Conscription and a price crash following the war fuelled the anger that sparked the ‘farmers revolt’ of the 1920s
The “war to end all wars” ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 — 100 years ago. It extracted a tremendous toll on Canadians. Nearly 61,000 were killed and another 172,000 were wounded over its four-year duration. It irrevocably changed the direction of the country and the […] Read moreTag Archives Remembrance Day

When the Hathaways went to war
Surviving letters from one of two prairie brothers shed light on the tragic experiences of Canadian soldiers in the First World War
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement, which ended the First World War on Nov. 11, 1918. When it began in 1914, most thought it would be a brief skirmish. “I’ll be home by Christmas” was the phrase used often by volunteers. On their homesteads west of Lloydminster, two […] Read more
War challenged curious farmer, pilot
Military life suited Malcolm McLean’s restless curiosity and need for challenge. He was farming outside of Dewberry, Alta., in the fall of 1939 when Canada entered the Second World War. Of the first local boys to sign up, he joined the 16/22 Saskatchewan Horse Infantry and took his basic training at Dundurn, Sask. By December […] Read more

Carved memorial honours veterans
ESTEVAN, Sask. — What started out as a small request from one oil patch worker to another has turned into a $60,000 memorial project that has captured the imaginations of veterans and the public alike. Estevan oilfield worker Lester Hinzman grew up hearing Second World War stories from his father, who landed in Normandy on […] Read more