Veterans’ Week 2025: Maintaining our shared memory
Each year, Veterans’ Week—November 5 to 11—gives us an opportunity to remember and reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of all those who have served and continue to serve our country in times of conflict and in peacetime. November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day, dedicated to First Nations, Inuit and Métis veterans and their contributions to Canada. In our role as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joins people across the country in solemn remembrance.
Second World War resources
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. We are proud to preserve documents that tell the story of this part of our shared history. If you would like to learn about the people who contributed to the war effort, we have a number of resources that might interest you.
You can explore the database of Service Files of the Second World War—War Dead, 1939–1947, which provides access to digitized copies of original service files of members of the Canadian Forces. If you would like to access service files for people who survived the war, you will need to make an access to information and privacy request to do so. These files contain personal information, so this process is necessary to respect the privacy of the people in question.
No. 2 Construction Battalion
We at LAC are proud to play our part in preserving the collective memory of Canada. This past year, LAC and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO announced the addition of the records of the No. 2 Construction Battalion to the Canada Memory of the World Register. This is part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Memory of the World Programme, which works to promote ongoing access to documentary heritage of universal value. The No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion-sized formation in Canadian military history. The Government of Canada made a national apology for the systemic racism that the men who served with the No. 2 Construction Battalion faced, and now these key historical documents will help preserve their story and raise awareness of their service.
In the National Capital Region
At this time of year, many libraries and other historical organizations hold events commemorating this aspect of Canadian history. If you’re in the National Capital Region on Friday, November 7, take part in our Remembrance Day workshops for a day of learning and reflection.
As a silent tribute, the Preservation Centre and Preservation Storage Facility in Gatineau will be illuminated in red from sunset to 11:00 p.m. on November 11. We invite you to follow us on social media for more information about events hosted by LAC and our partner organizations.
Recent blog posts
LAC staff members publish posts on our blog about many different historical subjects, including military history. Here are some highlights from the past year:
- The Life of Private Marcel Gauthier (Part 1)
- “I want to ride my bicycle!”: Cycling in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War
- The Kapuskasing Internment Camp
- Black Porter Perspectives: Through the Lens of Military Records
- Black Porter Perspectives: Giving Voice to Rail Service During and After the Second World War
- The life of Rifleman Sulo W. Alanen
Music
The collections in our care include a great many documents and images about past conflicts and the Canadians who served, but you can also use our Virtual Gramophone to listen to a database of archival audio that includes such wartime songs as:
- “Good luck to the boys of the Allies,” composed by Morris Manley
- “Colonel Bogey march,” composed by Kenneth J. Alford
Learn more
In addition to all the resources described above, there is a great deal more for you to discover through our online Collection search tool.
To learn more about Remembrance Day, Indigenous Veterans’ Day, Veterans’ Week and beyond, Veteran Affairs Canada has resources for you to explore on their website, including a new digital toolkit. This year’s theme is “Canadian Armed Forces in the Americas” as a tribute to the role our military has played at home and throughout the Americas to protect Canada’s safety and sovereignty.