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Table of Contents 
 
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3 

Short Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5 

Competition News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6 

Finalists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7 

Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9 

Three Day Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11 

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    12 

Novel Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    13 

Film Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14 

Photography Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    15 

Cast Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17 

Macbeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   18 

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19 

Play Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20 

Play Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    21 

Macbeth Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22 

Ask Away! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22 

Vimy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    23 

Play Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    24 

Poetry Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    25 

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Editorial: Student Reflection 

During my time in the NBE 3U2 course, my perspective on Aboriginals has
changed tremendously. I have learned about their involvement in Canada’s history,
especially during World War I. I would have never guessed that they had such a
significant impact during the war. This course has also informed me on the struggles
that Aboriginals have faced throughout their history. World War I had a traumatic effect
on Aboriginals, perhaps one worse than that on non-Aboriginals since they could not be
properly cared for and treated . Approximately 12,000 Canadian Aboriginals joined the
army and about 500 lost their lives in World War I and World War II. Many people do not
think that they suffer from issues associated with war, such as PTSD, but surprisingly,
PTSD is more common in Aboriginal soldiers than other Canadian soldiers. This is not
only the result of war, it is also a part of the aftermath of the abuse that they were
subject to as children. The Canadian government and the Catholic Church forced
Aboriginals to go to residential schools so that they could assimilate into the new
Canadian society. Children were abused for nothing and treated like animals. 64% of all
Aboriginals that were put in residential schools suffered from PTSD at one point in their
life. What has happened to these people is truly a terrible crime, and to make matters
worse, their service and pain is ignored by most in today’s world. This course has lead
me to be more grateful and appreciative towards Aboriginals for what they have done
for our country.

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The purpose of this advertisement is to help spread awareness for PTSD.

This advertisement relates to the course’s novel unit as it focused on war and veterans.
Furthermore, in the novel ​Three Day Road​, the main character, Xavier, experiences
PTSD firsthand. Also, the advertisement was made to resemble one of Andy Warhol’s
paintings, allowing it to catch the reader's attention while making it unique.

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Short 
Stories 

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2017 Short Story Competition News 

Last year, we asked you to send in an original short story for our Short Story
Competition, and we received over 100 submissions! Picking a winner was very difficult
because they were all so amazing! We judged the short stories on creativity, structure,
style, how the setting impacts the story, original characters, and most importantly, which
one was the most interesting. After a lot of discussion, we narrowed it down to three
finalists. Picking one of the three was very difficult, but we were able to make the hard
decision. We are proud to announce that the winner of the 2017 Short Story
Competition is ​A Walk to Morning​ by Joseph Boyden!
A Walk to Morning​ has an amazing message that positively impacts the reader. It
tells the tale of a teenage boy who is depressed and tries to commit suicide after his
girlfriend breaks up with him. It goes on to explain how much he regrets ever trying to
do something like that and how suicide is way too common in First Nations
communities. Boyden then concludes the story by telling the reader that if they suffer
from the pain that he once suffered from, to speak out and get help.
Boyden also included plenty of details and imagery which allow the reader to
vividly picture the story in their mind, making the reader feel as if they are actually in the
story themselves. Most of the short stories that were submitted also included plenty of
details, but ​A Walk to Morning​ simply did it best. Also, all of the judges felt that it was
really easy to make personal connections to Boyden’s story simply because of how
relatable it is. It connects to what we at Canadiana love to discuss the most, identity.

If you missed out on our 2017 Short Story Competition, don’t worry! You can
simply submit your story at CanadianaMagazine.weebly.com for your chance to win the
2018 Short Story Competition. The dropbox is now open and will close December 31,
2018. The winner will be announced January 10, 2019. Good luck!

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Finalists 
Don’t worry, we did not forget about the other two overall finalists of the 2017 Short
Story competition. We have a piece on each of them discussing the story and how it
relates to the NBE 3U2 course with an image that the author felt connected to the story.

Someday​ by Drew Hayden Taylor

In this course, we learn
that identity is not fixed, it is
always changing as we learn,
grow, and live life. In the short
story, ​Someday​, an Aboriginal
child, Mary, is taken away from
her family by the government.
Her mother, Anne, knows that
Mary would somehow find her
way home and never stops
waiting for that moment. Eventually, Mary does come back, but everyone is shocked to
find out that Anne’s daughter is known as Janice and has no connection to her
Aboriginal identity whatsoever. After being adopted by a successful white family, the
white lifestyle is all Mary knows and she even changes her name to distance herself
from her past, symbolizing the new identity that she chooses. Just like we learned, her
identity was not and is not fixed. Over time, as Mary develops as a person, her identity
changes. She is no longer the person her mother was waiting for for all those years; she
is the product of white culture and of the government’s plan for total assimilation of
Canada’s Aboriginal people.

