SHAUNAVON — The Canadian War Brides & Families Association held their 14th annual reunion in Lethbridge, Alta. from Sept. 27-29. Among the registrants was 100-year-old Hazel West, the only war bride in attendance.
(Part of Hazel’s story can be found at https://pier21.ca/walls/Service/Hazel-L-West)
The 2023 reunion was held in Regina where founding member Jean Fells of Girvin was in attendance. Fells passed away in May of this year at the age of 97, which is the approximate average age of the remaining war brides today.
President of the Canadian War Brides & Families Association, Lynn Martin McCann, estimates that there are still at least 40 war brides living in Canada, although they are beginning to learn of more.
Fourteen years ago the association broadened its membership to include families to help ensure that the stories and legacy of war brides would live on. There used to be provincial associations, including in Saskatchewan, but those groups have mostly, if not all, dissolved and the Canadian Association now serves the whole country.
McCann shared a story from the recent reunion: “My husband and I were dancing and Hazel was walking across the dance floor with her walker. She bumped into us and I asked her, ‘What are you doing? Trying to cut in and dance with my husband?’ She replied, ‘I sure am.’ I took her walker for her and she and my husband enjoyed a wonderful dance together. She also gave a speech to all of the attendees.”
From 1944-47, war brides and dependents totalled 57.5 per cent of the overall immigration to Canada. Approximately 80 per cent of war brides relocated to Alberta and Saskatchewan as they had married prairie farmers. It’s estimated that one in 30 Canadians (with the exception of new immigrants) are descendants of war brides.
McCann says, “It’s incredible to imagine that 47,000 war brides and 24,000 children immigrated to Canada after the war. What most people don’t realize is that 5,000 war brides stayed behind even longer than others to perform nursing duties to care for the wounded. It’s so important to recognize their contributions.”
The 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland and Italy is coming up in May 2025 and the association is trying to find any war brides or children of those marriages to help mark the occasion and to participate in commemoration events.
A commemorative pedestal for all War Brides was unveiled by Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty at the cenotaph in Regina on July 11, 2024. It pays tribute to these women who “stayed and adjusted to their new world, becoming a loved, respected and essential part of the fabric of Canada.”
As the group looks forward to next year’s reunion, they anticipate and hope that three to five war brides may be in attendance for the event in Calgary.
“We’re having it in a city close to a large airport and finding accommodations and facilities that are accessible so that these women can attend with as much ease as possible.”
Family members of war brides can become members of the Association for just $20 per year. War brides can join for $10 per year.
“We really just want to learn more about any war brides that are living or deceased.” McNabb states.
“The group’s historian documents war bride stories and we would encourage any family members to reach out. We have sons and daughters, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren becoming involved now.”
If you know of a living war bride, or are a family member of a deceased war bride, the association would love to hear from you. They are on Facebook or you can email [email protected].
If you live in the Shaunavon area, please reach out to Wendy Thienes at [email protected] if you would like to share your family’s war bride connection and stories.
