Canada at war and Remembrance Day: citizenship test guide

Questions about war and remembrance come up often on the citizenship test. They may ask for a year (1917 or 1944), a place (Vimy Ridge or Juno Beach), a number (how many Canadians served), a person (Sir Arthur Currie or John McCrae) or a symbol (the red poppy). This guide puts Canada’s military history from Discover Canada in one place, adds Remembrance Day, the Victoria Cross and serving today, and ends with common mix-ups.

For all of these dates on one timeline, see our key dates guide. For the war heroes next to every other name you need, see people to know.

Before 1914: the War of 1812 and the South African War

In June 1812 the United States invaded Canada. British soldiers, Canadian volunteers and First Nations defended the country, and by 1814 the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed. The result of this war is one reason the border between Canada and the United States is where it is today. The heroes of the War of 1812, such as Sir Isaac Brock, Charles de Salaberry, Laura Secord and the Shawnee chief Tecumseh, are covered in the Canada’s History primer.

From 1899 to 1902, more than 7,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in the South African War. More than 260 of them died. The test may also call it the Boer War.

The First World War (1914–1918)

The war began in 1914, when Germany invaded Belgium and France, and Canada joined Britain in the fight. Canada had only about 8 million people at the time. Even so, more than 600,000 Canadians served, and about 60,000 were killed.

• Vimy Ridge, April 1917. Canadian soldiers captured Vimy Ridge, in France. The battle began on April 9, which is now Vimy Day. After Vimy, Canadian troops were known as very strong attackers, and many Canadians see the victory as a moment of national pride.
• Sir Arthur Currie. This general commanded the Canadian Corps in the last campaigns of the war. He is often called Canada’s greatest soldier.
• John McCrae. An officer in the Canadian Army, he wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” in 1915. The poem is often read on Remembrance Day.
• The Armistice. The fighting stopped on November 11, 1918. This is why Remembrance Day is on November 11.

The war also changed life at home. From 1914 to 1920, more than 8,000 former subjects of Austria-Hungary, most of them Ukrainian men, were held in labour camps as “enemy aliens”. After the war, as a sign of national pride, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and the motto A mari usque ad mare (“from sea to sea”). The Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, completed in 1927, honours the First World War. Its Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance, which list the names of Canadians who died serving their country.

The Second World War (1939–1945)

The war began in 1939, when Adolf Hitler’s Germany invaded Poland, and Canada joined its democratic allies. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served, and about 44,000 were killed. Learn these campaigns:

The Allies defeated Germany in May 1945, and the war ended that year.

A wrong done at home

During the Second World War, because of the war and public opinion in British Columbia, Japanese Canadians were forced to leave their homes, and their property was sold without compensation. In 1988 the Government of Canada apologized to Japanese Canadians and compensated the victims. Do not mix this up with the apology for the Chinese head tax, which came in 2006.

After 1945: NATO, Korea and peacekeeping

• NATO and NORAD. During the Cold War, Canada joined other Western democracies to form NATO, a military alliance. With the United States, Canada created NORAD to defend the skies over North America. Canada also joined the United Nations.
• The Korean War, 1950–1953. Canada helped defend South Korea. About 500 Canadians were killed and about 1,000 were wounded.
• Peacekeeping. Canadians have served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in places such as Egypt, Cyprus and Haiti. Canada has also taken part in international security operations in the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.

The Modern Canada primer tells the rest of the post-war story.

Remembrance Day: November 11

Remembrance Day is on November 11, the date the First World War ended in 1918. But it is not only about that war. On this day Canadians honour veterans and remember everyone who died serving Canada, in every war up to the present day.

• The red poppy. Around November 11, Canadians wear a red poppy. It recalls the battlefields of the First World War, where poppies grew, and McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”.
• A moment of silence. At 11 a.m. on November 11, people stop and stand in silence to honour those who served and died.
• The maple leaf. The maple leaf is carved on the headstones of Canada’s fallen soldiers.

Two other dates are easy to confuse with Remembrance Day. Vimy Day, April 9, recalls the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Canada Day, July 1, celebrates Confederation in 1867. It is a national birthday, not a day of remembrance.

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest honour available to Canadians. It is given for outstanding bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The Order of Canada, created in 1967, is different: it honours achievement and service, not courage in battle.

Serving Canada today

Discover Canada lists defending Canada with the duties of citizenship, but there is no compulsory military service in Canada. Serving is a choice. These are the ways to serve:

• The regular Canadian Forces: the navy, the army and the air force. The guide calls joining them a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career.
• The reserves: part-time service in the local naval, militia or air reserves. You gain valuable experience, skills and contacts.
• The cadets: young people learn discipline, responsibility and skills.
• Other services: the Coast Guard, and emergency services such as police forces and fire departments.

The Crown is the symbol of the whole Canadian state, including the Armed Forces. The Oath of Citizenship contains no promise to do military service. More in the Rights and Responsibilities primer.

Numbers to know

Common mix-ups

• Vimy Ridge vs Juno Beach. Vimy is the First World War (April 1917): soldiers captured a ridge in France. Juno is the Second World War (D-Day, June 6, 1944): soldiers landed from the sea on a beach in Normandy. Tip: a ridge is high ground; a beach is where the sea meets the land.
• 1917 vs 1918 vs 1944. 1917 is Vimy Ridge. 1918 is the end of the First World War (November 11). 1944 is D-Day and Juno Beach.
• Remembrance Day vs Vimy Day vs Canada Day. November 11 honours all who served and died. April 9 recalls Vimy. July 1 celebrates Confederation.
• 600,000 vs 60,000 vs 1 million. More than 600,000 served in the First World War and about 60,000 died. More than one million served in the Second World War.
• Hong Kong vs the Netherlands. In Hong Kong (1941) Canadians lost a hard defence against Japan. In the Netherlands (1944–1945) they were liberators.
• Navy vs air force. The Royal Canadian Navy’s finest hour was the Battle of the Atlantic. The Royal Canadian Air Force fought in the Battle of Britain.
• Currie vs McCrae. Currie was the general who led the Canadian Corps. McCrae was the officer who wrote the poem.
• Victoria Cross vs Order of Canada. The VC is for bravery facing the enemy. The Order of Canada is for achievement and service.
• Ukrainians vs Japanese Canadians. Ukrainian “enemy aliens” were held in the First World War; Japanese Canadians were relocated in the Second.
• Military service is voluntary in Canada, not compulsory.

Now practise: open the Canada’s History chapter and answer its starter questions, then try the questions in Rights and Responsibilities.