Women and War

Summary

Students will work in groups to research women who have served and contributed to defending peace around the world. They will create posters or digital presentations that will form a visual timeline. Students can use online resources provided in student research packages or select their own subject to research.

Objectives

Through this activity, students will develop an understanding and awareness of:

• the timeline of women’s service across Canada’s military history;
• the stories and experiences of women and their contributions to Canada’s military;
• some of the struggles women have faced during their military service; and
• the importance of remembering the sacrifices and achievements of Canadian women who served and died in uniform.

Classroom materials

You will need these supplies, files or resources to complete this lesson:

• Web feature: Women in service
• Video: Remembrance Moments - Canadian Women and War (2:25 minutes)
• Image Gallery: Canadian Women and War
• Optional - Whiteboard or flipchart for class brainstorming
• 16 research packs:

Introduction

Research packets are arranged chronologically and reflect diverse roles held by women Veterans. You do not need to assign every name – choose based on the number of student groups in your class. This activity can work well for both group and individual assignments.

Group 1 - Georgina Fane Pope

South African War and First World War Nursing Sister

Group 2 - Mary Riter Hamilton

First World War artist

Group 3 - Elsie MacGill

Second World War Engineer and aircraft designer

Group 4 - Molly Lamb Boback

Second World War artist

Group 5 - Karen Hermiston

Second World War combat photographer

Group 6 - Qapik Attagutsiak

Second World War Inuk contributor on the home front

Group 7 - Mary Laura Wong

Second World War communications

Group 8 - Mona Parsons

Second World War resistance fighter and prisoner of war

Group 9 - Eva May Roy

Second World War cook with the Canadian Women’s Army Corp

Group 10 - Michelle Douglas

Canadian Armed Forces Special Investigations Unit and 2SLGBTQI+advocate

Group 11 - Nichola Goddard

Afghanistan, first Canadian woman to die in combat

Group 12 - Jean Tsannie

Canadian Ranger

Group 13 - Maryse Carmichael

Canadian Armed Forces pilot

Group 14 - Rufca Hanna

Bosnia and Afghanistan, Canadian Armed Forces army

Group 15 - Emilie Létourneau

Royal Canadian Navy Marine Systems Engineering Officer

Group 16 - Diana Prénoveau

Aerospace Control Officer

There is a saying that you can never really understand a person until you consider things from their view and “walk a mile in their shoes”.

Bring this idea to life with your students! Invite them to imagine the lives of some of the thousands of Canadian women who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces or who have helped on the home front over the years. Can they think of some of the roles that women have worked in while serving in the military?

Discussion

Start the conversation by watching this video (2:25 minutes):

Video: Remembrance Moments - Canadian women and war

Explain to your students that women have contributed in many different ways throughout Canada’s military history. During the First World War, Second World War and the Korean War, women were not permitted to serve in combat roles. They found other ways to help Canada’s war efforts though. They worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, communications specialists and in organizations like the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. Today, women now serve equally alongside their male counterparts on the front lines and in leadership roles.

This assignment is to learn about the lives and experiences of sixteen Canadian women who have served in the military or who have assisted on the home front. 

Research activity: Canadian women and war timeline

Divide the class into sixteen small research groups to research the sixteen women who have served (1-2 students).

Explain that each individual or small group will learn about one specific Canadian woman who served in uniform or worked or volunteered their time on the home front.

Groups can begin their research using the websites provided in their research packet and Canadian Women and War image gallery. They can also expand to other sources as time permits.

Presentations

Once students have finished their research, they will prepare a poster or digital presentation about the woman they researched. Information on what to include is outlined in the research packets. Teamwork is essential to ensure success for group work!

After the students complete their posters/digital presentations, students can take 3-5 minutes each to present their research to the class. If they made or printed posters, create a timeline in the classroom! You can hang them up in chronological order based on the wars or conflicts in which each person served.

Wrap-up discussion

Following the presentations, lead a class discussion about what the students have learned. Questions you might wish to explore include:
 

• How has the role of women in Canada’s military changed over time?
• How do you think women’s experiences in the Canadian military have differed from men’s experiences? How may they have been the same?
• Women weren’t allowed to serve in combat roles for many years. Can you think of a time when you faced discrimination or other challenges? Or a time you were prevented from taking part in an activity? [Try to relate the stories they researched to things they may have experienced or witnessed in their own lives.]
• Do you think the women we researched are role models? If so, why and how?
• Women are still underrepresented in the Canadian Armed Forces today. Why do you think that is? What do you think could be done to encourage more diversity?
• How can we remember and honour the sacrifices and achievements of Canadian women who have served or volunteered in times of war and military conflict?

Extension Activity

You may also wish to facilitate the following learning activity with your students:

Remembrance Dog Tags: Women who have died in service