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Joseph Hart, a Métis member of the family, also my great great great grandfather, joined this battalion, building crucial roads and railways for Canadian forces. Discrimination meant Indigenous soldiers often worked under harsher conditions. Joseph felt pride, though he did struggle as he served his country. His contributions remain a source of inspiration for the Hart family.

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Clara Hart, Joseph's sister in law, joined the Canadian Red Cross, sewing bandages and preparing supplies for soldiers overseas. Her work represented the growing role of women in wartime efforts. Clara often wrote about how these experiences shaped her views on resilience and community. She passed on these values to her children.

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James Hart’s cousin Edward survived the battle of Vimy Ridge, one of Canada’s most significant military victories. The stories of this victory symbolized Canada’s growing independence on the world stage and brought a deep sense of pride to the family. Edward’s bravery became a family legacy, inspiring future generations to value courage and sacrifice. His survival encouraged the Harts to treasure their freedom and recognize the importance of unity during challenging times.

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Clara Hart celebrated when women in Canada won the right to vote. As an active member of her local suffrage group, she believed in equal rights. The family often discussed the importance of these milestones at the dinner table. This era saw the Harts embrace progressive values.

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James Hart lost his railway job during the economic collapse of 1929. The family struggled to make ends meet, relying on Clara’s sewing skills and a local soup kitchen. This difficult time taught the Harts the importance of resilience and mutual support. Their experiences mirrored those of many Canadian families

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The Harts witnessed the internment of Japanese-Canadian neighbors during World War II. Clara Hart protested this injustice, writing letters to the government. The event showed the dark side of wartime policies and left the family questioning Canada’s values. They later joined efforts to support these families after the war.

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Margaret Hart took on a job in a munitions factory, contributing to the war effort. Her work symbolized the changing roles of women in Canadian society. Margaret’s independence inspired future generations in the family. The Harts took pride in her contributions to the Allied victory.

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Cousin Edward, a veteran of D-Day, returned home a hero. His stories of courage and sacrifice deeply affected the Hart children. The family celebrated his safe return but mourned those who did not survive. Edward’s experiences helped shape the Harts’ appreciation for peace.

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From Margaret Hart to her brother, Henry (1944):

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From Margaret Hart to her brother, Henry (1944):

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Dear Henry,

The world has been turned upside down by this war. We hear the reports on the radio every day about the battles in Europe, and each one brings me hope and dread. Edward is overseas, still fighting in France. Even the last letter from him, short, was having stories about the courage of his friends in Normandy. But then he puts these words down on the page: Every night I pray that he comes home safe. Even in our lives here at home, so many things are now different. I am taking a job inside a munitions factory where I work long weeks to create the shells and armor our troops will use. It's hot and greasy and the labor is intense, but I feel useful. Women such as me have stepped into roles we never dreamed of before, leaving me full of this weird mix of independence that’s thrilling and terrifying all at once.

Mom and Dad are managing as well as they can, although I can imagine they are forever panicking over Edward now, and me too. And yet, somehow, our family is strong enough that we push through.

Love, Margaret

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Henry Hart, now a teenager, joined the protests of unemployed workers traveling to Ottawa in 1935. The movement represented growing frustration with the government’s response to the Depression. While Henry didn’t reach Ottawa, his participation was a source of pride for the family. It showed their commitment to social justice.

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From Clara Hart to her husband, James (1916):

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From Clara Hart to her husband, James (1916):

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Dearest James,

So many days, now heavy as we rot through this war. We have become so much bigger since you took the rails out west. The kids you so much, but we all understand that your hard work is an essential part of the war effort. Cousin Edward writes very often from the trenches in France, his letters are short and bleak. He writes of the mud, the frostbite, and the boom of the guns as a call that seems to go on forever. And I have no clue what it is like for him — pray every day that he comes home to us whole. Closer to home, your brother Joseph has now enlisted with the No. 2 Construction Battalion. As an Indigenous man, he is discriminated against, even while serving his country. But his spirit is still powerful, and he reminds me that we are all battling for something bigger than us. I have also done some remote work for the Canadian Red Cross at home. I sew bandages and send packages to soldiers to feel like I am part of this fight. And the neighborhood women have banded together, which is reassuring to know that we are not the only ones working on that. Henry assists me in the garden and Margaret dreams of a world free from war; the children are growing. Stay strong, my love. We’re counting the days until you come home.

All my love, Clara

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From Henry Hart to his sister, Margaret (1935):

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From Henry Hart to his sister, Margaret (1935):

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Dear Maggie,

We can hardly believe how different our world has become since the 1920s. The Great Depression robbed our family and so many others of so much. Dad is still struggling to find steady work after being laid off from the railroad. It breaks my heart to see him search and search day in and day out — he never gives up. Mom has picked up sewing jobs from the neighbors and we have all learned to make do. Still, there are nights that none of us sleep with a full stomach. For too long I have remained passive. I cannot wait any longer. Which is why I take part in the On-to-Ottawa Trek. It's low and high pain, but standing next to some of the hardest, never-quit men in the world helps me power through. We feel hope for the future, and the same thing when we look back: families like ours should not have to suffer like this. We need to be heard by the government — we are not only fighting for ourselves, we are fighting for all the people that have been ignored throughout this crisis.

I love and miss you Maggie, hope you're watching over mom and dad. Let them know I am okay and will write sometime soon.

Love, Henry

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“The War in the West, 1914.” Encyclopædia Britannica, January 4, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I/The-war-in-the-west-1914.

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“Great Depression.” Encyclopædia Britannica, January 8, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression.

“On-to-Ottawa Trek National Historic Event.” Parcs Canada. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1781#:~:text=A%20defining%20event%20of%20the,and%20wages%20directly%20to%20Ottawa.

“Women’s Suffrage.” National WWI Museum and Memorial. Accessed January 8, 2025. https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/womens-suffrage.

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Canada, Veterans Affairs. “D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.” Veterans Affairs Canada, December 31, 2024. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/wars-and-conflicts/second-world-war/d-day-and-the-battle-of-normandy.

Internment of Japanese Canadians | the Canadian encyclopedia. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/internment-of-japanese-canadians.

Woman working in a munitions factory during the Second World War. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.naa.gov.au/students-and-teachers/student-research-portal/learning-resource-themes/war/defence-equipment-and-weapons/woman-working-munitions-factory-during-second-world-war#:~:text=Shows%20a%20woman%20at%20work,market%20and%20other%20social%20changes.