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The Loons​ by Margaret Laurence

This illustration depicts a loon
in the late night. Loons are known for
being shy animals and have a distinct
cry that can only be heard at night. In
this short story, ​The Loons​, the loons
play an important role as they
symbolize what Piquette is going
through. The loons’ habitat is being
destroyed by the people building
more cottages at Diamond Lake. This is mirrored in Piquette’s life as the white people
are invading on the Aboriginal peoples’ territory. Piquette does not want to take part in
anything and pushes people away, similarly to how the loons stay away from the
humans. Piquette tries to adapt to her surroundings by marrying a white man and
hoping that it will give her a chance at a new life. The birds also try to adapt to their new
surroundings of the lake. Unfortunately, it does not work out for either of them.
According to the last line of the story, Piquette was the only one to hear the cry of the
loons. She was the only person that felt their pain, the pain of being pushed out of your
own land and being forced to adapt to a new life.
In this course, we talk about identity and what identity means to us. In this short
story, Piquette’s identity forces her to adapt to the situation she finds herself in.
Although she tries her hardest to separate herself from her Aboriginal identity as a First
Nations woman by adjusting to the white people’s lifestyle, it does not work out the way
she hoped.

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Reviews 
One judge wished to write reviews on his top three favourite short stories that were
submitted in the 2017 competition; he felt that they truly deserved the recognition.

A Walk to Morning​ by Joseph Boyden is an amazing and inspirational story which

discusses a tough topic. The main character, who is unstable and cuts himself, has a
girlfriend who he thinks he is head over heels in love with. When his girlfriend breaks
up with him, it is enough to push him to the point of taking his own life. He jumps in
front of a moving car but, by some miracle, he survives. As he grows up, his biggest
regret in life is jumping in front of that car. As time passes, he becomes happily married
and has a son. This story helps people who are contemplating suicide and it also brings
awareness to suicide and how common it is among First Nations people; it brings
attention to a topic that isn’t talked about very often. I would rate this story 4.5/5
because it is not only an amazing story, but it also has the potential to prevent someone
from commiting suicide and it brings attention to huge issues that are ignored by
society.

The Loons​ by Margaret Laurence is an increasingly relevant short story as it

brings up issues that are very present in today’s society. The main character, Piquette,
must try to adapt to all of the change that is going on around her as the world seems to
be trying to separate her from her identity. The loons are much like the main character
as their territory has also been invaded and they must adapt to it. Unfortunately,
adapting does not always work out the way it is planned. This story explores the issue
of assimilation, especially with First Nations people and the invading of their land. I rate
this story a 4/5 as it raises awareness for cultural invasion and it also relates to world
issues that we face today, especially in Canada.

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I feel that Joseph Boyden’s ​Driving Lessons​ is an amazing story but it does not
quite live up to Boyden’s other submission as its message is not as powerful or defined.
In the first section of the story, the narrator and his girlfriend are driving down a dark
road when they notice two people fighting. One of them shoots the other and the
narrator rushes to comfort the victim. In the next section, the narrator is in the backseat
of a car on the way to a hospital with his girlfriend in labour. I rate this short story 4/5 as
it has a message that is easy to miss, especially by the youth, but once you do
understand it, it is very powerful.

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Three  
Day 
Road   

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About the Author: Joseph Boyden 

Joseph Boyden, (born on October 31,
1966 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian novelist
and short story writer. Boyden attended Brebeuf
College School in Toronto and went on to study
at York University and the University of New
Orleans. Boyden’s writing focuses on the history
and experiences of First Nations people in
Northern Ontario. He portrays the reality of the
Aboriginals on and off the reserves. They are
greatly affected by substance abuse, violence, and poverty. In Boyden’s work, he
presents the importance of understanding Aboriginal culture and history, as it is a huge
part of Canada’s history. The first novel Boyden wrote, ​Three Day Road​ (2005), reaches
out to the reader and pulls them in with his amazing imagery and realism. He shows
that people change greatly over time and their identity changes with them, whether it be
positive or negative. Boyden won many awards for his debut novel, such as the McNally
Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year Award and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction
Prize. Boyden then continued his success in the novel industry with his next book,
Through The Black Spruce ​(2008). This book is a sequel to ​Three Day Road​ and it
touches upon Moose Factory and the identities of the Aboriginals living there. For this
novel, he was awarded the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize. The third book of the trilogy,
The Orenda​, was published in 2013​. ​It tells the story of three main characters and their
experiences during the Iroquois Wars. He received lots of criticism for his use of
Indigenous stereotypes in this piece. Despite this, the novel won him CBC’s Canada
Reads competition in 2014. Joseph Boyden is undeniably a brilliant author and his work
is definitely worth reading.

