The importance of recognizing racial issues in society has surged in the year 2020.
As Remembrance Day approaches once again, we must take the opportunity to address the issue that veterans of colour face, having been under appreciated for their contributions and overwhelming efforts in the World Wars since they have ended.
The commemoration of white veterans has been done timelessly, through school curriculums and assemblies, as well as public memorials and statues made to honour and pay respect to their lives.
However the honour and respect fell short to BIPOC veterans, who’s dedication and bravery in the wars has simply been brushed under the rug. The racism within Canada’s armed forces led to ill treatment and extreme hard labour of coloured veterans during wartime, which has been kept from Canadian history textbooks.
With the spotlight now on minority lives, it is time to embrace the diversity in the Canadian army. They deserve to be recognized because they worked just as hard as white veterans to protect and serve, if not harder.
Video by Alia Campbell
At the beginning of World War I, the Canadian army did not allow certain minorities, notably women and black men the chance to contribute to the war at all.
But the minority population had been eager to show their loyalty to their country.
Captain William White led the fight for the creation of the first ever No. 2 construction battalion in 1916. With the establishment of numerous battalions, BIPOC communities were eventually able to fight alongside other Canadians in the forefront.
By the end of World War II, BIPOC veterans made up a large portion of the army in all of its sections.
Multimedia by Samira Balsara
However, since the enlistment of minority veterans had not been done officially by Canadian armed forces at the time of war, it is difficult to name every soldier of colour who fought in the frontlines. We must highlight their contributions now in light of this current social change.
They fought to be included and dedicated themselves to this country, and they will not be forgotten. They will be appreciated for overcoming hardships and bigotry so that our Canadian rights could stay protected.
Web story by Nathan Bharatt
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