Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day
Book Recommendations for Discussing Remembrance Day in Classrooms.
From November 5th to 11th, Veterans' Week offers Canadians a chance to pay tribute to the remarkable sacrifices and contributions of our veterans, as well as those who continue to serve. Remembrance Day, observed on November 11th, marks the conclusion of Veterans' Week and commemorates the armistice that ended the First World War on this date in 1918.
Remembrance Day
At 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause for a moment of silence, reflecting on those who gave their lives in service to our country. This solemn tradition honours the service of those who fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and those who have served since. Over 2.3 million Canadians have answered the call to serve, and more than 118,000 have made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing us to live in peace today.
Indigenous Veterans Day
Indigenous participation in Canada's military has been significant, although exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint. Many Indigenous volunteers faced numerous obstacles to serve, including learning a new language, adapting to cultural differences, and travelling long distances from their remote communities to enlist. These challenges did not end with their military service, as many Indigenous Veterans received unequal treatment compared to other Canadian Veterans after returning home.
During the First World War, more than 4,000 Indigenous people served in uniform, with some regions seeing as many as one in three eligible men volunteering. In communities such as the Head of the Lake Band in British Columbia, every man aged 20 to 35 enlisted. Indigenous recruits had varied motivations for joining, from seeking employment and adventure to continuing a tradition of military service, as their ancestors had done in previous conflicts like the War of 1812.
Beyond military service, Indigenous communities made significant contributions to Canada's war efforts, though they faced severe injustices. During this time, the Canadian government expropriated vast amounts of reserve land, some of which was redistributed to non-Indigenous Veterans through a farmland program. Indigenous Veterans, however, were often excluded from this program and were treated unfairly in other aspects as well.
Many Indigenous Veterans hoped their service and sacrifice would lead to greater recognition and rights within Canadian society, but they were frequently denied the same benefits and support programs as their non-Indigenous counterparts. Despite fighting alongside their fellow soldiers, they faced discrimination upon returning home, making the transition to civilian life even more challenging. This unequal treatment deeply impacted many Indigenous Veterans who had given so much for the sake of peace and freedom.
The history of Indigenous service in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and subsequent Canadian military efforts is a source of pride. While precise figures are hard to come by, it is estimated that up to 12,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals served in the major conflicts of the 20th century, with at least 500 of them making the ultimate sacrifice.
This legacy of service has been honoured in various ways. Several Royal Canadian Navy ships, including HMCS Iroquois, Cayuga, and Huron, were named in recognition of Indigenous contributions. The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa stands as a powerful tribute, featuring a bronze eagle at the top and figures of Indigenous men and women, alongside symbols like the wolf, bear, bison, and caribou. This monument, which honours the spiritual guides significant to Indigenous cultures, hosts remembrance ceremonies, including those on Indigenous Veterans Day, observed annually on November 8.
People and Stories:
Indigenous Veterans in the First World War
Francis Pegahmagabow
Francis Pegahmagabow was among the most decorated Indigenous soldiers of the First World War. An Ojibwa from the Parry Island Band (now known as Wasauksing First Nation) in Ontario, he earned the Military Medal and two additional bars for his courageous actions in Belgium and France. Soldiers who had already received the Military Medal and went on to display further acts of heroism could be awarded bars to recognize these additional achievements. Pegahmagabow was one of just 39 soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force to receive this distinction.
Though Pegahmagabow seldom discussed his wartime achievements, his son Duncan recalls hearing that his father was credited with capturing 300 enemy soldiers. "My mother Eva told me he used to go behind enemy lines, rub shoulders with the enemy forces and never get caught" Duncan shared. Despite his wartime experiences, Duncan emphasized that his father was deeply connected to the land and peace, often saying that people must live in harmony with all living beings.
To read more about Francis’ story, click here.
Black Canadian Veterans in the First World War
Ethelbert ‘Curley’ Christian
Ethelbert ‘Curley’ Christian was born in the United States but later moved to Canada, where he enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1915 during the First World War. On April 9, 1917, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Christian was serving with the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) when an artillery barrage buried him in a trench. His limbs were crushed by debris, and he remained trapped for two days. Despite being found barely alive, he narrowly escaped death again when two stretcher bearers carrying him off the battlefield were killed by enemy fire.
Although Christian survived, gangrene led to the amputation of all four of his limbs. Despite this, he maintained a positive outlook and, after returning to Canada, married a volunteer aide he met while recovering in a Toronto hospital. Christian was fitted with artificial limbs and went on to live a full and active life until his passing in 1954. A passionate advocate for veterans, he was among the more than 8,000 veterans who travelled to France in 1936 for the dedication of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial by King Edward VIII.
To read more about Ethelbert’s story, click here.
2SLGBTQI+ Veterans in the First World War
Frederick Hardy
Frederick Hardy was born in 1898 in Strathroy, Ontario, and later moved to Brandon, Manitoba, with his family. He was working as a farmhand when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915 and served with the 8th Battalion during the First World War.
