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As an American I am curious about something.I just finished reading an essay about Vimy ridge.I would like to know who's decision it was for all four Canadian divisions to fight together in one battle.Was it something Canada wanted to do,or was it an extremely dangerous job that no one else wanted? In retrospect it was a big gamble.If a battle goes wrong and a country loses an entire expeditionary force in one battle,it has serious repurcussions at home.A serious blow to morale,that can cause the country to quit the war effort.This is always an objective of a combatant.Obviously Canada won the battle.I am just curious as to who made the desision.The essay made no mention.Thank you.

   

Vimy Ridge

   

Excellent website.Thank you.

   

American Independence War - Stick with me on this one. When the Americans declared war on the British they made it a hobby to bully the loyalists in any way they could, said loyalists moved north to create Upper Canada. This move allowed us to remain at relative peace until we gained independence peacefully, and is still a key reason we are loyal to the Queen. Had the loyalists not moved north we would have had Quebec as the population center and we all know how that would have ended.

War of 1812 - Was the beginning of a patriotic movement in Canada that would ultimately result in our independence; it also has served as a way to get the Americans right where it hurts for the past 200 years when you mention burning the White House or how they could not defeat a colony who's protector wasn't even trying (too busy with Napoleon).

Vimy Ridge - United the Canadian divisions under Canadian command for the first time and accomplished a task everyone considered impossible. It created a fear in the Germans no other allied force would gain, after Vimy the Canadians were referred to as 'Shock Troops' and when the Canadians were placed in a area along the front the Germans prepared for the worst. It also caused a wave of patriotism in Canada that would eventually lead to our full independence.

Juno - Second best defended beach of D-Day, the Canadians still managed to break through and accomplish more objectives than any other allied force involved in D-Day. Proved that WWI was not a fluke and that Canadians are nearly impossible to kill.

I can go on for a long time about major moments in Canadian history.

   

Side Bar; During the war for indpendence and the
Civil war it was not uncommon for counties and larger cities to form their own mititial companies.
Some would contain males from 16 to 60 years of age.
Many of those were lost to a man. Day is full. Will research later. But, if our old gray cells recall properly, seem to recall one instance where a full company was lost in one cannonade.
War is serious business. Should send the ones who start them to fight them. Not a nations brightest and best.
(

   

Uhh...thanks for that...quite relevant.

Some more defining moments - King and the Chanak Crisis, the Statute of Westminster, the patriation of the Constitution

   

On a short-list of defining moments in Canadian legal history, you need to add the Halibut Treaty and the Suez Crisis.

   

The day I was born. A truly definitive Canadian moment

   

I don't think it was mentioned (i didnt go through the whole thread...) but taking in the Dutch Royal Family in time of war is a defining moment...

   

Which is another fun historical fact: The Dutch flag is the only foreign flag to have been flown from the Peace Tower. Ever.

   

I think it'd be too hard pick one particular moment in WWII to be a defining moment in Canadian history. I mean the Italian Campaign alone has so many moments. Also there's the Dieppe Raid, the Rhineland Campaign, battle of the Scheldt Estuary, fighting in the Netherlands and Belgium etc, not to mention the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Atlantic. Perhaps WWII as a whole should be a defining moment.

   

Juno stands out as it was the greatest success we had, especially since it can be compared to the other allied forces so easily. Dieppe was a disaster and the only good thing to come of that was increase knowledge on beach landings.

   

A nice gesture to be sure and one that illustrates well the Canadian character, but it's not a defining moment.

   

I agree.

   

Maybe not to you...

If "fighting in the Netherlands and Belgium" is, how come this isn't?

   

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