They helped us remember The legacy of Canada’s war painters in the First World War.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge by Richard Jack, who was to become Canada's first official war artist in 1916 for the Cana- dian War Records Office.
A statement by Hon. Pat Bovey in the Canadian Senate.
onourable senators, as we all know, Sunday, April 9, marks the one hundredth anniver- sary of the devastating Battle of Vimy Ridge and Canada’s tremendous contribution in World War I. It is widely accepted that was the moment Canada came of age and gained independence. Ca- nadian losses were many and horrific, yet the victory turned the tide. Time has now taken all the veterans of that conflict, and today I pay tribute to them, their families and those who have preserved the memory of their deeds. Time has not, however, robbed their families of their personal histories. I have a little black notebook that was in my uncle’s left breast pocket. A bullet hole goes three-quarters of the way through, and that saved him. He gave us the booklet, but never talked about what he saw or did overseas during that war. When war broke out first in 1914, Canada was not officially recording any of its events. The little com- bat photography which exists was primarily taken by
H
the British Army. Soon, though, Canada’s Defence Department became the first federal department to hire artists. Sir Max Aitken established the War Re- cords Office to document action at home and abroad for posterity from a Canadian perspective. He com- missioned Canadian artists. Some later formed the Group of Seven: A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Fred Varley and Franz Johnston. Their work is compelling and horror-filled. Varley’s acrid greens and images of destroyed villages tell us so much. In my view, the art done on the battlefields and of the home war effort by these Canadians is as expertly executed as that by any international war artist from any country: Brit- ish, French, Dutch or others.
Winnipeg’s Mary Riter Hamilton, being a woman,
was not eligible to be an official war artist, despite her protestations. A widow, she used her husband’s inheritance to go to France immediately after the war. For three years, she painted the desolation of the Western Front, and her watercolours and oils are poignant. They, with those by our official war artists, are in our War Museum collection. This fall,
Vimy Memorial Monument by Canadian architect and sculptor, Walter Seymour Allward.
scholars Sarah McKinnon and Catherine Young, and the University of Manitoba Press, are publishing an important book, for which I was delighted to be an early reader, on the work of Hamilton and her expe- riences.
Canada’s War Museum has opened a special Vimy anniversary exhibition. Using personal artifacts and work by our war artists, it tells the battle’s stories, recreating the sounds and smells of the trenches, gas warfare and life on the front.
Senators, we can only imagine what our soldiers endured because of Max Aitken’s vision and the work of our artists who recorded the heroism, loss and dev- astation in their art. Thanks to them, we and future generations will never forget their ultimate sacrifices. I am proud so many Canadians of so many gen- erations are honouring this anniversary at the iconic, highly celebrated Vimy memorial monument by Ca- nadian architect and sculptor, Walter Seymour All- ward.
Manitoba Senator Patricia Bovey was director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery from 1999 – 2004.
Manitoba Seniors Music Festival returns T
he Manitoba Seniors Music Festival is back for its fourth year of band, orchestral music
and song. Now with five springtime concerts, starting May 22 through to June 2, with music by 15 perform- ing groups of seniors and friends, in performance for seniors and their friends.
Performances start at 7 p.m. • • •
Enjoy the Joy of Music on Tues- day, May 23 with:
• the Executive Big Band, • the Chamber Orchestra of St. John’s College,
• and the Rupertsland Brass Band. Enjoy the Magic of Music on Thursday, May 25 with: • the Happy Homesteaders, • the Winnipeg Pops Orchestra, • and the Westwood Community
Band.
Enjoy the Power of Music on Monday, May 29 with: • the Assiniboia Concert Band,
• the Winnipeg Male Chorus, • and the Dixie Beats Dixieland
Band.
Enjoy the Love of Music on Wednesday, May 31 with: • the Winnipeg Golden Chords- men Chorus,
Band, Band.
• the Blaskappelle German Club • and the Northwinds Community
Enjoy the Celebration of Music on Friday, June 2 with:
• the Winnipeg Mandolin Orchestra, • the Friday Morning Concert Band, • and the Murray Riddell Big Band. All concerts are at Sturgeon Creek United Church, 207 Thompson Drive, Winnipeg.
Tickets are $12. They can be pur- chased at the door and at McNally Robinson Booksellers.
Media sponsors are 93.7 CJNU Nostalgia Radio, Lifestyles 55 and Se- nior Scope. Assisted by the Winnipeg Foundation.
Connect with us online
www.lifestyles55.net
Facebook: Lifestyles55 Twitter: @Lifestyles55
Scott
MLA for Kirkfield Park Constituency Office: 3129 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3K 0W4
FIELDING
t. 204.889.0540
scott@scottfielding.ca
www.scottfielding.ca 8
www.lifestyles55.net May 2017
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