Banner image: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth unveiling the National War Memorial in Ottawa, May 22, 1939. Toronto Star Photograph Archive, TSPA_0122512F.

The war memorials that dot communities across the country are the sites of the most important public ceremonies of the civic calendar. They hearken back to our history, they help us remember our war dead, and they help us envision the future. But they have histories of their own.

This talk by Thomas Littlewood presents new research which reconsiders our understandings of these memorials, when they were built, and what they mean.

About Thomas Littlewood:

Thomas Littlewood is a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph. His research considers how Canada has commemorated the Second World War. Originally from New Brunswick, Thomas is interested in how local communities engage with their pasts—this includes commemoration, museums, and memory. He has degrees from Mount Allison University, the University of New Brunswick, and Western University.

Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.

Missed the live event? Watch the recording of the lecture via our YouTube channel: