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Military history

Recent Canadian Fallen

Life in the canadian forces

Interview with Justin Flanders

Interview with Monica Bobbitt

Monica Bobbitt Bio

Photo/video Gallery

Bases and support units

The Memorial Cross

War widows

Struggling for answers

Military suicide

Final reflection

Welcome,

Jamie Whan, Marie-Ann Tremblay-Gagnon, and Erika Murdaca, Ontario Tech University students, have collaborated to develop an educational resource on the hardships of losing a fallen soldier. The Military widows live in a culture that is so small and so unique. We felt that the hardships and memories that the widows carry with them are a culture that deserves a proper exhibit to highlight the pain, struggles and triumphs that they endure to honour their fallen soldiers.

When the administrative paperwork has been done after the blur of the funeral arrangements has passed, the extended friends and family have gone, the military culture they once felt a part of is forever changed, and all there is left is the silent sorrow of a widow.

As Monica Bobbit (2022) states, “You don’t just lose someone once. You lose them every day. Over and over again. For the rest of your life.”

Within this digital artifact, you are invited to expand your understanding of the history of the Canadian Armed Forces and the military culture. Furthermore, the exhibit provides a focus on military widowhood, offering an exclusive interview with an active commanding officer and another with a military widow who dedicates her time to advocating for and articulating the challenges unique to the experience of widowhood. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to hear from military widows as they articulate and expand upon their lived experiences. Complemented by a photo/video gallery, the exhibit seeks to provide a holistic perspective on the aftermath of the loss of a soldier, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the multifaceted impact on the lives of those left behind, particularly the widows.

THIS PRESENTATION CONTAINS REAL-LIFE STORIES THAT TOUCH UPON SENSITIVE TOPICS SUCH AS DEATH, WIDOWS, AND SERVICE-RELATED EXPERIENCES. THESE STORIES ARE SHARED WITH THE INTENTION OF HONOURING THE SACRIFICES MADE BY MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES. BY CONTINUING WITH THIS PRESENTATION, VIEWERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

The armed Canadian forces date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and were local militias and British Forces. During many conflicts and battles and the ever-evolving Canada that we know today, there were major changes in the need for regimented military force to protect against the possibility of an attack on Canada. The War of 1812 was a major shift in Canadian military history.

In 1867, Canada officially became a nation. After the confederation in 1868, the Militia Act was established, creating a small permanent military force, including a cavalry troop, three infantry regiments, and three artillery regiments.

Following the First World War, the government increased their force numbers to ensure a more permanent force, but with the decline in casualties and the great depression, these numbers were still around 4000 troops.

During the Second World War outbreak, more than 730,000 men and women served in what would be considered today the “First Canadian Army.” In 1946, the Canadian Army was fixed at approximately 25,000 troops.

1949 Canada joined the newly founded peacetime military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (commonly called NATO). During the 50’s, to meet NATO treaty demands, the military increased to over 52,000 troops.

Canada's military has undergone restructuring and modernization in recent decades to adapt to changing global threats and peacekeeping needs. It has continued participating in international missions while addressing internal challenges and technological advancements.

The Canadian Armed Forces train regularly to ensure they are ready to serve and protect; the troops have been deployed for various peacekeeping exercises, humanitarian aid, and foreign conflicts. Soldiers know the imminent risk associated with joining the force, but the brave soldiers go where they are needed for days to months for training and deployments, leaving their loved ones behind.

(The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2021)

The Recent Fallen Canadians

Ever wonder what it's like to be part of the Canadian Armed Forces? This video gives you a glimpse of the life of the Canadian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. This brief video shows you the training, housing, pay, different facilities, and the family bond created by being in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Life in the Canadian Forces

Exclusive interview with Justin Flanders, the commanding officer of 2RCHA.

Justin Flanders has been an active member of the Canadian armed forces for 18 years, has deployed numerous times, and is currently in his second and final year as the commanding officer. Watch as we dive deeper into the culture of the military and the support for the military families.

Commanding Officer Justin Flanders

Jason shared valuable insights during our one-on-one exclusive interview. He shed light on the ongoing evolution of the military culture, specifically the past decade. Throughout the interview, Jason emphasizes Canada’s commitment to the well-being of its soldiers, highlighting their approach that not only maximizes their best interest but also extends to support families. Jason also discusses the inclusivity seen within the military, such as providing families access to the Chaplin Padre, social worker calls, and health assessments. Through sorrowful discussion, Jason provided a detailed process involving himself, the Regimental Sergeant Major, and the Padre, following military protocol and respectfully delivering sensitive information to loved ones.

Exclusive interview with Monica Bobbitt, a writer, speaker, mother, and military widow. She became a writer and advocate for widows when her husband, Daniel Bobbitt, was accidentally killed in a military training accident in May of 2014. Since his passing, she’s travelled throughout Canada continuing her late husbands legacy.

Monica Bobbitt Military Widow

Monica the widow of the late Commanding Officer of the Second Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery shared sincere insights from her perspective during this one-on-one exclusive interview. Dan, her late husband dedicated 25 years of service when Monica unexpectedly received news of his passing. Monica described her initial reaction to defy traditional expressions of grief. She was not expecting the news, considering the attire that the deliverers were wearing.

