Document Archives | Verdun in Wartime: An Engaged Community

Canada Day Celebrations

In July 1953, Branch 202 Crawford Park organized an activity day in Queen Elizabeth Park for the Canada Day celebrations (then referred to as Dominion Day). The photograph […]

Inauguration of the Victory Memorial

This image presents the October 5th, 1924 program for the unveiling of the cenotaph erected in honour of the soldiers who died during the First World War. Transcription […]

A Parade to Commemorate the Battle of Ypres

This photograph, dated April 23, 1943, shows some of the 4000 soldiers and veterans who participated in the parade commemorating the Battle of Ypres. The crowd was marching […]

Veterans and the Housing Crisis

Verdun Branch no. 4 of the Canadian Legion identified the housing crisis as the main source of discontent among servicemen. This reproduction of a petition submitted by veterans […]

A Letter Revealing a Major Crisis

This reproduction of a letter written by a Verdunite evicted from her flat in 1945 clearly illustrates the devastating effect of the housing crisis and the frustration it […]

Committed Women

Following the wars, Verdun’s women continued their work on behalf of veterans and the community at large. They formed the Verdun Ladies’ Auxiliary in Branch 4 Verdun and […]

A Happy Family Reunion

The newspaper article features private Victor J. Myatt who was captured and imprisoned by the Japanese in Hong Kong from December 1941 until the end of the war. […]

Good News

Letter sent by the Department of National Defence to the family of soldier Fernand Vachon informing them of his imminent arrival in Canada on the liner Île-de-France. Transcription […]

A Much-Awaited Telegram

Telegram from Halifax sent on July 5, 1945, from Fernand Vachon to his family on Wellington Street, with the following message: “ARRIVED SAFE AND SOUND HOPE TO BE […]

Jane Leavitt

This article features Jane Leavitt, a British immigrant, born in London, who arrived in Verdun in 1913 with her family. She was chosen by the War Memorial Committee […]

A Very Sad Announcement

This telegram, dated March 14, 1945, announced the very sad news to Gisèle Garand, mother of a soldier from Verdun, Gérard Garand, who disappeared, and was presumed dead, […]

A Letter from the Sea

Here is a letter sent by Helen King D’All to her son, Harry King D’All, who was serving in England with the Royal Montreal Regiment. The letter was […]