Canada's Sites of Memory of the two World Wars Documentary

Dr. Bird received funds from Heritage Canada for documentary series that explores sites of memory of the world wars, this film will include regions across Canada and reflect its cultural diversity.

Juno Beach, Vimy, Beaumont Hamel, St Julien, Dieppe. These places and others around the world evoke strong impressions as sites where Canadians fought and died. Today, these sites of memory are marked in a variety of ways: memorials, museums or some relic of war. They stand as places of pilgrimage where people travel to gain a better understanding of the war and what happened, and as places to connect with our past. But what about places associated with war in Canada? The aim of this two-part film series is to raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of sites across Canada that are associated with both world wars. Each 45-minute episode will cover 12-13 sites representing each world war (24-26 vignettes in total). Sites will signify how the world wars shaped, and continue to shape, Canada and Canadian identity. The films will be shown first in each of the communities where the sites highlighted in the series are located, and then made available online as a free download to the general population, and to public broadcasters for use. Episode I, on World War I, will include sites such as Valcartier, PQ, where Canadians gathered for basic training; Halifax Harbour, site of the 1917 explosion; a site where Ukrainians were interned during the war; Lennox Island, PEI, where over half the male Mi'kmaq enlisted; Valour Road, home for three men awarded the Victoria Cross; and William Head, BC, where 70,000 Chinese Labour Corps were encamped. Episode II, on World War II will include sites such as Forillon National Park, Gaspe, PQ, where German U Boats sank ships offshore; Nanton, AB, where volunteers have rebuilt an Avro Lancaster bomber to taxiable condition; the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, BC, where interned Japanese Canadians were held; and Prince Albert, SK, that is twinned with a town in France owing to a shared war heritage. Vignettes will come from all regions in Canada and reflect the range of cultural diversity in Canada. After planning and research, Dr. Bird and the camera person will travel to the selected sites to collect film footage and interview local people who will tell their community's story.