Welcome to Attestations: A Military Mosaic. This collection of video vignettes was created in celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, to tell the stories of some of the Jewish men and women of southern Alberta who served in Canada’s armed forces during the First and Second World Wars.
Information in the military records held by Library and Archives Canada, obtained by JHSSA through a previous grant from Veterans Affairs, served as a springboard into fascinating stories you won’t find in textbooks. Urban and rural, Canadian-born and recent immigrants, rich and poor, educated professionals and high school drop-outs; these stories represent a revealing cross-section of the southern Alberta Jewish community.
The vignettes are intended to connect the public with Canada’s Jewish military heritage, shedding light on how individuals of diverse backgrounds have shaped and been shaped by their experiences in these formative events of Canadian history. The classic news-reader narration is reflective of the content, and reminiscent of the elementary school film strips of yesteryear. There’s a wide range of stories included, so please click around and explore.
This project included a significant research component, a presentation in November 2017, and the creation of these videos. It was made possible through the generous support of an Alberta Government Canada 150 grant, the hard work and sleuthing skills of our researcher Roberta Kerr, the patience and assistance of our contact at Library and Archives Canada, and the technical wizardry of Suzie Kim.
More information on southern Alberta Jewish Veterans of World War I and II can be found on our database. If you have other questions, or information to add, you can contact our office.