In the aftermath of his passing, Monica confesses to having assumed the responsibility of caring for Dan’s unit, recognizing the added layers of grief found in the military culture. Monica highlights the lack of cohesive support networks for widows within the Canadian Military, then furthering concern about the insufficient support available for children under 18. Monica's narrative shed light on the unique challenges faced by military widows within the Canadian Military.

We had the privilege of interviewing Monica Bobbitt. Monica has become a grief advocate and speaks openly about her experiences as the widow of a fallen Canadian soldier. Monica was very honest and open about her life before, during, and after as a spouse of a Canadian forces soldier. Monica is definitely a success story of a woman who has faced unimaginable tragedy and has risen and survived to tell her story and honour the legacy of her late husband, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Bobbitt.

Photo/Video Gallery and Honourable Mention

The Canadian Armed Forces maintain numerous bases and support units nationwide. Here is a full detailed list of these facilities, including their locations and types, such as Army, Air Force, and Navy.

After basic training, soldiers are posted and move onward to their respective trade schools for further training. On completion of that they are posted to their unit to begin their career in their trade.

Military members are more subjected to postings (moving) than in civilian careers. Uprooting families and separating them from their friends and family to one of the bases listed.

“April 5th is Gold Star Spouses Day, in the United States in recognition of the sacrifices made by the surviving (Gold Star) spouses of fallen service members.

In Canada, we don’t have a title or a special day of recognition for our military widows and widowers.

But today, let us also take a moment here in Canada to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice made by our Memorial Cross Widows (and Widowers).

All military spouses (and families) make incredible sacrifices for their spouse’s career and by extension, our country.

But military widows carry the heaviest burden of all.

They carry the weight of a folded flag and their loss with them, for the rest of their lives.

They are the ones left to pick up the pieces of broken hearts and families after their spouse dies.

Long after the funeral flowers have wilted and the casseroles are all eaten; still they grieve.

They endure sleepless nights, shed countless tears, and try to make sense of it all.

They face the abyss of loneliness and despair, and sadly, some of them don’t make it through.

Eventually, they find acceptance and move forward with their lives.

But they are never the same.

Their loss changes them; their sadness woven into the fabric of the person they have become.

They stand up to judgment and criticism and champion change, so that things might be better for the next widow.

They are Afghanistan widows and accidental widows. They are ALS and cancer widows and they are suicide widows.

They are the ones who gave birth alone and they are the mothers of infants left to bring up children who will never know their fathers.

They are mothers of teenagers, older children, and every age in between.

Sometimes they are overwhelmed with the responsibility of only parenting.

And some of them are left to grieve the children they never got to have.

They are army, airforce, and navy spouses.

And some of them wear a uniform themselves.

They live in military communities and civilian ones.

They are your neighbours, though you may not even know it; their loss too painful for them to ever discuss.

They are your friends and my friends. And yes, they are even me.

For them, Remembrance Day isn’t just one day, it’s every day.

Because they can never, ever forget.

They are the memory keepers— determined that their spouse’s name never be forgotten, that their sacrifice not be in vain.

They are incredibly courageous, resilient, strong women (and men).

And though they belong to a club they never wanted to be a part of, they are stronger because of each other.

The next time you think of a fallen soldier, take a minute to remember the spouse they left behind, for she, too made an incredible sacrifice for her country.

We were wives once. But widows we will always be.”

Monica Bobbitt, 2022

Honouring Canada’s Silent Heroes

This is the story of two Australian war widows who bonded and became friends through tragedy. Breanna Till and Gwen Cherney both lost their soldier husbands but tell their stories of how bonding through a group called the The Australian War Widows Inc. (formerly War Widows Guild of Australia Inc.) that supports and advocates for all War Widows from all conflicts (War Widows Inc., 2020). The struggles of a soldier’s widow are very unique and need to be supported for their struggles following the death of their beloved soldier.

This is just one of too many stories of suicide involving soldiers whose mental health has fallen through the cracks of the military and Canada’s mental health system. Retired Cpl. Leona MacEachern’s story has a tragic ending wherein the Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) she was struggling with finally caught up to her and resulted in her taking her own life. in the aftermath of her death her widower Tom revealed how he felt his wife, who joined the military after high school, was ultimately abandoned by the Canadian government, with no specialized help for her PTSD, and little acknowledgement for her service (Sachedina, 2014).

This article, although not pertaining to a widow, specifically outlines the stigma attached to suicide and, more specifically, suicide in the armed forces. Andy Griffin explains how tough it has been in the aftermath of his son Ryan’s suicide. Andy has friends who have never actually acknowledged Ryan's passing, although there are others who have provided wonderful support, Andy has realized many people don't wish to talk about it because there's still a stigma associated with suicide, and it can be an uncomfortable conversation. Even fewer people seem to understand (Griffin, 2022). The Canadian Armed Forces for years resisted suggestions that service members were more at risk of suicide than the general public, but reversed course after a landmark study from Veterans Affairs Canada in 2017 suggested it was true (Press, 2021). It has been a long time in coming, but within a renewed effort to assist its member who may be struggling with PTSD, depression or other mental health issues, hopefully the suicide rate of our armed forces will begin to fall.

Grieving the loss of a soldier defies any standard process; it's a deeply personal journey. The military culture, with its inherent risks, amplifies this pain. Widows and widowers not only mourn the loss of their loved ones but also shoulder the weight of a fallen Canadian member and a life forever altered. If you know a soldier or a family member grappling with this immense loss, or mental health difficulties, please consider sharing the resources below.