So what are you doing May 8th? Do you live in Alberta and are looking to experience a fun day out? May I suggest heading down to one of my favourite museums, the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta. Nanton is a beautiful town south of Calgary and just west of Vulcan. For many years, this town has been the site of a world class museum dedicated to Canada’s participation in Bomber Command from 1939 to 1945. There are many planes on display including the iconic Avro Lancaster, which was built here in Canada. The Bomber Command Museum of Canada is one of this country’s true gems in honouring the strong Air Force tradition that Canada has developed.

I was happy to have received the following press release from the folks at the Museum to let my Alberta readers know about this upcoming event. If you are available on May 8th, this Museum is putting on a special VE Day celebration and it will definitely be worth a visit. Once you have been, you’ll want to keep coming back again and again for their various events throughout the year. Below is the press release with more information including contacts. My thanks to Dayna at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada. (more…)

Photo Credit: Manitoba Archives

The Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI was no stranger to regimental mascots and pets. Lt. Col John McCrae had two of them and it is said that there were at least two regiments that had bears as mascots and one even had a beaver! Yet, the most famous Canadian mascot of all from 1914-1918 was a little black bear from White River, Ontario that would inspire a British author to create a character that is known around the world today to millions of children.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Guelph Museums M968.346.1x

So, you know that Lt. Col John McCrae was a surgeon with the Canadian Army during the First World War who just happened to write the most famous war poem of all time which would create a global symbol of war remembrance still in use almost a century after his death. Yet, you may be asking yourself who was John McCrae the man? There are a lot of interesting little stories about the non-military side of John McCrae that a lot of people don’t know. For example, what was the one thing he did to ease the pain of a dying child, what special thing  did he do for his nieces and nephews back home in Guelph, and who was the young woman who captured his heart? Read on and I’ll fill you in on some stories not so well known outside of Guelph and I’ll show you some rarely seen pictures, courtesy of Guelph Museums, of John McCrae.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie, 2010

Remembrance Day is observed all across Canada through various services and memorials. Two that I had the pleasure in taking part in today were the services at the Colonel John McCrae Birthplace and Memorial Gardens and the Woodlawn Memorial Park Veteran’s section in Guelph, Ontario.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie

Do you recognise this place? Well, if you are a World War One buff, or a regular reader to this site, then you know this is the Colonel John McCrae Birthplace and Memorial Gardens in Guelph, Ontario. Remembrance Day is probably the most perfect day to visit McCrae House as you will witness an array of festvities. And what better place to spend it than at the home of the man who wrote a poem that launched a global outpouring of remembrance for all those who have served their countries in war?

Photo Credit: Guelph Museums via McCord Museum M968.358.1x

The ceremonies kick off at 9am with the Flag Service at McCrae House, followed by the official Remembrance Day Service at 10:30am. Come on out and see the house, talk to the war veterans who will be there, and take part in the activities of the day.

Stay tuned to this site, and I will provide updates on how the day unfolded. It is sure to be a very moving day. These Remembrance Day services are brought to you by the Guelph Museums McCrae House, the City of Guelph, and the Royal Canadian Legion. We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie

The National War Memorial in Ottawa is a monument every Canadian is familiar with whether we have seen it in person or on Remembrance Day national TV broadcasts. The history of this memorial is an interesting one. For one thing so many obstacles got in the way like political bickering and the death of the sculptor that it almost didn’t get completed at all. But, 14 years after it started, Canada became one of the last Commonwealth countries to finally dedicate a national memorial to its fallen soldiers of the First World War.  (more…)

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie

For those of you in the Cambridge region who are just mad about military history, you’ll want to check out this event on Oct 30th. The Colonel J. A. McIntosh Armoury in Cambridge, which is home to the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada, will be holding their annual open house this Saturday, October 30th from 10am to 5pm. The event is free for everyone. The military museum on site will be open for you to browse through and you will be treated to displays of costumes, modern warfare equipment, historical artifacts and other little treats. I’m told that kids just love this event as there is a section for them to play a few games and dress-up with kid-sized uniforms. They will also, no doubt, get a kick out of the folks dressed in War of 1812 costumes as they recreate some battle scenes.

This event is quite a popular one and is well attended each year. So if you love military history, or if you are curious about how the current military operates, please check out the Armoury this weekend. Staff will be on hand to answer your questions and they look forward to seeing you there.

You can find the Armoury at 1 Valour Place, which is just off Ainslie Street in downtown Cambridge. For a brief history of the Armoury as well as the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada, please check out my previous post here.

Photo Credit: Laura Waldie

Canada’s military has quite a distinguished history. From victory in the War of 1812 to its participation in Afghanistan, Canada has earned some hefty and significant battle honours. Canadians shocked the South Africans in the Boer War with their courage, were feared by the Germans in the Great War for their strength and ability to adapt to extreme conditions and earned the respect of many nations for its peacekeeping efforts in the Cold War. For its mere population compared to the powerhouse nations of the United States and Britain, Canada’s valour is quite extraordinary. Citizens of Cambridge and the surrounding areas had a chance to explore a local piece of that military history when the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada opened their doors during this past weekend’s Doors Open event for the Waterloo Region. (more…)

Andrew Mynarski Memorial Lancaster

Air shows in western Canada are in for a huge treat this month. In fact, nothing like this has been seen in a very long time. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Mynarski Memorial Lancaster is conducting its most comprehensive western tour in more than 20 years and it will be at an air show near you! (more…)