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WWII: Canadian Women

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Woman in medical uniform writing on table 

Our librarians curated these 20 posters, pamphlets and photos that relate to women's role in the Second World War.

"During the Second World War, the role of women in Canadian society changed dramatically. Canada needed women to pitch in and support the war effort from their homes, to work at jobs that were traditionally held by men, and to serve in the military." Veterans Affairs Canada

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She serves - that men may fly
She serves - that men may fly
Alice, Princess of Great Britain, 1883-1981
Between 1939 and 1945
Specialists typists cooks stenographers clerks etc urgently needed
Specialists typists cooks stenographers clerks etc urgently needed
Canada. Canadian Army. Canadian Women's Army Corps
Between 1939 and 1945
Housewives! Wage war on Hitler
Housewives! Wage war on Hitler
Canada. Department of Public Information
Approximately 1941
Keep these hands off!
Keep these hands off!
Canada. National War Finance Committee
Approximately 1942
We're in the army now
We're in the army now
Canada. Department of National War Services. National Salvage Campaign
Approximately 1940
They also serve
They also serve
Canada. Canadian Army. Canadian Women's Army Corps
Between 1939 and 1945
Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder
Canada. Canadian Army. Canadian Women's Army Corps
1942
Sixty per cent. of the workers at the factory where signal cartridges and flares are made are women, forty per cent. are men. Here are two of the wome(...)
Sixty per cent. of the workers at the factory where signal cartridges and flares are made are women, forty per cent. are men. Here are two of the wome(...)
Toronto Star (Firm)
6/14/1941
At right she is shown at her delicate and important job
At right she is shown at her delicate and important job
Toronto Star (Firm)
8/1/1942
Heavier work than ever before is now being allotted women, besides many highly technical jobs
Heavier work than ever before is now being allotted women, besides many highly technical jobs
James, Norman
6/3/1942
Woman in medical uniform writing on table 
Fumi Shoyama, graduate nurse, who ministers to the Japanese women and children in Hastings Park, Vancouver
Toronto Star (Firm)
7/11/1942
Handle With Care is the motto of the girls as they pack cordite is silk bags in a munitions plant
Handle With Care is the motto of the girls as they pack cordite is silk bags in a munitions plant
Toronto Star (Firm)
2/28/1942
Women learn to fill the shells for their soldiers, Wives, mothers and grandmothers of active service men are wartime schoolgirls at classes in shell-f(...)
Women learn to fill the shells for their soldiers, Wives, mothers and grandmothers of active service men are wartime schoolgirls at classes in shell-f(...)
Rutherford, George
4/7/1943
A girl crane operator, Mrs. Blanche Millette, lifts a ten-ton load as easily as she would operate a sewing machine. She is one of thousands praying women have a definite place in ward plants
A girl crane operator, Mrs. Blanche Millette, lifts a ten-ton load as easily as she would operate a sewing machine. She is one of thousands praying women have a definite place in ward plants
Toronto Star (Firm)
1/1/1943
A sight for the sun-blistered eyes of the Canadian fighting men on the Italian front is Pte
A sight for the sun-blistered eyes of the Canadian fighting men on the Italian front is Pte
Toronto Star (Firm)
9/11/1944
Big 3.7-Inch anti-aircraft guns, built at Peterboro, are dependent on fuses from the General Engineering Co
Big 3.7-Inch anti-aircraft guns, built at Peterboro, are dependent on fuses from the General Engineering Co
Carroll, Betty
30 June 1944
Toronto men, women, boys and girls who pass aptitude tests find themselves building planes
Toronto men, women, boys and girls who pass aptitude tests find themselves building planes
James, Norman
n.d.
Operating an electric Donkiey Engine in Canada's Ram tank factor, this girl is doing a man-sized job of hauling heavy equipment. She steers her way do(...)
Operating an electric Donkiey Engine in Canada's Ram tank factor, this girl is doing a man-sized job of hauling heavy equipment. She steers her way do(...)
Toronto Star (Firm)
8/1/1942
Ten pretty girls, all workers at the John Inglis Co
Ten pretty girls, all workers at the John Inglis Co
Toronto Star (Firm)
4/2/1944
Large group of smiling women coming off train 
Crews of Canadian girls commute each day by special trian to one of Canada's great war plants
Star Newspaper Service
11/9/1940
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