Returning

Employment of Canada's Disabled - Veterans and Others. Part 1: Basic Considerations

The first of a series, this booklet produced by the Department of Veterans Affairs with assistance from the Ministry of Labour, aimed to "foster an understanding of the question of physical disablement" as Canadian service personnel returned from overseas. Many disabled veterans faced adverse conditions when they attempted to return to civilian work.

Baker Hall Residence for War Blinded

Blinded soldiers returning home from service required specialized training and rehabilitation processes to accommodate their new circumstances. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind sought to provide these services through the establishment of training centres such as Baker Hall in Toronto. Courses in Braille and typewriting were offered as initial steps towards further education and employment. 

Getting a head-start on peace

Long before the Second World War was won, Canadians in uniform could take advantage of educational courses that might point them towards postwar employment.

Summer courses.pdf (26.45 MB)

A smooth transition

These instructions, for military personnel from the Hamilton and Niagara regions, dealt with practical matters such as pay, clothing, and transportation, but also warned returning soldiers, "Don't take V.D. home."

To all who served

Part of the Veterans Charter that emerged from the Second World War was low-cost life insurance for veterans and their families - as explained in this short booklet.

What's Ahead.pdf (45.09 MB)

A tailor looks for work

To assist ex-soldiers in finding work, the federal government provided introduction cards to be given to prospective employers. Henry Royle of Vancouver was interested in resuming his prewar trade: tailoring.

Thanks from the Netherlands

A Canadian soldier brought this home to Canada in 1945, a keepsake from a grateful Dutch civilian.

Coming home to the lakehead

This image of the women's pipe band was given to veterans in Fort William, Ontario, as they returned from service during the Second World War.

Looking Ahead: Canadian Hurdles

The Wartime Information Board released a series of pamphlets, as a supplement to Canadian Affairs, informing Canadians about post-war reconstruction and urging discussions of "the most positive approach to some of the outstanding problems of Canada's future."

Canadian Affairs: Learning for Living

This last issue in the Canadian Affairs series describes the value of education for Canadians in the post-war world.