In July 1916, after intense combat in Belgium, Frederick’s unit was withdrawn from the front lines for rest. That evening, superior officers found Frederick and another soldier together in a field. Both were arrested. The next day, Frederick was court-martialed and charged with committing "an act of gross indecency with another male person." Witnesses, including senior officers, provided explicit testimony, reflecting the harsh treatment that many 2SLGBTQI+ soldiers faced at the time.
Frederick was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months of hard labour. He endured more than eight months of grueling prison conditions before his sentence was shortened, as the Canadian Corps needed reinforcements after heavy losses during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917.
Frederick later participated in the Battle of Hill 70 but was killed in action on August 15, 1917. His body was never recovered, and his name is among the 11,285 inscribed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, a tribute to those whose final resting places are unknown.
To read more about Frederick’s story, click here.
Women in the First World War
The first military roles for Canadian women were as nurses, tending to the sick and wounded during times of war. Known as "Nursing Sisters," many of these women initially came from religious orders. Over 2,800 Canadian Nursing Sisters served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War, often working near the front lines in Europe, within reach of enemy attacks. Their blue uniforms and white veils earned them the nickname "bluebirds," and they were highly regarded for their bravery and dedication. At that time, Canadian women were not allowed to serve in other military capacities during the First World War.
Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh
Murney Pugh was born in Kingston, Ontario, in 1883, into a prominent military family and trained as a nurse in Halifax. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, she joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps as a Nursing Sister and went overseas to serve. Ellanore Parker, born in Ireland in 1878, emigrated to Canada as a young woman and trained as a nurse at the Winnipeg General Hospital. She enlisted in January 1915 and also served as a Nursing Sister in Europe.
Murney and Ellanore met while working at a military hospital in Netheravon, England, and quickly became inseparable. The two served together in hospitals in France, caring for soldiers injured on the Western Front. During the Battle of Vimy Ridge, both were exposed to poison gas while treating gassed soldiers. While Murney experienced only mild symptoms, Ellanore suffered long-term respiratory issues that affected her for the rest of her life. As Ellanore recovered in hospital, Murney continued her duties as a Nursing Sister.
After the war, they returned to North America aboard a hospital ship and eventually settled in West Hollywood, California, where the local community was accepting of 2SLGBTQI+ people. Murney worked as a nurse, while Ellanore pursued a literary career, writing journal articles, poems, and novels. Many of her poems reflected on their lives and the challenges they faced in a society that did not accept their love. Ellanore also wrote about her lifelong struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, a result of her wartime experiences.
Throughout their lives, Murney and Ellanore listed themselves as partners in government censuses, and newspaper articles described them as companions and life partners, suggesting their relationship was more than a friendship. In 1948, the pair returned to Canada and settled in Victoria, British Columbia. Ellanore passed away in 1965, and Murney followed nine years later. They are buried side by side, a fitting tribute to their lifelong bond.
To learn more about their story, click here.
Events in Calgary for Remembrance Day
Field of Crosses Memorial @ 200 Memorial Drive NW
Event Information:
Parking is very restricted in the parking lot adjacent to the field this day. It is recommended that people park on the South side of the river in the Eau Claire area and walk the short distance across the bridge to the field. Memorial Drive, directly in front of the Field of Crosses will be closed from 9 AM until after the ceremony.
The Field of Crosses Memorial is open for public viewing from November 1st to 11th each year. Visitors are welcome to walk among the illuminated crosses at any time, day or night. Those who wish to pay their respects are encouraged to pause at any cross that resonates with them, quietly speak the name of the fallen soldier, and place a hand over their heart in a personal moment of reflection. Daily Sunrise and Sunset ceremonies are held from November 1st to November 10th, and the public is warmly invited to attend. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.
Remembrance Day – November 11th – A televised Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at the field at 10:10 AM.
Remembrance Day Service @ The Military Museums
Address: 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta
Event Information:
The Military Museums will be hosting a ceremony for Remembrance Day on November 11th.
Laying of wreaths: After the ceremony the public are welcomed to lay a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. Staff will be on hand to provide an escort to and from the monument. Real poppies will be permitted to be laid. Plastic poppies are not recommended.
After the Remembrance Day Service, the Museum will be open from 12:00pm-6:00pm. Admission to the Museum will not require a booking and will be by donation.
Remembrance Day Ceremony @ Royal Canadian Legion
Address: 116 7 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta
Event Information:
The Royal Canadian Legion is committed to ensuring Canadians never forget.
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to take our way of life for granted, and forget what so many men and women sacrificed for our freedoms. Remembrance initiatives remind us to take time to honour those who have dedicated their lives to serve our nation.
All are invited to honour and remember Canada's Veterans. Doors will open at 9am. Remembrance service will start at 10:15AM. Music will play at Noon.