We proudly salute Canadian Women in the Military… past and present.

03 Oct We proudly salute Canadian Women in the Military… past and present.

“Courage is about doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.”   ~ Eddie Rickenbacker

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Celebrating Canadian Women in Military Forces

Did you know that nurses were the first women in the Canadian military?  It’s true.  Twelve women served in the Northwest Rebellion in 1885 as nurses in military hospitals.  To celebrate the many achievements of Women, October was officially proclaimed “Women’s History Month in Canada” in 1992 by the Government of Canada. Women’s History Month provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn about the important contributions of women and girls to our society – and to the quality of our lives today.

Women’s History Month recognizes women’s invaluable contributions to the military in Canada over the years.  Whether as serving members of the armed forces or as civilians providing support roles, women have worked on every front — on the battlefield, in the air and on the sea; as pilots and peacekeepers; nurses and physicians; war artists and war correspondents; in espionage and engineering.  Regardless of the challenges and the risks, women have stepped up to answer the call and Canada’s military history is rich with their stories.  Here are some fascinating stories:

– During First World War, more than 2,800 women served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps.

– During the Second World War, 72 Aboriginal women from Canada served overseas.

– Women served with courage in both World Wars. But in 1946, after the Second World War ended, the women’s sections of all three Canadian armed service branches were disbanded. Luckily, officials had second thoughts. In 1951, all three services of the Canadian military begin to recruit women into the reserves. By 1955, more than 5,000 women were serving in the Canadian military.

– In 1955, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Navy began to recruit women for regular services, not only the reserves.

– In 1965, the Government of Canada decided to continue to employ women in the Canadian Armed Forces, but it established a ceiling of 1,500 women members across all three services.

– Major Wendy Clay paved the way on August 19, 1974, when she qualified for her pilot’s wings – alas, before the pilot trade was open to all women. On February 13th, 1981, Canadian Air Force Captains Nora Bottomley, Dee Brasseur and Leah Mosher followed Major Clay’s lead, graduating as the first Canadian women military pilots.

– In 1981, Second-Lieutenant Inge Plug became the first woman helicopter pilot in the Canadian Forces and Lieutenant Karen McCrimmon became the Canadian Forces’ first woman air navigator.

– In 1987, the Air Force announces that all areas of Air Force employment, including fighter pilot, are open to women.

Today, women can enroll in all occupations of the Canadian Forces, including combat arms, and they can serve in any environment.  During Women’s History Month, we honour Canadian women, past and present, who have done incredible work within and outside the Canadian Forces, taking on great challenges and opening doors so that others may follow.

On behalf of everyone at Brampton Meals on Wheels, we salute you and we thank you.  We are free because of your sacrifice and commitment to our great country ~ Canada.

Georgia Mouka, Volunteer Blogger at Brampton Meals on Wheels

*Source: Status of Women Canada website.  It is a federal government organization that promotes equality for women and their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.