Digital Archive

WWII: Canadian Women

Collection Info

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

Filters

20

She serves - that men may fly

She serves - that men may fly

Between 1939 and 1945

Specialists typists cooks stenographers clerks etc urgently needed

Specialists typists cooks stenographers clerks etc urgently needed

Between 1939 and 1945

Housewives! Wage war on Hitler

Housewives! Wage war on Hitler

Approximately 1941

Keep these hands off!

Keep these hands off!

Approximately 1942

We're in the army now

We're in the army now

Approximately 1940

They also serve

They also serve

Between 1939 and 1945

Shoulder to Shoulder

Shoulder to Shoulder

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(...)

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

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

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

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

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(...)

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

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

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

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

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(...)

8/1/1942

Ten pretty girls, all workers at the John Inglis Co

Ten pretty girls, all workers at the John Inglis Co

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

11/9/1940