It’s been 70 years since the end of the Second World War, and in commemoration of the anniversary, a new monument honouring the tireless wartime efforts of women has been announced.
The announcement coincides with Women’s History Month, which happens each October.
Halifax played a major role during the war, with tens of thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen using the port as a jumping off point to the war in Europe.
The city’s entertainment facilities were designed for a population of about 70,000, and during the war, this population doubled.
To help fill the void, many women stepped forward to quilt, heal and even dance in the name of Canada.
Helen Colwell was one of thousands of women who volunteered during the Second World War.
“Places that no one has ever heard of in Halifax. Down under the forks, the tunnels, everywhere, “ says Colwell. “I even danced on a table because they didn’t have a stage for it.”
“I don’t think it was really thought of at all during the time,” says volunteer Charlotte Guy Jeffries. “It needed to be done and people did it.”
Out of the 100 or more statues and monuments in Halifax, fewer than a dozen depict women.
“I see our aim as twofold,” says HWHS Chair Janet Guildford. “One is honour these particular women who did outstanding work and the other is to improve the visibility of women in public art in Halifax.”
“I think the fact that we don’t have a lot of statues right now that are memorials that represent women’s contributions is really important,” says Halifax Councillor Jennifer Watts. “It’s part of the untold, invisible story.”
Political Science Professor Margaret Denike posed the question to her gender studies students, “Why are women invisible in public art?”
“History is written by men, and men like to celebrate themselves,” says Denike. “In fact, it was the men in the class that were contributing these answers.”
Thursday’s “Woman on The Waterfront” event brought Charlotte and Helen together for the first time in 70 years.
“It has to be at least 70 years…and it’s unbelievable that we’re still here,” says Helen.
The monument will be right outside the Halifax Seaport Market on land donated by the Halifax Port Authority.
With files from CTV's Kelly Linehan
