Veterans’ Week: remembering the service, courage and sacrifice of the Canadian military
From November 5 to 11, 2022, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joins Canadians in recognizing the dedication and courage of all those who have served our country in times of war and peace.
Our country’s military history is an important part of the collective memory preserved at LAC. This Veterans’ Week, we are offering the following resources to honour our veterans, discover some of their stories, and learn more about Canada’s military heritage.
Listen to the “Pimm Panorama” podcast. During the First World War, armies used military panoramas: long drawings depicting panoramic views of enemy trenches. Find out about one of these works in the national collection, and the story of soldier Victor Lionel Pimm, who created the panorama in a Belgian trench.
On November 7, attend the “In the Trenches” webinar. Join LAC archivists to learn about the military service of Canadians who fought in the First World War, and find out how to access their service files online. This event is presented in collaboration with the Winnipeg Public Library. It is offered in English only, and registration is open to all.
As of November 10, visit the Library and Archives Canada blog to read about French-Canadian soldier Léo Major, a true hero of the Second World War. He was honoured and recognized for his exploit of single-handedly liberating the Dutch city of Zwolle from the Germans on April 14, 1945.
On November 11, Remembrance Day, discover never-before-seen images of the famous poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian John McCrae in May 1915. LAC recently acquired an original December 8, 1915, copy of the London magazine Punch that contains the first print version of the poem. Our conservation experts treated the pages and provided photographs of the rare document, which will be posted on our social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
Learn more
To find out more about Veterans’ Week initiatives, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada website.