Minister says changes are underway following apologies for racism faced by black soldiers
HALIFAX — Ottawa is continuing to implement recommendations brought forward as part of an apology for the systematic hatred and racism experienced by an all-black Canadian unit that served in World War I, Defense Secretary Anita Anand said Sunday.
The apology issued a year ago to descendants of the members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion included eight recommendations developed through community consultation.
The Department of National Defense and the Canadian Forces have been working “unremittingly” to implement the recommendations, which are essential to building a more inclusive culture free from racism, discrimination and prejudice, Anand said.
Three of the eight recommendations have yet to be fully acted upon, two are in progress, and elements of another three require what she described as sustained and eternal efforts, she said.
“We are making progress and we will not stop until we are an organization where everyone feels a sense of belonging and knows that their contribution to Canada’s defense goals will be recognized and valued,” Anand said in a statement.
Anand joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Truro, NS, last July to apologize for the appalling treatment of the segregated, non-combatant unit – the first and only all-black battalion in Canadian military history.
Hundreds of black men in Canada were rejected when they volunteered to fight overseas in 1914 because they were not wanted in what was considered a white war.
After two years of protests, the Canadian Army was authorized in 1916 to raise a battalion of about 600 men. More than half of those who applied were from Nova Scotia.
Only a few of its members would see combat, especially as the battalion was repeatedly told that its assistance on the front lines was not wanted, and they received no public acknowledgment when they returned home.
The unit supported three major forestry operations abroad, worked at sawmills, and maintained road and rail equipment.
Meanwhile, a parade was also held in Pictou, NS on Sunday, led by the 4 Engineer Support Regiment, based in Gagetown, NB, which maintains the historical connection with No. 2 Construction Battalion and the Black Cultural Center for Nova Scotia Preserves.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 9, 2023.
