History Browser

In 1939, Prime Minister Mackenzie King had a dream which he believed was a sign of "the power of the airplane in determining ultimate victory" for the war effort. That dream became a reality in the form of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).

A list of books and academic papers about the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of the Second World War.

While life on the homefront during wartime could be difficult there were also happier moments of goodwill and friendship.

After spending time at the front the troops were relieved and sent to the rear for much needed rest. Here they enjoyed numerous forms of entertainment, such as card games, humour, singing, and variety shows.

Canada's Nursing Sisters have a legacy of military service that dates back to 1885, when for the first time, Canadian nurses were part of the medical team to care for soldiers wounded during the North-West Rebellion. This page briefly describes the Nursing Sisters' history from its beginnings to their involvemetn in current peacekeeping missions.

Through the years, thousands of Canadian women have been faced with obstacles and challenging new experiences, whether on the home front or on the front lines. Learn about the changing roles of women and their different experiences.

When Canada join World War II, the nursing service was expanded to all three branches of the military; Navy, Army and Air Force. Each branch had its own distinctive uniform and working dress, while all wore the Nursing Sister's white veil and were commissioned officers. The Sisters travelled overseas by ship in convoys, running the gauntlet of German submarine action in the North Atlantic.

Like many other national organizations, the Nursing Sisters' Association of Canada has developed from a multitude of local and regional groups. In 1924, the local groups join together and became the "Canadian Nurses' Association", a group that remains in existence to this day.

Disruption and new challenges arose for many on the homefront as they adapted to wartime conditions.

The Second World War began at dawn on September 1, 1939, as the German armies swept into Poland. Events quickly unfolded and by June 1940 virtually all of Europe was overrun or isolated by the Axis Powers.