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Novel Summary 
Three Day Road​ by Joseph Boyden is a narrative
about a three day canoe trip between two Cree people,
Xavier and his aunt Niska. Both characters share the
stories of their past which give us insight into their lives
and their character. Niska raises Xavier since his mother
dies when he is young. Xavier meets a boy named Elijah
in a residential school and the two become lifelong
friends. Elijah leaves the residential school so he can live
in the bush with Xavier and Niska and connect to his
Aboriginal identity. They grow up together and learn how
to live like their ancestors, becoming “best friends and
great hunters”. When the time comes, they enroll to fight for Canada in WWI together.
The war takes a heavy toll on both of them. During the canoe ride home, Xavier relives
the war in his mind, replaying all of the events that torment him as he struggles with a
morphine addiction, which he will not be able to fuel for more than a few days before he
runs out of the drug. As Xavier and Elijah fight in the war and become superb snipers,
Elijah becomes a heartless, cold-blooded monster and they grow apart. Xavier is the
better hunter and marksman, but Elijah gets all of the credit and loves the fame. Xavier
falls into a bottomless pit of depression from all the killing he has done. The only thing
he has left, his friendship with Elijah, slowly dwindles away as the war separates them
more and more. Elijah wants to stay and fight while all Xavier wants is to go back home.
Once he does return home, Xavier is barely able to move because of his terrible health
and missing leg that was taken by the war. Despite this, Niska does not give up hope.
She takes care of him and tells him stories of her own past struggles and faults so that
they can grow closer in what could be Xavier’s final days. The two have always had a
special connection, and now this is all that is left to save Xavier’s life.

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Film Review 
The movie ​Three Day Road​,
based on the novel of the same
name by Joseph Boyden, tells an
incredible, contentious story that
provokes thought and truly
captivates you. The story follows two
Cree men who volunteer to fight for
Canada during WWI and excel as
snipers, only to fall to the challenges
and dangers of war as their world
crumbles around them.

I read the novel prior to

watching the film, and the directors
did a truly incredible job turning the
book into a movie. For the first time
ever, I actually prefer the movie to the book simply because of the stellar performances
by all of the actors which added a layer of depth and made the story even more
powerful. ​Three Day Road​ is intriguing, entertaining, suspenseful, and refreshing. It is
very different from all other Hollywood films as it addresses issues that are present
today, but everyone still wants to ignore.

This film is nothing like typical movie adaptations of novels, which are commonly
watered-down, shortened versions of the original. I thoroughly enjoyed ​Three Day
Road​ and hope to see many more films follow in its footsteps.

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Photography Feature 
These original stills of Canada’s natural beauty connect to ​Three Day Road​ strongly and
add to the imagery of the novel.

In ​Three Day Road​, Niska and Xavier travel by water to get back home. The
scenery and its connection to both Xavier’s and Niska’s past assists in getting Xavier’s
mind off of the war and comforting Niska in her tough situation.

Xavier and Niska killed plenty of animals throughout their lives. Niska used one
of the traps that her father taught her how to make and use to capture animals, which
kept the pair alive by feeding then and by keeping them warm with its fur.

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On their journey, Xavier and Niska saw many sunsets, reminding them of the
beauty of nature and how good always shines through evil.

On the final stretch of the river, Xavier expresses the pain that killing Elijah
brought him after keeping it inside for so long. The healthy, green trees and the bright
sun reminded Xavier that there is light at the end of the tunnel and always a path to
forgiveness.

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Cast Interview 
We sat down with the stars of the upcoming film ​Three Day Road​, which is based on
Joseph Boyden’s novel of the same name. We asked Orlando Da Costa, Joey
D’Amario, Nathaniel De Vera, and Christopher Dugal questions about the film, its story,
and how they can relate to all of it.

What are your thoughts on the events of ​Three Day Road​?

Orlando​: The novel tells an amazing story that takes anyone who reads it on an
emotional roller coaster. A lot of what happened, specifically the addiction and
discrimination, was wrong and should never happen, but will most likely continue to
since both are a big part of the world that we live in. The events of the story are very
moving and I think that everyone should watch it to educate themselves on the issues
presented in the movie.

What was your favourite part about Three Day Road?

Joey​: Easy. The story of Xavier’s first hunt. It was very interesting and I felt so happy
for him because he truly felt that he was a part of the community of hunters when he
was given the nickname “Little Bird Dancer”.

Which character can you relate to the most?

Nathaniel​: I definitely feel the strongest connection with Xavier. I am never really in the
spotlight and feel like I am living in others’ shadows most of the time. I know exactly
how that must feel for him and it makes me have even more sympathy for him.

What made you want to act in this film?

Christopher​: I wanted to act in this film from the second that I finished reading the
novel, which was about 4 years ago. I feel that the issues addressed in the story are
more important than the grand majority of what all other movies focus on. People need
to be educated and made aware of the injustice that Aboriginal people face every day of
their lives and the physical/psychological baggage that soldiers/veterans will have to
carry forever.

