Government of Canada funds documentary about Canadians whose bodies were never recovered from the battlefield.
May 9, 2015 – Department of Canadian Heritage
Joan Crockatt, Member of Parliament (Calgary Centre), on behalf of Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced that $290,000 has been given to Valour Canada to produce a documentary entitled “Known unto God: The Untold Story of Canada’s 19,000 Great War Fallen Who Have No Known Grave.” The bilingual documentary and accompanying educational package will ensure these Canadians will be forever honoured and remembered.
“This touching documentary will honour and remember our missing Canadian soldiers and nursing sisters from the First World War who never came home. As we prepare to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, in 2017, marking the people, events and battles of the First and Second World Wars will contribute to a deeper understanding of these wars and how they made Canada the strong, proud and free country it is today.”
- Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
“I am very proud that Valour Canada, which does excellent work in connecting Canadians to their military history, has received funding for this project. Video productions, especially accompanied by supporting educational materials, are an excellent way for Canadians to learn more about the First World War and the role Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians played in it. The First and Second World Wars were important events that contributed to the development of a distinct Canadian national identity.”
- Joan Crockatt, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre
“It is sobering to consider that of the 66,000 Canadians lost in the First World War, 19,000 were buried in anonymous graves in Europe. Thousands lay under common headstones inscribed with Rudyard Kipling’s immortal lament “Known unto God……A Soldier of the Great War.” Thousands more were forever lost in the mud of Flanders. Valour Canada is honoured by the generous support of the Department of Canadian Heritage to tell the story of these Canadians. It is a story that needs to be told because their story is our story. LEST WE FORGET."
- Thomas Leppard, President, Valour Canada
Marisa Monnin
Communications Director
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
819-997-7788
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
