May 31, June 1: Wartime Homefront

Ted Barris has written twenty-two books about the wars and wartime, and has been interviewing veterans for fifty years!  Local people and places will populate the presentation, with engaging tales and excerpts from letters written by Victoria Cross winner Ellis Sifton, of Wallacetown, a young fellow who ran away from home at age 16 to join the merchant marines.   Ted Barris shares his thoughts on why our neighbours to the south know so much more about their (very narrow) view of their role in the wars, while we in Canada seemed to have remained quiet about the sacrifices by soldiers and their families. A couple of favourite books are “Rush to Danger,” the tales of medics in the wars, and “Juno: Canadians at D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Barris’ books are realistic detailed portraits of Canadians at war. Many of his books are available from the local library branches.  It is an honour and a privilege to welcome Ted Barris to provide a deeper context to our understanding and experience of the Home Front during the wars, as part of this interactive, exciting, and revealing ‘festival.’ Come to the Wartime Homefront, your understanding and weekend will be powerfully enriched, and you will learn to love history more than ever, the hurts, healing, homes, and expense, as well as the love, commitment and supports created, all important aspects of the development of Canada, its national self-awareness, and our freedoms.

Wartime Homefront, May 31 and June 1, 11 am – 5 pm, 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown.

Check the Backus Page web page for further details and information about this awesome historical site!