Forces Of Change For Canada

The Second World War was as momentous a time for Canada as the First World War had been. The country was involved from the start until the end.

Photographs of the time: at the First Quebec Conference, Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Winston Churchill stand behind President Franklin Roosevelt and the Earl of Athlone, the governor-general at the time. Below is a photograph of King on V-E Day.

This photograph of a man and woman, both in the service, on V-E Day, always catches my eye.

After the war, Newfoundland, which had been a separate dominion under the British empire, voted to join Canadian Confederation.

Its premier, Joey Smallwood, was the driving force for that. As such, he is considered the last Father of Confederation.

Another political force in the country was the politician Tommy Douglas, whose policies from the left wing had a strong influence, both in his province and at the national level. Universal health care is his legacy, and today he is one of the most admired leaders in the history of the country.

The decades following the war saw a great deal of change. Women's role in society, the growing influence of the youth making up the baby boom, economic booms, all of it had an effect on the country. Some fashions of the time are here. 

A display screen features a wealth of Canadian musicians of the time. Clicking on any albums displayed allows the visitor to bring up a specific song. In this case, The Weight, a classic from The Band.

I close off for today with this.