The Second World War and the years after

Samuel is twenty-six. He came from Eritrea, and he works in a warehouse in Brampton. At lunch, his coworker Marieke tells a story. She was born in the Netherlands. Her grandmother always said Canadian soldiers freed her town. Samuel studies for his test at night, and he wonders which war she means. I'm Vinnie. Remember, this is a free, independent course. It is not a government course.

So here is the question. What did Canada do in the Second World War, and how did Canada change after it?

The official study guide, Discover Canada, covers this in two chapters, Canada's History and Modern Canada. The Second World War lasted from nineteen thirty-nine to nineteen forty-five. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served. Forty-four thousand were killed. There were hard defeats, at Hong Kong in nineteen forty-one and at Dieppe in nineteen forty-two.

The Allies were the countries on Canada's side. More than one hundred thirty thousand air crew from the Allies trained in Canada. At sea, Canada's navy helped win the Battle of the Atlantic. By the end of the war, Canada had the third-largest navy in the world.

Then came D-Day, on June sixth, nineteen forty-four. Fifteen thousand Canadians captured Juno Beach. About one in ten soldiers from the Allies on D-Day was Canadian. In nineteen forty-four and forty-five, Canadians freed the Netherlands. That is Marieke's story. Germany gave up on May eighth, nineteen forty-five, and Japan on August fourteenth.

The guide also names a wrong done at home. During the war, Japanese Canadians were forced to move from their homes. The government of Canada apologized in nineteen eighty-eight.

After the war, Canada grew. Oil was found in Alberta in nineteen forty-seven. Unemployment insurance had started in nineteen forty. Today it is called employment insurance. The Canada and Quebec Pension Plans came in nineteen sixty-five. Canada was part of Nato, a military alliance, and Norad, with the United States. Canadians also fought in the Korean War, from nineteen fifty to nineteen fifty-three.

More people got the vote. Japanese Canadians got it in nineteen forty-eight. Aboriginal people got it in nineteen sixty. Canada also took in refugees. About thirty-seven thousand Hungarians came in nineteen fifty-six, and more than fifty thousand Vietnamese came after nineteen seventy-five.

Let's make it stick. D-Day is six, six, forty-four. The sixth day of the sixth month, nineteen forty-four. And Juno starts with J, just like June. So say it with me. June, Juno, six, six, forty-four. Say it twice more on your own.

Let's change one fact. What if Marieke said her great-grandfather fought at Vimy Ridge? That is a different war. Vimy Ridge was the First World War, in nineteen seventeen. Juno Beach and the Netherlands were the Second World War. First war, Vimy. Second war, Juno.

The mistake people make is thinking everyone in Canada could vote when the war ended. Not so. Japanese Canadians waited until nineteen forty-eight. Aboriginal people waited until nineteen sixty. Today, every citizen who is eighteen or older on voting day may vote.

Here's the one thing to remember. More than one million Canadians served in the Second World War, and on D-Day, June sixth, nineteen forty-four, Canadians captured Juno Beach.

This week, read the Second World War part of Canada's History, and the start of Modern Canada. Then say six, six, forty-four to someone at home. Next time, modern Canada: Quebec, the arts, sport and discovery.