War Brides

October 19, 2006 | Tips from Us > Campbell River, Museums
Find more information about Campbell River, Museums

During the Second World War thousands of European women married Canadian servicemen stationed overseas. The Canadian government assisted the couples after the end of the war by providing transportation to Canada. Most of the brides came to Canada in 1946, with a total of 48,000 women emigrating to Canada between 1942 and 1948. The war brides came from all over the United Kingdom and from nearly every country on the European continent, but the vast majority (93%) were British, no doubt due to the fact that Canadians were among the first to come to the assistance of Britain after war was declared in 1939 and they spent more time there than any other member of the Allied Forces. The impact on the development of Canada by these new ‘brides’ was enormous.

The Museum at Campbell River, as part of its Living History Series, will present an afternoon honouring Canadian ‘War Brides’. On Saturday, November 4 from 1pm – 3 pm, the Museum will present a social afternoon designed to pay tribute to local War Brides. In April of this year, the BC government declared 2006 to be the ‘Year of the War Bride’, a fitting tribute to follow 2005’s ‘Year of the Veteran’. The stories of War Brides form a tapestry that weaves together much of the history of Canada after WWII. Many of the new arrivals found it difficult to adapt to their new country, shocked to discover wood stoves and outhouses – items common to Canadian rural areas. Overcoming loneliness, isolation, homesickness and (many times) abandonment, these women’s stories are a testament to the strength of immigrants that have built the Canadian identity.

Please come to the Museum on Nov. 4 to hear some of these stories and meet our local War Bride ‘legends’. The re-issued War Bride Cookbook (given to new brides entering Canada in 1946) will be available for purchase, as will the official War Bride Pin. The cost for the afternoon is $5.00. War Brides are free!! Phone 287-3103 for more information.

Posted by Hilary, Vancouver at 12:00 AM

Map:

Number of Comments: 0

Post a Comment