The First World War, Women’s Suffrage and Remembrance Day

The First World War transformed Canada. Out of a total population of only eight million, more than 600,000 Canadians served — and 60,000 were killed. The battles they fought, above all at Vimy Ridge in 1917, forged a new sense of national identity. Out of that same era came a hard-won breakthrough at home: women finally gained the right to vote. And every November 11, Canadians still pause to honour the sacrifices of all those who have served.

Canada Before the War

Most Canadians of the early 20th century were proud members of the British Empire. Over 7,000 volunteered to fight in the South African War Also known as the Boer War (1899–1902), a conflict in South Africa in which more than 7,000 Canadians volunteered to fight as part of the British Empire; over 260 died. (1899–1902), known popularly as the Boer War, and over 260 died. In 1900, Canadians took part in the battles of Paardeberg (“Horse Mountain”) and Lillefontein — victories that strengthened national pride in Canada.

Canada in the First World War

When Germany attacked Belgium and France in 1914 and Britain declared war, Ottawa formed the Canadian Expeditionary Force The name for Canada's military force at the start of the First World War, later known as the Canadian Corps. More than 600,000 Canadians served, most of them volunteers, from a total population of eight million. (later the Canadian Corps). More than 600,000 Canadians served — most of them volunteers.

On the battlefield, Canadians proved to be tough, innovative soldiers. Canada shared in both the tragedy and the triumph of the Western Front. The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge A heavily fortified German position in France captured by the Canadian Corps in April 1917 at a cost of 10,000 killed or wounded. The victory is regarded as a defining moment in Canadian national identity. in April 1917, with 10,000 killed or wounded, securing the Canadians’ reputation as the “shock troops of the British Empire.” One Canadian officer said: “It was Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific on parade … In those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.” April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day.

Regrettably, from 1914 to 1920, Ottawa interned over 8,000 former Austro-Hungarian subjects — mainly Ukrainian men — as “enemy aliens” in 24 labour camps across Canada, even though Britain had advised against this policy.

In 1918, under the command of General Sir Arthur Currie Canada's greatest soldier, who commanded the Canadian Corps in the last hundred days of the First World War, leading victories at Amiens, Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Mons. , the Canadian Corps advanced alongside French and British Empire troops through the last hundred days of the war. These included the victorious Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918 — which the Germans called “the black day of the German Army” — followed by victories at Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Mons. With Germany and Austria’s surrender, the war ended with the Armistice The agreement that ended the First World War, signed on November 11, 1918. on November 11, 1918. In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 were wounded. The war strengthened both national and imperial pride, particularly in English Canada.

Women Get the Vote

At the time of Confederation, the vote was limited to property-owning adult white males — common across most democracies at the time. The campaign by women to gain the vote became known as the women's suffrage movement The campaign by women to gain the right to vote. In Canada, the movement was founded by Dr. Emily Stowe, the first Canadian woman to practise medicine. , founded in Canada by Dr. Emily Stowe The first Canadian woman to practise medicine and the founder of the women's suffrage movement in Canada. , the first Canadian woman to practise medicine.

In 1916, Manitoba became the first province to grant voting rights to women. In 1917, thanks to the leadership of Stowe and other suffragettes Women who campaigned actively for the right to vote in elections. , Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden’s government granted women the right to vote in federal elections — first to nurses at the front, then to women related to men in active wartime service. In 1918, most Canadian female citizens aged 21 and over were granted the right to vote in federal elections.

In 1921, Agnes Macphail A farmer and teacher who in 1921 became the first woman elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada. — a farmer and teacher — became the first woman MP in Canada. Due to the work of Thérèse Casgrain A Quebec activist whose campaigning led to Quebec granting women the provincial vote in 1940. and others, Quebec granted women the vote in 1940 — the last province to do so.

Remembrance Day

Each year on November 11 — Remembrance Day Canada's annual day of commemoration on November 11, honouring the more than one million Canadians who have served in wars and the 110,000 who have given their lives. — Canadians honour the sacrifices of veterans and those who have fallen in all wars in which Canada has taken part. Canadians wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — honouring the more than one million brave men and women who have served, and the 110,000 who gave their lives.

Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae A Canadian military doctor who composed the poem 'In Flanders Fields' in 1915, which became closely associated with Remembrance Day and the red poppy tradition. composed the poem “In Flanders Fields” in 1915. It is often recited on Remembrance Day:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.