Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand attended the virtual event to reiterate the Canadian Government’s intent to apologize and honour No. 2 Construction Battalion’s service to Canada during the First World War, and announced that she will attend the apology event, which will be held on July 9th, 2022 in Truro, Nova Scotia.

“The ongoing and tireless work of those involved in this initiative will ensure that the descendants and loved ones of the brave men who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion are acknowledged and honoured as they assume their rightful place in Canada’s celebrated military history. As the Minister of National Defence, I remain wholly and personally committed to delivering a meaningful apology this summer to members who suffered discrimination and whose service and sacrifice were therefore diminished unjustifiably. But that apology is not the end. It will signal a new beginning: a solemn promise of progress as a way to honour and preserve the legacy of these brave men.”

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

“While members of the No. 2 Battalion were simply not allowed to enlist because they were Black, they refused to sit by and watch the war unfold. They fought for their right to contribute in the face of adversity, and we are forever indebted to them for their courage and their bravery. This historic Battalion fought not only for their country, but also for their right to do so.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“We owe the men of the No. 2 Construction Battalion an enormous debt for their patriotism, their courage, and their resilience. We also owe them an apology—for being denied the chance to serve their country as they wanted to on account of the colour of their skin. This is an important step in righting that wrong.”

The Honourable Darrell Samson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“The decision by the Government of Canada to move towards a sincere apology, strengthens the important legacy of the brave Men of No. 2 Construction Battalion and acknowledges the hardship and racist attitudes they faced to serve. Their legacy will live on as a part of our shared history.”

Mr. Russell Grosse, Executive Director, Black Cultural Center for Nova Scotia 

“What my father termed “Canada’s best kept military secret” was a shameful part of this country’s history that had effectively been expunged from the nation’s collective memory. The apology is part of this county’s reckoning on racism and an acceptance of the responsibility for the actions and inactions of the past. However, to ensure that the legacy of the Battalion is appropriately honoured and not forgotten, the apology must be accompanied by actions, and I’m pleased that the Minister has made that commitment.”

Mr. Douglas Ruck, Co-Chair Black Battalion Historical Marker Society 

• No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) — also known as the Black Battalion — was created on 5 July 1916, during the First World War. It was a segregated non-combatant unit, the first and only all-Black battalion-sized formation in Canadian military history.

• On March 28^th, 2021, the Government of Canada confirmed its intent to apologize for the treatment that members of No. 2 Construction Battalion endured before, during, and after their service to Canada during the First World War. 

• A 22-member National Apology Advisory Committee (NAAC) was established in June 2021 as a consulting arm to the Government of Canada in the shaping of the upcoming official apology. Comprised of community leaders, historians and No. 2 descendants serving as volunteers, NAAC is co-chaired by Lt. Col. Barry Pitcher representing the Canadian military and Russell Grosse, executive director of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, the event partner.

• The National Apology Advisory Committee and the Black Cultural Center for Nova Scotia, in collaboration with the Canadian Army, has lead four Canada-wide consultations to inform the apology and related events. These consultations were held in December 2021, and February and March 2022. Two further consultations are planned for April 2022. 

• So far, 390 descendants of No. 2 Construction members have participated in these consultations.

• The National Apology Advisory Committee can also be reached through info@no2-cef.ca. The NAAC has also created a Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/no2cef

Associated links

• No. 2 Construction Battalion: Operational History
• VIDEO - No. 2 Construction Battalion
• No. 2 Construction C.E.F. Memorial

Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca