War on the Home Front

• Canada became involved early in the war, joining in September 1914 as we felt committed to help the British and the French in their fight for freedom
• Our Prime Minister Robert Borden would be forced to introduce “compulsory conscription” to draft soldiers to fight overseas
• French Canadians were unhappy about the forced draft
• Canadian factories had to be geared up for war time production
• Factories were converted over to weapons production to help meet the needs of the people
• In Canada all males 18 years of age and up to 45 could be drafted as long as their was no physical nor mental disability
• Some exceptions were given to:
• Machinists - those who could operate metal machines to make guns and ammunition
• Large farming operators – who produced food t o send to soldiers overseas
• Religious objectors – men who claimed it was against their religion to kill another human being
• Many women would serve overseas as nurses and doctors
• Owners of factories were given huge contracts to build weapons becoming very wealthy during the war
• Since most of the men were overseas, women had to replace them in the factories, working all traditional jobs such as:

1. welding

2. crane operators

3. riveting plate steel

4. burning steel

5. drove trucks and buses

6. shipping and receiving

o Pre-school children came to work with their mothers, establishing day care centers

o Many teenage boys and girls worked afternoon shifts in factories to help with the family income