Canadian nurses with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in France, 1944, Library and Archives Canada, PA-132851 (Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

On display at the MAG

Exhibition highlights Canadian women in both world wars

Sep 3, 2021 | 3:27 PM

The First and Second World Wars brought enormous changes to Canadian women’s lives.

Canadian women held critical and often dangerous roles during both world wars, from volunteering to selling War Savings Stamps or creating care packages, to nursing, manufacturing munitions, or serving in the army, navy, and air force.

The travelling exhibition World War Women explores the challenges women faced during two world wars, examines the choices they made, and highlights objects that tell their stories.

It is on display at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) September 4 to November 20, 2021, with a sneak peek opening event on Friday, Sept. 3 from 5-8 pm. This exhibition was developed by the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.

“The exhibition offers a great opportunity to explore the many roles that women played in these major global conflicts. Their stories of strength, heroism and ingenuity continue to be inspiring. I hope it will encourage members of our community to discover more stories about local women.”

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Canadian War Museum:

“During the two world wars, thousands of women served in the military,” said Caroline Dromaguet, Acting President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History and Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “Others made contributions at home, knitting socks and sending care packages to soldiers overseas. Gender barriers were lowered during the chaos of wartime, providing women with unprecedented opportunities in all areas of Canadian society. This travelling exhibition tells the stories of these women in their own voices. It looks at the many ways in which women threw their energies into the war effort, often while grieving husbands, sons and brothers killed in battle.”

Divided into thematic zones, World War Women explores the contributions made by women to Canada’s participation in the First and Second World Wars. During these periods of extraordinary change and hardship, women served in the military, took on paid and volunteer war work and, in many cases, waited and worried about loved ones in uniform, some of whom they would never see again.

Visitors will see Hand-Painted Prosthetic Eyes made by Kathleen McGrath, a trained nurse and laboratory technologist. They will see a Miss Canada Uniform, used by young women, known as Miss Canada volunteers, to sell War Savings Stamps. And read an array of personal stories that illustrate the many roles that women played during the two World Wars. Their experiences forged a new understanding of women’s capabilities, both within society and within themselves.

Sneak Peek: Friday, Sept. 3, 5-8 pm

Join us for the opening of World War Women as part of First Fridays. Guided tours on- demand.

Talks & Tours:

Special Guest Talk ‘Canadian War Brides’ with artist Bev Tosh.

• October 16, 2021 – 2 p.m.

Open for First Friday! Guide in the Gallery.

• October 1, 5-8 p.m.
• November 5, 5-8 p.m.

2:00 tours – Staff-led tours.

• September 18
• October 2
• November 20.

For more details regarding the exhibition World War Women contact Kim Verrier, Exhibitions Coordinator at kim.verrier@reddeermuseum.com, 587-797-4032.