Videos

From Canada’s History

The Great War at Sea

At the outbreak of the Great War, the Royal Canadian Navy consisted of only two ships — the HMCS Rainbow and HMCS Niobe — and less than 350 men. Initially, Canada believed that Britain’s powerful navy would be all that was needed to win the war on the seas. However, as the war wore on, Canada’s fleet slowly grew to more than nine thousand personnel.

Sir Arthur Currie

Historian and author Tim Cook would choose Sir Arthur Currie as his “History Idol.” To find out why, Canada’s History Editor-in-Chief Mark Reid caught up with Cook in this phone conversation discussing Currie’s attributes as a military leader.

From History Canada

WWI Portraits

WWI Portraits commemorate the brave Canadians who fought or served on the battlefields of the First World War. Produced by History Canada and drawn from Canada’s Great War Album, each of these videos highlight the unique story of an individual Canadian who served in the war. Visit History.ca for information about First World War programming and to watch more videos.

WW1 Portrait: Wallace Jamieson — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: Green Family — Read their bio here


WW1 Portrait: MacFie Brothers — Read their bio here


WW1 Portrait: Matthew Archer — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: Heber Rogers — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: James Hester — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: Martha Morkin — Read her bio here


WW1 Portrait: Ralph Carey — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: William Mitchell — Read his bio here


WW1 Portrait: The Moses Brothers — Read Arnold’s bio and James’ bio

From Canada’s History

Kristine Alexander

An historian from University of Western Ontario/University of Saskatchewan; her research into the exchange of letters between children and their fathers during the war provides insight into family life at home during the war.

Tim Winegard

Historian at Colorado Mesa University and author of For King and Kanata: Canadian Indians and the First World War discusses the participation of First Nations in Canada’s war effort.

Barry Gough

A Canadian Naval historian, Barry Gough highlights the Victoria High School Great War project. Canada’s oldest high school west of Winnipeg has over 500 names in its Great War Roll of Honour. The school has undertaken a series of commemorative projects, including the Trees of Remembrance and forthcoming book and website.

Blake Seward

2006 Recipient of the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching, founder of The Lest We Forget Project, and co-director of the Battlefields of Europe professional development tours for teachers.

Jonathan Vance

Professor Vance talks about the challenges of war commemoration, how Canadians remembered and marked the war, and how and why our national memory has evolved over the past 100 years. He cites examples of what Canadians have done well, what they haven’t, how our understanding of this history has changed over the century, and suggess best practices for Canadian planning and preparation of centennial commemorations in our communities.

Melanie Martin

From the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland, Ms. Martin discusses the curriculum program and memorial projects under development in Newfoundland to commemorate their role in the Great War.

Georgiana Stanicu

Executive director of Canada’s oldest regiment, the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in London, ON, Georgiana Stanicu speaks about current practices in the museum field, related to educational activities targeted towards school children of all ages. Some of the programs developed by museums across the country provide suggestions of best practices and innovative initiatives that would be transferable to other motivated community organizers.

Michel Litalien

Of CF Museums and Historical Collections, Department of National Defense, and author of Dans la Tourmente : Deux Hopitaux Militaires Canadiens-Français dans la France en Guerre (1915-1919), Mr. Litalien explains the challenges of presenting the voice of French-Canadian soldiers.

Vimy Ridge 95th Anniversary Report

Getting ready for Vimy Ridge