Encountering Vimy Ridge

The gun was essentially the weapon of life or death for the millions of soldiers that fought in the war. If your gun wouldn’t fire during an assault your life was held in the balence. Throughout the war many advancements were made to gun technology (I.e. machine guns, artillery) However, changes made to the guns handled by soldiers were limited so the weapons in which most soldier on soldier combat. For many soldiers their lives could be either saved or be the end of ones life

There are many differences between all candains but many thing bring us all together. Loss and pain is one those things. The photo above shows a mix of veterans and senior citizens are all showing their support to all the victims of the brutal conflicts in which Canada has participated in. However, the photo doesn’t show the next few groups to show heir support of the cause. The groups after them mixed of all ages from young adult to high school kids all shshpwing their respect for all the sacrifice. Many believe Canada become a nation in world war 1 and have only strengthened their culture and nationhood since then. People of the east coast couldn’t be further apart than a large portion of west coast cities one thing remains constant and that’s what we are as Canadians. 

The Jade canoe (Haida Gwaii) was where we began this trip. When we saw the original cast for the sculpture in the YVR airport I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about its construction 

Trench warfare is something no one in the world would ever want to go through. However if I was young man before World War 1 the peer pressure must have been huge. My patriotism that I have to Canada would probably be towards the crown instead. That coupled with propaganda that was  commonplace on Canada’s streets. In all I think I would go to war, but not without extreme social and nationalism pressures

The Canadian aviation museum highlights the great progress made in aviation from the Wright brother to the present day. The museum highlighted how Canada fit into the aviation picture. The Civilian Air Force as well as the Busch planes were huge parts of aviation history and were all Canadian events. Canada will forever remain intertwined with aviation history even if their part is well known. 

Canada was often referred to as highly successful and an effective fighting force. Their contribution was well heard around the world in many large battles especially if you take into account the size of Canada at the time. 

Canada is unlike any country in the world.  We participate in numerous peace keeping missions every year. All this has become an identity of Canada. It’s hard to believe that this identity of effective military operations wasn’t started in the trenches of WW1. As the years have passed we have proven our stature again and again. This identity has transcended our military into our very own culture. 

For me life in close to city is reality that I don’t really ever think about. However for a majority of Canadian do not have that same privledge. They may only see 1-5 malls in year when I could see more in 1 day. However even with all this difference I found more similarities than  differences. For one I found out personalities to be very similar. When I talked to him it quickly became apparent that even though we were from opposite sides of the country it almost felt like he was my neighbor. I met people from cities, from towns to just cities to towns in the in the middle of nowhere one thing remained constant, a separate but similar peice of Canadain culture and heritage. For everyone it is diffrent but they all are tied into some event along our long history. 

The willingness to dig up the past even if it’s depressing is something that has transcended Canadian culture. The diefenbunker represents some of the darkest events that could ever happen in the world. The diefenbunker was a nucleus bomb shelter that would serve as the candain government if a nucleus distasteful ever occurred. As we traveled through the museum it quickly became clear how bad things could be if something like this ever happened. It’s our duty as candians to confer ot all the past not just peace and prosperity 

The peace tower is symbol of Canada. A defining feature of our capitol and monument that past that many do not think of on a daily basis. Constructed in 1918 the peace tower is massive bell tower that overlooks downtown Ottawa and Gatineau. We were lucky enough to take an elevator up to the top of the tower as we learned about its importance in not only candain history but also how it represents canadian culture. After the monument was built Canada would participate in many large wars but their commitment to peace is clearly evident in our efforts in peace keeping and conducting negotiations. The peace tower is a powerful monument to our past but I believe that is our actions that should be celebrated not some symbol. 

The 2 artifacts that I found depicted nurses badge and a conscription paper. It quickly became apparent that all Canadians gave something to the war. Whether it be as small as supporting the Canadain economy or fighting for the cause. Canadain although small made surprisingly it difference in the war. A large number of families gave so much to support such and a large number of them ultimately lost someone they loved. Canada on the front lines undeniably one of the most skilled combatants and some of the most brave. Whether it be serving as a nurse, a pilot or an soldier Canada made a huge impact on this war. 

 Canada has shown in numerous occasions it’s high level of training and its willingness to participate in peace keeping missions. The car in this photo was shot while a Canadian peace keeping team was using the vehicle. Later in the week we would speak to the military officer who commanded the mission in which the vehicle was shot at. This car shows Canada’s willingness get into any mission. That in itself isn’t indicative of Canada’s identity but it does represent to wider sense Canadian involment in a number of different conflicts. 

World war 1 was defining moment for all Canadians. Many gave their lives for a war that was on the other side of the world. Looking at it from that perspective makes you wonder how Canadians turned up en masse to fight in world war 1. This culture of duty and sacrifice would continue to be true up until the present and hopefully will transcend into the future. When we talk about world war it is easy to boil it down to a few big numbers but when you are forced to look micro you really think about how much Canada gave to the war effort. To think about how much we have grown throughout all this time it is truly incredible and without all the sacrifices over all the conflicts Canada would have developed on a much diffrent path. With the gained respect makes for more responsibility in the world stage and Canada has developed into some of the most approachable understanding and trusting people on the world. This is an identity that I believe all of us are proud to be a part of everyday. 

My name is Logan Underwood and I am a grade 9 student at seycove secondary. 

I play 3 sports at a provincial level in all 3. I play hockey, baseball and golf. Sports continue to be focus of my life only second to maybe my schoolwork. I enjoy solving problems and learning something new and interesting. I find history interesting so I enjoyed the trip and found it very interesting. 

 The Canadian war memorial commemorates all of sacrifices made in all of the wars that Canada has participated in. 

Every time I talk to veteran you get a sense that they are really great story tellers. I’m not sure how they got that talent but their story’s are undisputedly some of the most interesting in the world. When talking to veterans in becomes evedient very quickly that they have bee through so much struggle. Seen friends die, seen families destroyed, but at the same time moved on from these horrible events and stayed strong. The biggest lesson we can all learn from veterans is the humanity of war and the loss that they endured. Even with all this pain they kept going and striving for what they believed in. 

The peacekeeper memorial located in Ottawa is powerful piece of art showing the growth of Canada’s role in world affairs. From a tiny colony of Britain’s to top world power in only a half a century. This memorial commemorates all the efforts of brave candains to rebuild nations, restore democratic process and most of all harbouring relationships with some of the least cooperative people in the world. Canada’s efforts on the world stage have been truly incredible when you look back at what we were just 100 years ago. Canada has either ended wars or even stopped wars from happening in the first place. 

 As we landed in Ottawa we were greeted with beautiful view of the city of Gatineau and Ottawa. We arrived during the night and we caught a glimpse of our capitol lit up

 Interviewing a in service military officer, lieutenant colonel McCarron. Her specialty was logistics but the title was very deiceiving because she saw of the most fighting of any officer. 

The Canadain parliamentary library a workspace for the MP’s. The architecture of the library is very historic and represents a diffrent time in Canada’s history as this is the only section of the original parliament building to survive the fire of 1917

Justin Trudeau has visited the institution consistently making appearances all the way back 2007 to his latest in 2016

 It is easy to overlook the strife and struggle of every soldier. Waking up every day with death and despair on the horizon. Every day in world war 1 Canadian soldiers experienced this unmeasurable struggle

Record here an explanation of why you feel this represents Canada’s role in World War I.

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