Researching Canadian Military History

Democracy at War: Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War (senior)

Search a digitized collection of 144,000 newspaper clippings that report on the events of the Second World War. Fifty-five short historical articles introduce the main facts and, so far as is possible, the main conclusions of historical research and analysis that has taken place since the Second World War.

Democracy at War is an unparalleled online resource for research projects and units of study. Students have immediate access to history written as it was happening.

Chronology of Canadian Military History (intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

Canadian military history at a glance with 55 introductory articles to Canada's military history from 1000 to 1946. Learn how Canada was shaped by war, from early encounters between Europeans and First Peoples, to British North America and right up to the end of the Second World War.

Use the chronology as your own refresher or give students a basic starting point in their learning and research.

Today in History (for students 8+ years of age)

Read about the events that took place in Canadian military history on this day or any day of the year.

Use this section to foster a broad understanding of the wide range of events in over 400 years of Canadian military history.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9-12, 1917(intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

As part of a British offensive in April 1917, Canadian soldiers captured the heavily fortified Vimy Ridge in northern France. The cost to Canada was high: 3598 killed and over 7000 wounded. Many historians consider this spectacular victory a defining moment for Canada, when it emerged from under the shadow of Britain and forged its own identity.

This page includes historical background, interactive maps of the battle and a substantial list of online resources and Web sites.

Dispatches: Backgrounders in Canadian Military History (intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

These brief research papers cover a wide range of topics specific to the Canadian experience of war. Many cover lesser known topics or perspectives less frequently studied, including war art and women and war.

Remembrance Day : November 11 (all - text suitable for intermediate to senior/secondary)

Every November 11th, Canadians across the country pause in silence to remember the men and women who served our country during wartime.

Learn about the origins of Remembrance Day in Canada, its symbols, why, whom, what and how we remember those who fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953).

Use this section in preparation for your class or school's own Remembrance Day activities or for guiding students' work.

Revolution Rejected (intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, George Washington sent two armies north to besiege Quebec City and conquer Canada. The British victory at the siege of Quebec in 1775-1776 saved Canada from conquest and incorporation into the new United States. Loyalist refugees added a significant English-speaking element to the population and led to the creation of the provinces of Upper Canada (Ontario) and New Brunswick.

This online exhibit includes the background to the battle, images and a quiz for students.

The Canadian History of Radar (intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

In 1940-1, during the darkest time of the Second World War, a group of Canadian students left their high schools and universities to save Great Britain from Nazi invasion. They all shared knowledge of radio electronics and were to become the Allies' experts for operating a new secret weapon: radar.

This is an online exhibit that allows students to learn about a key technological innovation.

Canvas of War: Masterpieces from the Canadian War Museum (intermediate to senior/secondary cycle 2)

Major artists recorded the important contributions made by Canadians in both world wars. Like the soldiers they depicted, artists saw comrades and brothers die. They marched over corpses, suffered through deafening bombardments and endured inhumane conditions. The paintings in this exhibition are their legacy, a first-hand account of "how it was."

This exhibit presents many works of art and places them within their historical context. Also included are historic images and first-hand quotations.