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During the Second World War, Canada was a major centre of Allied aircrew training through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The guide presents this alongside the Battle of Britain, the Atlantic convoys and the liberation of Europe.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: William B. Grice · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credit & context
British forces, First Nations allies and local volunteers resisted American invasions during the War of 1812. The guide highlights Isaac Brock, Tecumseh, Charles de Salaberry and Laura Secord as important figures.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Anonymous (photographer unidentified) · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
The Victoria Cross stands first in the Canadian honours order of precedence. It is distinct from the Order of Canada and from the Cross of Valour.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Unknown photographer · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
The Military Museums in Calgary brings together the histories of Canada’s army, navy and air force. Its collections interpret Canadian military service.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Mr.Marnier · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credit & context
The Diefenbunker in Carp, near Ottawa, is a four-storey underground bunker built between 1959 and 1961. It is now a museum and national historic site preserving Canada’s Cold War history.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: P199 · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credit & context
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. It traces its origins to 1880, when it was mainly a collection of militia artifacts, and opened in its present building on LeBreton Flats in Ottawa on May 8, 2005.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Balcer~commonswiki · Photo licence: CC BY 2.5 · Credit & context
Canada has kept a peacekeeping presence in the Golan Heights of Syria since 1974, when it joined the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force after the Yom Kippur War. It is one of Canada’s longest-running international commitments, and more than 12,000 Canadians have served there.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Spaceboyjosh · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credit & context
During the Suez Crisis of 1956, Canadian diplomat Lester B. Pearson proposed a peacekeeping force, and the United Nations launched its first large-scale peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Emergency Force, commanded by Canada’s Major-General E.L.M. “Tommy” Burns. Canadians served with UN troops in Egypt from 1956 to 1967 and again from 1973 to 1979; Pearson received the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Indonesian Ministry of Information and the Information Department of the Indonesian Army · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces have served in dozens of peacekeeping efforts with the United Nations, NATO and other multinational operations. Peacekeepers are neutral international troops sent to countries in turmoil to reduce tensions and restore peace, monitoring ceasefires, patrolling buffer zones, clearing landmines and providing humanitarian aid.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Pierre André Leclercq · Photo licence: CC BY 4.0 · Credit & context
Operation IMPACT began as the Canadian Armed Forces’ support to the Global Coalition formed in 2014 to degrade and defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Canadian CF-18 Hornets flew 1,378 sorties between October 30, 2014, and February 15, 2016. The mission then focused on training and building the military capabilities of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Staff Sgt. Perry Aston · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
In 2011 Canada took part in the NATO-led Operation Unified Protector in Libya through Operation Mobile. It began in February with the evacuation of Canadians and other foreign nationals, then, after the UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone on 17 March, became a combat operation involving naval ships and fighter, transport, patrol, helicopter and refuelling aircraft. It ended on October 31, 2011, after Gadhafi’s death.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: SAC Sally Raimondo / MOD · Photo licence: OGL v1.0 · Credit & context
After the attacks of 11 September 2001, Canada joined the international coalition against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which had sheltered Al-Qaeda. More than 40,000 Canadians served there, the largest deployment of Canadian troops since the Second World War, in a conflict that lasted more than 12 years, the longest in Canada’s history. Canada led Operation MEDUSA, its largest combat operation since the Korean War.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: ISAF photo by U.S. Air Force TSgt Laura K. Smith · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
After Iraq invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990, more than 4,000 Canadians served in the Persian Gulf with a coalition formed to drive Iraqi forces out. Canada’s part, Operation Friction, was mainly warships and aircraft. It was the first conflict in which Canadian women played an active combat role.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Staff Sgt. Lee Corkran · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939 began more than six years of fighting on land, at sea and in the air that ended in 1945. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in uniform at home and around the world; over 45,000 gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Canadian Official photographer · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
When Britain declared war in August 1914, Canada, whose external affairs were still governed by the United Kingdom, was automatically at war. More than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in what was then called the Great War; more than 66,000 died and more than 172,000 were wounded. Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles separately from Britain.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Castle, W.I. (William Ivor), official Canadian War photographer · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
The South African War, also known as the Boer War, was fought in southern Africa from 1899 to 1902 between the British Empire and the Boers. More than 7,000 Canadians volunteered to serve alongside British forces, and five earned the Victoria Cross. In February 1900 Canadians played an important role at Paardeberg, the first major British victory of the war.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credit & context
Ernest Alexander Cruikshank, born in Bertie Township, Ontario, was a journalist and translator before joining the militia in 1877, rising to brigadier-general in 1915 and directing the general staff’s historical section. He chaired the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada from its creation in 1919 until his death, and wrote many papers and books on Ontario and Canadian history.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Unknown author · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Châteauguay (1626–1685), soldier, trader and first seigneur of Longueuil, founded a family prominent in the military, commercial and administrative life of New France, ennobled by Louis XIV. His Canadian-born sons, including d’Iberville, de Sainte-Hélène and de Bienville, fought France’s enemies across North America on land and sea and served as colonizers and administrators.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Jean Gagnon · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credit & context
Georges Vanier helped found the Royal 22e Régiment, served with it in the First World War and commanded it from 1925 to 1928. He represented Canada at the League of Nations, in London and in Paris, becoming Canada’s first ambassador to France in 1944. As Governor General from 1959 to 1967, the first French Canadian in that role since Confederation, he devoted himself to national unity.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Canada. Dept. of National Defence. Unknown photographer. · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Sam Hughes, soldier, journalist and Member of Parliament for Lindsay from 1892 to 1921, helped create a distinctly Canadian army. As Minister of Militia and Defence from 1911 to 1916, he raised the Canadian Expeditionary Force that fought in the First World War and was knighted, but disputes with colleagues and subordinates forced him from Cabinet in 1916.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: William James Topley · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Sir Robert Borden, born at Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia, led the Conservative Party from 1901 and was Prime Minister from 1911 to 1920. He guided Canada through the First World War, imposed conscription for overseas service in 1917 and formed a Union government of Liberals and Conservatives. He is remembered above all for insisting that Canada act as an autonomous nation in international diplomacy.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Notman, Boston · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye of Trois-Rivières, soldier, trader and explorer, founded with his sons between 1731 and 1743 a series of posts beyond Lake Superior that became bases for French exploration of the West. They included Forts Saint-Pierre, Rouge and La Reine, at today’s Fort Frances, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: sculpteur:Jean Bailleul / photo: Jean Gagnon · Photo licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credit & context
Étienne-Paschal Taché of Montmagny, a physician and soldier who fought at Châteauguay and Plattsburgh in the War of 1812, sat in the legislature and Legislative Council of the Province of Canada. In 1864 he headed the Taché–Macdonald coalition, presided at the Québec Conference and sponsored the Québec Resolutions in the Legislative Council.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Jules-Isaïe Benoît · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context
Charles Gavan “Chubby” Power, a First World War veteran and longtime Quebec MP, was Minister of National Defence for Air from 1940 to 1944. He oversaw wartime RCAF expansion, supported distinct Canadian squadrons, helped establish the Air Cadets and advanced the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which trained more than 130,000 Allied aircrew in Canada.
Contributor: Citizen.ca
Photo: Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau · Photo licence: Public domain · Credit & context