OHFA - AFPO

The afternoon of Day 2 at the National Fair was spent at Library and Archives Canada, where the delegates had the unique opportunity to delve into the past of a World War I soldier or nurse. During the “Lest we Forget” workshop, all of the students had the privilege of examining first-hand ninety year old documents, dating back to the First World War. Each delegate was put into a small group with other delegates from across the country, where they examined primary source documents, given a glimpse into the personal life of a World War I soldier or nurse. Letters, medical records, photos, and postcards were examined, sharing little-known details about each soldier.

The “Lest We Forget” workshop began after the short walk down from Parliament Hill and a picnic-style, pre-packaged lunch. Ms. Jiang and Mrs. Campbell began the workshop in the auditorium, with an introduction to Library and Archives Canada. Mrs. Campbell explained that, as the national library, Library and Archives Canada holds two copies of every item published in Canada or by Canadians. 1 copy is held within specialized vaults, while the other copy is for consultation purposes. The consultation copies enable researchers and other people to borrow these documents, but they must remain within Library and Archives Canada at all times. The facility also includes an extensive collection of national archives, including government records, letters from various Prime Ministers, and over twenty-five million photos. The archives also include the most complete collection of Canadian maps, dating back to the time of Samuel de Champlain. The introduction was followed by a skit which included a thorough explanation of primary source documents. Mrs. Campbell and Ms. Jiang gave the examples of photos, medals, newspapers with eyewitness accounts, and letters. They also stated that primary sources included poems, such as the extremely well-known poem, “In Flander’s Fields,” written during World War I by Dr. John McCrae. Following this, Mrs. Campbell and Ms. Jiang went through the details of the workshop, explaining that each group would be working with some of over six hundred and sixty thousand primary source documents, specific to individual soldiers.

Once the groups had organized themselves at their designated work stations, they began to explore the life of their assigned soldier or nurse. The students quickly became engrossed in their soldiers personal documents, ranging from medical records to attestation papers to service records. Group B15, composed of Jake, Cawin, Sukhman, and Emily studied soldier Blair Bourgeore. After only a few minutes spent looking through Bourgeore’s individual documents, the students already knew that Bourgeore was twenty-nine years old upon joining the army, was only five feet, six inches tall, and was employed as a salesman prior to the war. When asked how studying the documents of Blair Bourgeore impacted his understanding of the first World War, Cawin remarked, “I guess it’s kind of a one-on-one feel with the person… We look at them on a personal level and can connect with them.” Cawin later added that learning more about Bourgeore added a more “personal feel,” to learning about Canada’s involvement in World War I, stating that he felt that he was better able to “identify with them [the soldiers].” On a sad note, after examining additional documents, the students learned that Blair Bourgeore had died in battle. The students were able to view an original Medal Card document, which showed that Bourgeore’s mother had received a memorial cross.

The workshop concluded in the auditorium, with one representative from each group presenting the personal details about their assigned soldier or nurse to the rest of the delegates. Each soldier and nurse had their own personal story, with some being students, farm labourers, bond brokers, grocery clerks, and even civil engineers, before putting their lives on hold to ensure the freedom of their country. After the war, some of these soldiers went on to become published authors, fruit farmers, or professional runners, going on to lead successful lives. Many, however, did not have this opportunity, selflessly sacrificing their lives for the sake of their country. As the students left Library and Archives Canada late in the afternoon, it was evident that they had developed a more meaningful understanding of the difficult lives of the Canadian soldiers.