September 2026 – free educational resources on remembrance and military history // Septembre 2026 – Ressources d’apprentissage gratuites sur la commémoration et l’histoire militaire

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An item from the folks at Veterans Affairs Canada that may be of interest to any of our members who are educators or have educators in their family.  Note that VAC will send these materials into the US if you use the email request (i.e., not the online form) option.

Veterans Affairs Canada / Anciens Combattants Canada
Le texte en français suit…

Dear educators,

A new school year is here, and Veterans Affairs Canada is ready with new and updated resources to help students learn about remembrance and Canada’s military history. Read on, or visit veterans.gc.ca/educators, to discover the many free resources available this year.

2026 Veterans’ Week learning materials

Our free, bilingual remembrance resources are now available in print and online. This year’s collection includes print materials as well as educational videos, lesson plans, activities and much more!

Our store is now open!! Head over today to order brand new editions of:
• Take Time to Remember activity booklet (ages 5-7)
• Tales of Animals in War youth newspaper (ages 8-11)
• Canada Remembers Times youth newspaper (ages 12-18)
• Veteran recognition cards, bookmarks and posters (all ages)

Use your printed copies alongside the digital versions to access bonus content, including videos, Veteran interviews and other engaging materials that bring the stories to life.

Every memorial tells a story

War memorials are more than monuments. They’re stories carved in stone. Our new Teaching youth about war memorials and monuments learning hub helps students make meaningful connections with:

  • Every memorial tells a story, a new five-lesson unit exploring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Canada’s National War Memorial and community cenotaphs.
  • A new animated video featuring Remembrance Club friends Pax and Gandy discovering memorials in Canada and France.
  • Hands-on research activities that help students investigate local memorials and the people they honour.
  • and much more!

Don’t forget to remember

Turn remembrance into action by creating a mosaic poppy in your classroom. Students can remember the fallen or recognize a Veteran by writing messages of gratitude on red sticky notes. Order FREE supplies for your classroom while supplies last!

Canada’s mission in Afghanistan

Ready to explore this important chapter in Canada’s military history? Visit our new Teaching youth about Canada’s mission in Afghanistan learning hub. Hear Veterans share their experiences. Learn about those who gave their lives in service. Explore engaging activities designed for learners of all ages. And don’t miss our new video with artist Adrian Stimson, who shares the inspiration behind the design of the new National Monument to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

FROM OUR PARTNERS

National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program

The Department of National Defence’s National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program provides educators with the unique opportunity to include a Canadian Armed Forces member in your Remembrance Day ceremonies. Through their stories, CAF members help students share in remembrance, honour our past and inspire future generations. DND offers an array of options to meet your every need—submit a request before October 19.

You can also visit the Veterans Affairs Canada guest speakers page for information on other sources of Veteran speakers, including the Memory Project and the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

Teachers of young students can check out our new Who is a Veteran? animated video and activities to help students prepare before a guest speaker arrives.

National youth remembrance contests

2026 is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion! Celebrate this milestone by helping your students take part in their National Youth Remembrance Contests! The Royal Canadian Legion and The Legion National Foundation invite students from K–12 to participate in visual art, writing, and video contests that honour Canada’s Veterans and foster the tradition of remembrance.

In honour of the Legion’s centenary, our 2026 Veterans’ Week poster and Veteran recognition cards feature artwork from previous contest winners! Order today to inspire your student artists.

That’s a wrap! We’ll be back next month with additional tools and activities to support you in the lead-up to Remembrance Day this fall. Thank you for helping students honour those who have served.

Have a great school year,
The Veterans Affairs Canada Learning Team

Website: www.veterans.gc.ca/educators
Email: education@veterans.gc.ca

If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please reply to this message and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject heading.

Please read the privacy notice at the bottom of this message.

Chers éducateurs et éducatrices,

Une nouvelle année scolaire commence, et Anciens Combattants Canada vous offre des ressources nouvelles et mises à jour pour aider les élèves à découvrir le Souvenir et l’histoire militaire du Canada. Poursuivez votre lecture ou rendez-vous sur le site veterans.gc.ca/educateurs pour découvrir les nombreuses ressources gratuites offertes cette année.

Ressources d’apprentissage de la Semaine des vétérans 2026

Nos ressources commémoratives gratuites et bilingues sont désormais offertes en version imprimée et en ligne. La collection de cette année comprend des documents imprimés, mais aussi des vidéos éducatives, des plans de leçon, des activités et bien plus encore!

