Day
Canadians have made great sacrifices throughout history in service to their country.
In this learning activity, you have explored:
- the Canadian Armed Forces
- Canada’s history in world conflicts
- the sacrifices made by Canadians during times of war
- the meaning of service and sacrifice
Your turn!
Use your knowledge from the learning activity to check your understanding.
Try the following questions and select the correct answer.
Journal
Now that you know more about Canada’s history in world conflicts, and the service and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces, prepare a short reflection in a method of your choice stating why do you think it is important to honour Remembrance Day.
Self-reflection
Think about what you have learned in this activity. Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning?
Discover more
Using the following links, choose a member of the Canadian Armed Forces to conduct research on, including the battle that they may have been involved in. Think about their sacrifice and the sacrifices of those they left behind. You may choose to make an infographic to show your work and could use a gallery walk to view and display each other’s work.
Book of Remembrance Search
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/books/search (Opens in a new tab)
Personnel Files – World War I
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/pffww (Opens in a new tab)
Personnel Files for War Dead – World War II
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/kia
Asset Acknowledgements
Some images supplied by Getty Images. Other images, graphs, diagrams, and illustrations in this course, unless otherwise specified, are TVO created.
Corporal D. Thomson of the 8th Beach Group, who sounded the Last Post at the cemetery in which were buried Canadian troops killed during D-Day and the first week of the invasion of Europe, Donald I. Grant, Canada. Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, URL.
Canadian nursing sisters working amongst ruins of the 1st Canadian General Hospital, which was bombed by the Germans, three nurses being killed, Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, PA-003747, URL, published June 1918 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Stretcher bearers unload a wounded soldier at a Canadian Base Hospital in Abu Sueir Egypt (ca. 1943-1948), Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, eCopy, URL and accessed July 2, 2024.
Private W. Sutherland (left) of The Westminster Regiment (Motor) and Private V.A. Keddy of The Cape Breton Highlanders repacking compo rations at a supply depot, Cassino, Italy, 18 April 1944, photo by Lieutenant Strathy E.E. Smith, Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, PA-151177, URL and accessed July 2, 2024.
Soldiers serving meals to individuals impacted by the 1998 ice storm in Eastern Canada. Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, e999901603-u, URL, published January 20, 1998 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Canadian Troops Search a Route, Royal Montreal Regiment, 2018.09.115, URL, published September 15, 2018 and accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
Members of the Queens Own Rifles practicing rappelling, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum, URL and accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
Cpl Pellow and other soldiers carrying sandbags, May 2019, MCpl Laurent Ene, Royal Montreal Regiment, published 2019 and accessed on August 6, 2024. Used with permission.
A Canadian Armed Forces member teaching children about a vehicle they use during a community event, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum, URL, published n.d. and accessed on August 6, 2024. Used with permission.
Exercise Neptune Strike, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum, URL, published January 4, 2011 and accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
Nursing Sisters of No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, R.C.A.M.C., landing at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944. Harold G. Aikman, Canada, Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, PA-108172, URL.
Canadiens-Français, Enrôlez-Vous !, 19750046-009, Canadian War Museum, URL, accessed July 25, 2025.
Shoulder to shoulder – Canadian Women’s Army Corps. Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1992-622-3, URL, published ca. 1944 and accessed July 2, 2024.
United Nations Flag Flies Over the Imjin River, Korea. Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, eCopy, URL, published ca. 1943-1965 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Canadian patrol in Afghanistan, Musée du RMR, 2019.11.54, URL and accessed on July 25, 2025.
Seizaburo Kimura (Victoria College Choral and Glee Club Executives, 1921-1922). Victoria University Archives in the University of Toronto Archives, Photograph Collection, 2003.132 P2, URL and accessed July 2, 2024.
Women knitting for the armed forces, William James family fonds, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 873, URL, published 1914 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Farmerettes, William James family fonds, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 640, URL, published ca. 1917-1918 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Cecilia Butler, former night club singer and dancer now employed as a reamer in the Small Arms Ltd. section of the John Inglis Company munitions plant, National Film Board of Canada. Photothèque, Library and Archives Canada, e000761869, URL, published December 1943 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Indigenous Beaded Poppy, Kathy Morgan, accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
A trench on the Canadian front showing “funk holes”. W.I. Castle, Department of National Defence, Library and Archives Canada, PA-001326, URL, published 1917 and accessed July 2, 2024.
Curly Christian, 1421 Lansdowne Avenue, 100% amp case, portrait, Globe and Mail Fonds, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 40538, URL, published on June 24, 1936 and accessed July 2, 2024.
K. A. Gray, Honouring Bravery, accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
Photo of Chris Dupee, Chris Dupee via Facebook, accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
William Foster Lickers, The 15th Battalion CEF Memorial Project, URL, accessed July 2, 2024. Used with permission.
Jean-Napoléon Maurice, Library and Archives Canada, e011871941, URL and accessed on July 25, 2025.
Private Gérard Doré, The Canadian Virtual War Memorial, URL and accessed on July 25, 2025.
Joseph Hong, Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947, Library and Archives Canada, RG 24 Volume 27759, Item 16292, URL and accessed July 2, 2024.
Émilien Dufresne, Historica Canada, URL, published on October 19, 2023 and accessed on July 25, 2025. Courtesy of Historica Canada.
John Arthur Alexander, Black Canadian Veterans Stories, URL. Used with permission.
