In recognition of National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, students and staff members took time to pause, remember, and reflect. Last week, students engaged in learning about the importance of honouring those who have served and continue to serve during times of war, conflict, and peace. Remembrance Day ceremonies were held at the OCDSB administrative building and across our schools. Here is a look at how some schools participated in Remembrance Week.
“Walking Them Home” at Glebe Collegiate Institute
Students at Glebe Collegiate Institute created a walking memorial to commemorate former Glebe students and staff who served in World War II. This fall, students in Jessica McIntyre and Gavin McOnie’s classes have been studying these soldiers’ military service records and carefully piecing together their lives.
They created a website to share their stories, and worked with the community to display memorial signs at the houses that were once inhabited by the soldiers’ families. Each day from November 8 to 14, community members had the opportunity to walk through the Glebe, pause to remember the soldiers, and scan the QR codes on the signs to learn more about their legacies.
The class also worked collaboratively with students in Scott Hughes' Communications Technology students to create a video featuring their reflections on the project. Grade 12 student Mollie O. held interviews, filmed, and edited the video, which was shared at the school's Remembrance Day Ceremony:
To learn more, read this Ottawa Citizen article or watch the CTV News feature below.
Sharing a Story of the Home Front at Cairine Wilson Secondary School
Students from Cairine Wilson Secondary School staged the play Where the Poppies Blow by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch. Families and community members were invited to watch the production, which provides an evocative portrayal of the First World War through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy Ottawa named Gus whose brother is fighting at the Front.
Students joined CBC Ottawa Morning and CTV News to discuss the significance of this story and how it has deepened their understanding of the war.
Remembering Lisgar Collegiate Alumni Who Served
Outside Lisgar Collegiate Institute, banners were displayed to honour the legacies of five Lisgar graduates who served in the Boer War, WWI, and WWII. Perhaps the most well-known Lisgar graduate who died in war is Alexis Hannum Helmer (Lisgar Class of 1909). Helmer was good friends with John McCrae and his death during WWI is believed to have inspired McCrae to write the poem, In Flanders Fields.
Participating in 11 Days of Remembrance at Osgoode Township High School
On November 11th, a group of students from Osgoode Township High School, together with teacher Mr. Dubeau, joined schools from across Canada at Remembrance Day events at the Chateau Laurier and War Memorial. They presented a video that they had created for the 11 Days of Remembrance campaign led by Operation Remembrance. Their video – along with ten other videos created by students across Canada – will be displayed in Legion Halls and schools across the country.
Reflecting Through Collaborative Artwork
Students worked together on displays and art projects to share their learning and reflections about Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day. Here is some of the artwork created by Bayview Public School, Manor Park Public School, and W.E. Gowling Public School students.