Notre boutique est désormais ouverte! Commandez dès aujourd’hui les toutes nouvelles éditions des ressources suivantes :

  • Livret d’activités Prendre le temps de se souvenir (5 à 7 ans)
  • Journal pour les jeunes Histoires d’animaux à la guerre (8 à 11 ans)
  • Journal pour les jeunes Le Canada se souvient (12 à 18 ans)
  • Cartes d’appréciation des vétérans, signets et affiches (pour tous les âges)

Utilisez vos copies imprimées en parallèle aux versions numériques pour accéder à des contenus supplémentaires, notamment des vidéos, des entrevues avec des vétérans et d’autres ressources captivantes qui donnent vie à ces récits.

Chaque monument commémoratif raconte une histoire

Les monuments commémoratifs de guerre sont bien plus que de simples monuments. Ce sont des histoires gravées dans la pierre. Notre nouvelle plateforme d’apprentissage Sensibilisez les jeunes aux mémoriaux et aux monuments commémoratifs de guerre aide les élèves à établir des liens significatifs grâce aux ressources suivantes :

  • Chaque monument commémoratif raconte une histoire : une nouvelle série de cinq leçons consacrée à la Tombe du Soldat inconnu, au Monument commémoratif de guerre du Canada et aux cénotaphes locaux.
  • Une nouvelle vidéo animée mettant en scène Pax et Gandi, deux amis du Club du Souvenir, qui partent à la découverte de monuments commémoratifs au Canada et en France.
  • Des activités de recherche pratiques qui aident les élèves à étudier les monuments commémoratifs locaux et les personnes auxquelles ils rendent hommage.
  • et plus encore!

N’oubliez pas de vous souvenir

Transformez le souvenir en action en créant une mosaïque de coquelicots dans votre classe. Les élèves peuvent rendre hommage aux soldats tombés au combat ou rendre hommage à un vétéran en écrivant des messages de gratitude sur des notes adhésives rouges. Commandez des fournitures GRATUITES pour votre classe, jusqu’à épuisement des stocks!

Mission du Canada en Afghanistan

Vous souhaitez explorer ce chapitre important de l’histoire militaire du Canada? Consultez notre nouvelle plateforme d’apprentissage Enseigner aux jeunes la mission du Canada en Afghanistan. Écoutez des vétérans raconter leurs expériences. Découvrez l’histoire des personnes qui ont donné leur vie au service de leur pays. Explorez des activités captivantes conçues pour les apprenants de tous âges. Et ne manquez pas notre nouvelle vidéo avec l’artiste Adrian Stimson, qui nous dévoile ce qui a inspiré la conception du nouveau Monument commémoratif national de la mission du Canada en Afghanistan.

DE NOS PARTENAIRES

Programme national des conférenciers de la Semaine des vétérans

Le Programme national de conférenciers de la Semaine des vétérans, mis en place par le ministère de la Défense nationale, offre aux éducateurs une possibilité unique d’inviter un membre des Forces armées canadiennes à participer à leurs cérémonies du jour du Souvenir. À travers leurs récits, les membres des FAC aident les élèves à se joindre à la commémoration, à honorer notre passé et à inspirer les générations futures. Le ministère de la Défense nationale propose toute une gamme d’options pour répondre à tous vos besoins : veuillez soumettre votre demande avant le 19 octobre.

Vous pouvez également consulter la page consacrée aux conférenciers invités d’Anciens Combattants Canada pour obtenir des renseignements sur d’autres sources de conférenciers vétérans, notamment le Projet Mémoire et l’Association canadienne des vétérans pour le maintien de la paix.

Les enseignants de jeunes élèves peuvent découvrir notre nouvelle vidéo animée intitulée « Qui est un vétéran ou une vétérane? » ainsi que les activités proposées pour aider les élèves à se préparer avant l’arrivée d’un conférencier invité.

Concours national du Souvenir pour les jeunes

2026 marque le 100e anniversaire de la Légion royale canadienne! Célébrez ce jalon en aidant vos élèves à participer au Concours national du Souvenir pour les jeunes! La Légion royale canadienne et la Fondation nationale de la Légion invitent les élèves de la maternelle à la 12e année (secondaire 5) à participer à des concours d’art visuel, d’écriture et de création de vidéos destinés à rendre hommage aux vétérans du Canada et à perpétuer la tradition du Souvenir.

