Sharing the Voices of Those Who Served and Survived

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, making it more important than ever to capture and preserve the first-hand memories of Canada’s veterans. More than 1.1 million people, including 50,000 women, served in Canadian uniform during the Second World War. Over 45,000 of them never came home.

The exhibition Last Voices of the Second World War — now on at the Canadian War Museum — honours the veterans of that conflict. As visitors encounter prisoners of war, servicewomen, soldiers, sailors, and pilots, they will explore the challenges of post-war reintegration and see how veterans have shared and continue to share their experiences with new generations.

“Canada still has veterans who served during the Second World War and their numbers continue to decline,” said exhibition co-curator Teresa Iacobelli. It is important to remember that their experiences are a living link to history, and as they share their stories, they open a window onto the true human cost of conflict and its generational impact.”

Drawing on interviews from the oral history project In Their Own Voices, this exhibition features thought-provoking videos of Canadian veterans. Supported by objects, works of art, and photographs, the exhibition’s zones examine key stages in the veterans’ journey — and the challenges of returning to “Civvy Street,” to what it costs to go back and remember.

A country’s history is determined by its stories. When you visit Last Voices, not only will you come face to face with some of this country’s unsung heroes, but you will also see how actions large and small continue to shape who we are.

On until January 18, 2026, Last Voices of the Second World War was developed by the Canadian War Museum and is supported by The Royal Canadian Legion.

For more information on how you can contribute to similar initiatives, please contact
Linda Kincaid at 613-787-1796 or linda.kincaid@warmuseum.ca.