Hello and welcome to my last blog post of 2024!  

Our most recent project in humanities has been about WWII, and we’ve explored many aspects of the conflict. From donating dog treats to creating a zine, it’s been an educational and meaningful experience.

What is this project about?  

Save Juno Beach is focused on World War II, and our ultimate goal was to donate a Canadian flag to the Juno Beach Foundation. However, before we could achieve this, there were many tasks to complete.

Project Path

📌 Guest Speaker + Service Project: 

After launching this project, we had a guest speaker who talked about his volunteer work. His story inspired us and gave us ideas for our own service projects. Acts of service help build stronger, more connected communities, create positive change, and offer personal fulfillment. His message reminded me that even small actions can make a big impact.

📌 WWII Smart Brevity Note: 

Next, we had a lesson on *smart brevity*—a method of cutting out unnecessary information to communicate ideas clearly and efficiently. We applied this technique by creating personalized notes on a World War II topic, helping us condense our research and focus on the key points. Smart brevity is important because it respects the audience’s time, making it easier to understand key ideas quickly and keeping the message engaging.

📌 Service Project: 

For my act of service, my friend Kaia and I volunteered at the SPCA, inspired by my love for animals. We decided to make homemade dog treats for the shelter dogs, combining my passion for baking with my desire to help animals and give back to the community. We spent a day baking and packaging the treats. The experience was fun and educational, teaching me the value of teamwork and the impact of small acts of kindness. It felt great to see how much the SPCA appreciated our donation. This experience has inspired me to look for more ways to help, whether through donations, volunteering, or raising awareness about animal welfare. It also deepened my understanding of the challenges animals in shelters face and reminded me of Canada’s values of compassion and community.

📌 Essay:

Next, we wrote a five-paragraph MLA essay on a WWII topic. This task required a lot of research, revisions, and time, but I’m proud of the final product. After many, many revisions, I was able to finalize my essay, which delves into Canada’s role in WWII. Here’s the result of all that hard work!

📌 WWII Zine: 

After getting my essay approved, I transformed it into a zine, which is part of a class-wide collection of designs and essays. I included images to accompany the text, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s amazing to see everyone’s work come together in one book!

What Role Did the Conflict of WWII Play in Shaping Canadian Identity?

World War II played a significant role in shaping Canadian identity by fostering independence and confidence on the world stage. Before the war, Canada was still closely tied to Britain. However, during WWII, Canada took on more responsibility, both in terms of military involvement and decision-making. The country’s contributions to major battles, like the D-Day invasion, helped Canadians feel proud of their role and demonstrated to the world that Canada could stand on its own.

Additionally, the war effort brought Canadians together, regardless of region or cultural background. Whether by serving in the military, working in factories, or supporting the war effort from home, everyone had a role to play. This sense of unity helped create a stronger national identity. After the war, Canada began to see itself as a more distinct country, separate from Britain. This shift also paved the way for Canada’s steps toward independence, such as the partition of the Constitution in 1982. WWII, was not just a time of hardship—it was a turning point that helped shape Canada into the independent, multicultural country we know today.

Overall, this project on Juno Beach has been an incredible learning experience. It has deepened my understanding of Canada’s role in WWII, especially the significance of the D-Day landings and how they helped shape Canadian identity. Researching Juno Beach led me to explore the personal stories of soldiers, the military strategy behind the invasion, and its impact on both the war and Canadian history. 

I also learned valuable skills like how to format essays in MLA style, which will certainly help me in the future. This project has also honed my critical thinking and research skills, as I had to sift through multiple sources, analyze information, and synthesize it into a clear and coherent narrative. Finally, it improved my ability to communicate historical events in a way that is both informative and engaging.

see you next year!