En l’honneur du centenaire de la Légion, notre affiche de la Semaine des vétérans 2026 ainsi que les cartes d’appréciation pour les vétérans mettront en valeur des œuvres d’anciens gagnants du concours! Commandez-en dès aujourd’hui afin d’inspirer vos élèves artistes.

Nous reviendrons le mois prochain avec de nouveaux outils et de nouvelles activités pour vous accompagner à l’approche du jour du Souvenir cet automne. Merci d’aider les élèves à rendre hommage aux personnes qui ont servi notre pays.

Nous vous souhaitons une excellente année scolaire!
L’équipe d’apprentissage d’Anciens Combattants Canada

Site Web : www.veterans.gc.ca/educateurs
Courriel : education@veterans.gc.ca

Si vous désirez ne plus faire partie de notre liste d’envoi par courriel, veuillez répondre à ce courriel en indiquant « Se désabonner » dans l’objet de votre message.

Veuillez lire l’avis de confidentialité au bas du présent message.

Privacy notice

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) takes your privacy seriously. We are committed to protecting your personal information. The information you have provided to VAC is collected under the authority of the Order-in-Council PC 1965-688 and is used solely for communicating news about learning resources. Providing your information is voluntary; however, if you provide incorrect or incomplete information, you may not receive your requested information.

Your personal information is managed based on the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act provides you with a right of access to your personal information, and to request changes to that personal information if it contains errors. If you are unhappy with how we handle your personal information, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, QC, K1A 1H3. More details on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information are described in VAC’s Personal Information Bank, Public Education and Awareness (VAC PPU 620), in the Information about Programs and Information Holdings page found on Veterans Affairs Canada’s website.

Énoncé de confidentialité

Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC) prend très au sérieux la protection de vos renseignements personnels. Nous nous sommes engagés à les protéger. Les renseignements que vous avez fournis à ACC sont recueillis en vertu de l’autorisation prévue par le décret du Conseil privé 1965-688 et sont utilisés uniquement pour communiquer de l’information sur les ressources d’apprentissage. Vous n’êtes pas obligé de fournir vos renseignements. Toutefois, vous pourriez ne pas recevoir l’information que vous avez demandée si vous fournissez des renseignements incorrects ou incomplets.

Vos renseignements personnels sont gérés conformément aux dispositions de la Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels. Selon cette loi, vous avez le droit de consulter vos renseignements personnels et d’exiger des corrections en cas d’erreur. Si vous n’êtes pas satisfait de la façon dont nous gérons vos renseignements personnels, vous pouvez déposer une plainte auprès du Commissariat à la protection de la vie privée du Canada, à l’adresse suivante : 30, rue Victoria, Gatineau (Québec) K1A 1H3. Pour obtenir plus de détails sur la collecte, l’utilisation et la divulgation de renseignements personnels, consultez le fichier de renseignements personnels d’Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC) intitulé Éducation et sensibilisation du public (ACC PPU 620), qui figure dans la publication Renseignements sur les programmes et les fonds de renseignements sur le site Web d’Anciens Combattants Canada.

Carney seeks EU pivot; Student showcase tomorrow!

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Note that we received this newsletter from a fellow Canadian organization in the Bay Area yesterday – so the “tomorrow” event is actually later today.

Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

News from Canada

• PM Carney seeks new “alliance” with EU at European Parliament

Campus Events

• Canadian Studies Student Research Showcase

• Two Provinces, Two Paths: Canada and the Independence Debate in Alberta and Quebec

• 9th Annual Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner

External Events

• Silicon Valley Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

NEWS FROM CANADA

PM Carney Seeks New “Alliance” with EU at European Parliament

 

On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada is seeking a “unique alliance” with the European Union as the country explores alternatives to its longstanding orientation towards the United States.

The remarks come as Carney prepares to travel to Strasbourg to attend the EU’s State of the Union address on Wednesday, the first-ever visit by a foreign head of state. The Prime Minister will address the European Parliament the following day, and meet with European lawmakers and heads of state.

The Prime Minister’s visit is the latest demonstration of his interest in deepening the trans-Atlantic relationship. The Prime Minister has a strong personal connection to the United Kingdom, where he served for seven years as the first non-British governor of the Bank of England. After his election as PM, his first official visits were to France and the United Kingdom. He took the unusual step of requesting that King Charles III personally open the new session of Canada’s Parliament. And next year, Canada will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time.

