Canada at War. (Canadian History). Dylan Kirk. Calgary, AB: Weigl (Distributed by Saunders Book Company), 2004. 48 pp., cloth, $26.95. ISBN 1-55388-016-1. Subject Headings: World War, 1914-1918-Canada. World War, 1939-1945-Canada. Canada-History-1914-1945. Grades 6-11 / Ages 11-16. Review by Ian Stewart. **1/2 /4 excerpt: Over the course of 31 years and two world wars, Canada went from being a colony of Great Britain to being a respected member of the world community. Canada's alliance and business ties slowly shifted from Great Britain to the U.S. In one generation, the British subjects of the colony of Canada became Canadian citizens in the Independent Dominion of Canada.

Canada in the Global Age. (Canadian History). Rennay Craats. Calgary, AB: Weigl (Distributed by Saunders Book Company), 2004. 48 pp., cloth, $26.95. ISBN 1-55388-017-X. Subject Heading: Canada-History-20th century. Grades 6-11 / Ages 11-16. Review by Ian Stewart. *** /4 excerpt: Life in Canada was very different after World War II. The threat of nuclear war changed the way people thought and lived. The two superpowers after the war, the Soviet Union and the U.S., divided the world into two camps. Although World War II was fought overseas, it brought about changes that swept across Canada and the world. The experiences of the 1940s led to a new time for the country. Canada had entered the Global Age.

These two titles in Weigl's "Canadian History" series are better than standard social histories of Canada in the 20th century. They are student friendly, well organized, nicely illustrated and sophisticated enough to crossover from the middle to senior school social studies level. Both books contain multiple choice quizzes, glossaries and suggestions for further readings. However, they would have benefitted greatly from a comprehensive introduction, particularly Canada in the Global Age, to place the complex issued discussed in a proper contextual framework.

     Canada At War begins in 1914, with the origins of World War I, and concludes in 1945 with the end of World War II. Although the nation was ill-prepared, young Canadian men rushed to assist Great Britain in its war against the Central Powers. Dylan Kirk details how the Canadians distinguished themselves in many of the major offensives of the war and gained the respect of both allies and enemies. Meanwhile, he shows how a nascent social revolution was taking place on the home front: the government was forced to take a larger role in planning economic and scientific development; political crises arose over the Conscription Act and the supposed threats from foreign nationals; women had entered the work force to fill the vacancies left by enlisted men and they were demanding social equality.

     Kirk does a fine job describing the uneasy post-war world. The 1920s and 30s were troubled times in Canada. There was high unemployment, many women wanted to remain in the work force, workers' demands led to unionization, strikes and the formation of new political parties. The 1930s saw even greater social dislocation as the Great Depression gripped the industrialized world, fascism reared its ugly head and the League of Nations failed to stop aggression. Canada was again ill prepared to go to war in 1939, but it did so.

     The failures and tragedies of the early war years led to victories in the Italian, Normandy and Netherlands campaigns. As the Canadian troops were proving their bravery in Europe, the home front was radically transformed. Women returned to the industrial workforce, and the country shifted from a rural agricultural base to a modern industrial urban economy. Kirk could have developed this section to highlight its fundamental importance to Canada. Without this shift, Canada could not have aspired to a new role as an independent middle-power in the post-war global world.

     In the aftermath of the war, Canada's economy flourished, its population boomed, and government took a more active role in implementing social and economic policy. As Kirk shows, rapid social change also led to increased demands for social justice in every segment of the population. He looks at the development of feminism, the peace movement, Native activism, western alienation, multiculturalism, the rise of cultural nationalism and the origins of Quebec separatism. As well, he explains how successive governments attempted to deal with these issues through regional development programs, legislation and constitutional amendments. Kirk explores Canada's changing role in the international arena. As the North American and world economies became more integrated, Canada has had to make trade agreements that affect our social structure, our relationship to poorer nations, as well as our political ties to more powerful nations. Kirk makes it clear to students that the global world is an extraordinarily complex place. Hopefully they will see that simple solutions belong to a simpler time.

Recommended.

Ian Stewart teaches at David Livingstone School in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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