World War II marked a significant turning point in human history, ushering in both profound advancements and devastating consequences. And in our last project, we discussed how those effects changed the evolution of Canadian society.
At the beginning of the project, when it was first introduced, we were told the entire plan. Our essays based on the driving question (What role did the conflict of WWII play in shaping Canadian identity?), would be turned into a Zine, that would be shared with both the Lynn Valley Legion & the Juno Beach Centre in France. At first thought, it seemed like a normal WW2 project, but the more we worked on it, the more it became something much more, and it started with our service project.
In the Second World War, Canadians were recognized for their service in Europe, fighting against the Nazis. In typical fashion, we as Canadians wanted to immerse ourselves in the project, so all of our grade 10’s did a service project. We had to provide a service to someone or something in need, and a sponsor would donate $10 to us to put towards buying the Legion a Canadian Flag from the Juno Beach Centre. A few classmates and I decided to clean up the beach. The act is not only a reflection on Canadian identity and how we prioritize environmental care, we also show a sense of unity through our actions.
Next, we worked on some Smart Brevity notes. Smart Brevity is a type of note-taking that helps readers along with yourself understand the important aspects and points of a topic with very little effort. We researched 5 topics, each corresponding with an event or evolution that had occurred in Canada. Then, when we recorded information on all 5, we were told to choose one topic that was historically relevant to Canada and create a Smart Brevity document. The topic that caught my eye was human rights in Canada, a topic I’ve always found interesting, and decided to write about that. The completion of my Smart Brevity note is what led us right into the biggest part of the project; the essay.
The essay, in every assignment, proves to be the most difficult. Continuing with my topic on the evolution of human rights, I transformed my Smart Brevity into research topics and tidbits of information to include. The research and writing proved to be difficult, as I had to pair down an abundance of history into 5 paragraphs, but in the end, I finished with a essay I was proud of. The hardest part of the whole process was putting everything into MLA format, which was just introduced to us at the start of the essay-writing phase. I’ve never done something like it before, so it was very frustrating at first. But, eventually I got the idea of it, and by the end, was able to add another skill to my learner toolbox.
The last step in this WWII project was arguably my favourite; turing our essays into a Zine. Something about knowing that people overseas were going to read your work, adds another layer of stress to the whole thing. Luckily, my essay proved to be somewhat easy to transfer into the template Mrs. McWilliams gave us. I’d never heard of zines before this project, but the more I worked on it, the more I found them to be more enjoyable. I added pictures to correspond with the paragraphs, my essay, and the sources, and just like that, my essay was transformed into something of a story. This whole proses taught me a lot, and I’m hoping the people at the Lynn Valley Leigon & the Juno Beach Centre like our class Zine as much as I do!
World War II played a pivotal role in shaping Canadian identity, influencing various aspects of society that continue to resonate today. The conflict not only enabled Canada to emerge as a significant player on the international stage but also fostered a sense of national unity and pride among Canadians. As they fought against the Nazi regime in Europe, Canadians were recognized for their bravery and sacrifice, which contributed to a collective identity centred on values such as peace, freedom, and democracy. Through acts of service, like cleaning up beaches or honouring veterans, we alongside others demonstrated commitment to our communities and environment—further reinforcing the Canadian culture. Additionally, the war catalyzed critical discussions around human rights and social justice, laying the groundwork for further advancements in equality and civil liberties in Canada. Ultimately, the experiences of World War II not only forged a stronger national identity but also instilled a deep commitment to humanitarian principles, shaping the cultural fabric of Canada for generations to come.