One of these opportunities came in the form of hosting a traveling exhibit called From Vimy to Juno at my school this fall. This exhibit, produced by the Juno Beach Centre (JBC) chronicles the Canadian contributions to the First and Second World Wars. Through its excellent combination of images, storytelling and use of both primary and secondary sources, brings the story of World War I and World War II to life for audiences. The JBC also provides educators with curriculum based resources for students to guide their interaction with the exhibit.
As a teacher, it was a great to see the students throughout my school interact with the display and foster their learning and interest in history as a whole. Each group of students took something different away from the exhibit; some of them built on previous knowledge acquired in their history courses, some learned about WWI and WWII for the very first time.
The exhibit also allowed us to bring history to the wider community as the exhibit was opened to the public one weekend. We had two veterans, one of WWII, visit as well. It was a honour to have them with us that day and to interact with them in the context of the exhibit.
During the exhibit’s stay at our school, a student approached me to ask a question about Canada’s involvement with the Second World War and after I provided them with an answer to their question, the student looked at me and said, “So, history is pretty cool isn’t it?”
Yes. Yes it is. History is pretty cool.
It is also really important. It’s through our study of history that we begin to understand our past, learn from it and gain a deeper understanding of our modern world. Through studying history, we learn how to analyze, think critically, formulate well supported opinions, and draw conclusions. We also learn to develop an appreciation for those who came before us; not only for our veterans and our current service men and women, but for all those who sparked change in the past whether it be through war, or the fight for civil rights, women’s rights, or modern equality.
Studying History is not only “cool”, it’s also necessary.
Let’s continue to remember our stories, remember their sacrifices and pass the legacy on to our next generations.
Lest we forget.
Thanks to the Juno Beach Centre for providing the opportunity for students and teachers to learn about our history through the From Vimy to Juno exhibit. To learn more about the Juno Beach Centre, please visit them here