As first reported in The Wall Street Journal, Carney appears to be seeking more than friendly relations. While the Prime Minister has rejected the idea of Canada becoming a full member of the EU, he is reportedly pursuing an “associate member” status. Proposals under discussion include not just trade and defense agreements, but even the possibility that Canadians would be allowed to live and work in Europe visa-free.

This would be a major change from the last 80 years, when Canada has been heavily oriented towards the United States for trade, defense, and diplomacy. Historically, Canada was much more closely tied to Europe because of its place in the British Empire. However, when the US became ascendant after WWII, Canada reoriented itself towards its southern neighbor. The trade relationship deepened after PM Brian Mulroney and US president Ronald Reagan negotiated the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement that was later expanded into NAFTA. The partnership seemed to benefit both countries: in recent years, about 70% of Canada’s exports have gone to the United States.

However, the current US administration has firmly indicated that the era of free trade is over. At the same time, US officials have dismissed Canada’s attempts to pivot away in search of new partners. They argue that the EU cannot substitute for the huge amount of trade that crosses the US-Canada border: Canada’s exports to the EU are less than a tenth of what the country exports to the US. US negotiators believe that the sheer size of the US economy will eventually force Canada back to the negotiating table, on more favorable terms.

The proposed Canada-EU alliance, however, is grounded in more than trade. European and Canadian statements have stressed their shared democratic values and similar outlook. And the talks reflect an underlying desire to reduce dependence on the US. Both parties have expressed concern about the reliability of the US as a global partner, and not just in trade. Issues such as Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland and the Iran war have strained diplomatic ties between Europe and the US, while Canada has contended with repeated “51st state” rhetoric from the president and his allies.
Image of Mark Carney by Policy Exchange on Wikimedia Commons.

UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
All lectures listed will have a remote attendance option via Zoom. Please select “virtual attendance” in the RSVP form to receive the link.

If you require an accommodation to participate fully in any event, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible by emailing canada@berkeley.edu.
Canadian Studies Student Research Showcase

Tuesday, Sept. 15 | Noon | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

Learn about the research Canadian Studies funds through our Edward E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowships, as recipients present overviews of their projects.

Refusing Bifurcation: Mobility, Kinship and Chinese-Indigenous Families in the Pacific Northwest Borderlands

Jessica Jiang, PhD candidate, Department of Ethnic Studies

In the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest, colonial and transpacific migration routes overlapped and often conflicted with longstanding Indigenous geographies. This talk traces several mixed Chinese-Indigenous families on the Columbia/Interior Plateau across generations, showing how these larger forces shaped their lives and movements. These families found themselves in the crosshairs of both US and Canadian policies that sought to control the movement of Chinese and Indigenous people; however, they also found creative ways to navigate and circumvent these restrictions. Drawing on both Chinese and Indigenous knowledge, practices, and relationships, mixed-descent individuals used their dual heritage to negotiate different kinship traditions, maintain their families, and protect their connections to their homelands.

The Gang Exception: Eroding Propensity Rules in Canadian Criminal Law

Reakash Walters, PhD candidate, UC Berkeley Law

“The Gang Exception” demonstrates how evidence law is applied differently for accused persons who are racially and economically marginalized, compared with other accused persons. The methodology of the article pairs a systematic content analysis of reported Canadian criminal cases with a content analysis of trial transcripts involving accused with serious charges. Admissibility decisions involving gang-related charges are compared with a separate group of non-gang cases that turn on the admissibility of bad-character or propensity evidence arising from a similar set of serious charges. This design helps isolate what might be particular to how courts reason about the admissibility of gang-affiliation evidence. The article argues that the reasoning through which gang affiliation evidence is admitted departs from the principled application of the propensity framework set out in R v Handy: the probative value and prejudicial effect inquiry the rule demands is often thinned or left unstated. Further, courts engage in a unique form of reasoning not present in the comparator cases to justify admission of gang-affiliation evidence. This research further illustrates how the organizational mechanisms that shape criminal legal institutions affect systemic inequality.
Two Provinces, Two Paths: Canada and the Independence Debate in Alberta and Quebec

Thursday, Sept. 24 | 3:00 pm | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

The question of whether to remain in Canada or seek independence will play a major role in upcoming provincial elections in Alberta and Quebec. Proponents of independence in each province offer different arguments rooted in unique regional histories. However, they also share a sense of alienation from “Canadian” culture and national identity. This panel will discuss the recent rise of sovereigntist and independentist politics in each province. What factors are causing this resurgence of sovereigntist sentiment? How are proponents of Canadian federalism responding to their grievances? And how are international developments, including heightened Canada-US tensions, shaping the trajectory of these movements?
About the Panelists

Martha Hall Findlay is the Director and Palmer Chair in Public Policy at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary and a member of the Expert Group on Canada-US Relations. A former two-term member of Parliament and corporate lawyer, she is currently overseeing the official Alberta government report on the economic impact to the province of leaving Canada.

Philippe Gervais is a communications and public affairs specialist who currently serves as Vice-President, Communications and Institutional Relations, for McGill University. He has previously consulted in crisis management, government relations and public opinion for both the Federal and Quebec provincial governments, and he has advised political campaigns at all levels of government across Canada.

Kristina Michaud was elected to the Canadian House of Commons at age 26, becoming one of the youngest federal representatives ever elected. From 2019 to 2025, she served as a Bloc Québécois MP and as the party’s critic for Public Safety and Climate Change. Originally from eastern Quebec, she now works as a political analyst and commentator for various television and radio programs and writes in La Presse.

Martin Pelletier is a financial columnist, author, senior portfolio manager, and investment fund manager. He is a recognized market strategist, regularly contributing to Canada’s Financial Post and appearing in Canadian and US media to provide insights on topics including equity and bond markets, monetary and fiscal policy, and oil, gas, and commodities.
This event is made possible thanks to Porter O’Brien and the Bluma Appel Fund.

9th Annual Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner

Sunday, Oct. 4 | 5:00 pm | Alumni House | Buy tickets

Canadian Studies is proud to partner with our friends at the Digital Moose Lounge to bring you a cherished Canadian tradition! Join us in celebrating the Bay Area’s Canadian community with a delicious, family-friendly turkey dinner on the UC Berkeley campus. Tickets include a classic Thanksgiving turkey dinner, a raffle with fabulous prizes, and a chance to meet fellow Canadians and friends of Canada from around the Bay!

Special Offer for UC Berkeley Students! Canadian Studies is able to subsidize a limited number of tickets for UC Berkeley students. Please email canada@berkeley.edu to learn more.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Silicon Valley Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

Sun., Sept. 27 | 9:30 am | Menlo Park, CA | Learn more

 

The Digital Moose Lounge and the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco invite you to join the “Eh Team” as you follow in the footsteps of Terry Fox to raise money for cancer research. Now in its fourth year, this annual event brings Bay Area Canadians together to run, walk, and bike to continue Terry’s efforts to find a cure for cancer. This year’s run will take place at Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park, and will feature a special appearance by Terry’s brother, Darrell Fox, as guest of honor!

Canadian Studies Program

213 Philosophy Hall #2308

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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley 213 Philosophy Hall #2308 | Berkeley, CA 94720 US

Blessing of the Fleet Interfaith Service at the Presidio Chapel

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At this stage it does not look like there will be any Canadian ships in port for Fleet Week.  But members in the area may still wish to attend.

Last Chance to Make Your Mark On Juno Beach in 2026

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An item from the folks at the Juno Beach Centre that may be of interest to members.

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Every name on a commemorative brick tells a story of courage, sacrifice, and a life that helped shape our freedom.

Right now, we are preparing for our next installation, which will take place before Remembrance Day 2026.  If you would like to sponsor a brick this will be your last chance to have it installed in 2026.

To commemorate a family member while supporting Canada’s only Second World War museum located on the beaches of Normandy in France, make sure you order your brick and provide us with the inscription before September 21st, 2026.

We hope you’ll join us in this quiet, powerful act of remembrance.

Visit our website to learn more and choose your inscription.
Sponsor a Brick!
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Chaque nom gravé sur une brique commémorative raconte une histoire de courage, de sacrifice et d’une vie qui a contribué à forger notre liberté.

Nous préparons actuellement notre prochaine installation, qui aura lieu avant Le Jour Du Souvenir 2026. Si vous souhaitez parrainer une brique, c’est votre dernière chance de l’avoir installé en 2026.

Pour rendre hommage à un proche tout en soutenant le seul musée canadien de la Seconde Guerre mondiale situé sur les plages de Normandie, en France, assurez-vous de commander votre brique et de nous fournir l’inscription avant le 21 septembre 2026.

Nous espérons que vous vous joindrez à nous dans cet acte de mémoire, discret mais puissant.

Visitez notre site Web pour en savoir plus et choisir votre inscription.
Parrainez une brique !
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