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Macbeth   

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About the Author: William Shakespeare 

 
William Shakespeare is arguably the world’s most
famous and influential writer, with an estimated
current-day net worth of ~$600 million. He was an
English playwright, poet, and actor of the Elizabethan
Era and wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long
narrative poems (that we know of). His plays have been
translated into every major living language and are
constantly being studied, performed, and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare’s work is infinitely adored by the masses
as some of the best art ever created.
Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon and died on April 16, 1616.
He was baptized on April 26, 1564 in the Church of the Holy Trinity, where he now lays
at rest. Shakespeare studied at a grammar school until age 14, which was very
extensive at the time, and he apprenticed to a butcher afterwards. At 19, he married
Anne Hathaway and they had three children. In the late 1580s, Shakespeare moved to
London to join a theatrical company and quickly became a noted actor, playwright, and
poet; this company built the Globe Theatre, perhaps the most successful theatre in all of
London. He wrote for the entertainment of the audience and the approval of influential
patrons. Shakespeare eventually won the recognition of James I and his company
became known as the “King’s Men”.
Many believe that Shakespeare’s genius rests in his ability to express universal
truths of the human condition and offer explorations of life’s complexities in his writing.
He wrote in iambic pentameter, which is incredibly precise and makes his work even
more amazing. He usually worked with plots taken from other sources and enhanced
them, moulding them to his liking. Shakespeare’s eloquence and writing abilities make
him a once-in-a-millennium talent whose work can benefit anyone and whose legacy will
live on forever.

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Play Summary 
 
Macbeth​ is set in 11​th​ century Scotland and begins with Macbeth and Banquo,
two Scottish noblemen, encountering three witches. The witches tell Macbeth that he
will be thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland and they tell Banquo that his
descendants will be kings. When Macbeth finds out that he has in fact been made
thane of Cawdor, he believes the witches and thinks that he is meant to be king. He
writes to his wife, Lady Macbeth, to tell her about the situation, and she immediately
thinks of a plan to kill the current king, Duncan. Macbeth doesn’t want to do this, but he
falls to temptation, ambition, and his wife’s persuasion. When Duncan visits his castle,
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill him and Macbeth is made king when Duncan’s sons
flee out of fear. Macbeth then attempts to secure the throne by taking care of all
possible threats. The biggest of these is Banquo, who the witches said would be father
to a long line of kings. Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, but
Fleance escapes. When Banquo’s ghost haunts Macbeth, Macbeth goes back to the
witches to ask what the appearance means. He is given more prophecies, which tell
him to beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who was against Macbeth from the
start, that he will not be harmed of any man born of a woman, and that he will be safe
until Birnam Woods comes to Dunsinane, where his castle is. When Macbeth finds out
that Macduff fled to England, he has everyone in Macduff’s castle killed, including his
wife and children. Macduff, Duncan’s sons, rebels, and the English army combine
forces to overthrow Macbeth, who has become an evil tyrant. Each soldier carries a
bough from Birnam Woods to Macbeth’s castle to conceal themselves, Macbeth learns
that Macduff was untimely ripped from his mother’s womb, and Macduff defeats and
kills Macbeth, fulfilling all of the witches’ prophecies. Malcolm, Duncan’s eldest son, is
made king and everything is good again.Throughout the play, Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth are riddled with guilt and regret, with Lady Macbeth killing herself to escape it.

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Play Review
 
William Shakespeare’s ​The Tragedy of Macbeth​ is a masterpiece that tells the
incredible story of a good man who was corrupted by temptation, evil, and ambition. It
follows a Scottish nobleman on a mission to become king and secure this position
through evil, all because of three witches’ prophecies. It demonstrates the power of
one’s mind and conscience and how the opportunity to have power can completely
change a person.

What is perhaps more intriguing than the play is the “curse of Macbeth”. It is
believed that Shakespeare used real black magic in the witches’ spells and anyone who
acts in the play or says the play’s name in a theatre is at risk of having evil brought upon
them in the form of bad luck, which has lead to death in some cases.
I thoroughly enjoyed the play and love how unique and thrilling it is, but I do wish
that Shakespeare described how the witches’ prophecy for Banquo was fulfilled by his
descendants becoming kings. Other than this, the play is nearly flawless and teaches
lessons that everyone can learn from.

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Macbeth Obituary 
We received a wonderful submission of a mock obituary for Macbeth from one of our
young readers, Nathaniel, and felt that it was too good to not feature in our magazine.

Macbeth, who was once Thane of Glamis,

Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland, was
murdered at the hands of Macduff in Dunsinane.
Macbeth had a loving wife, and if she had not
taken her own life earlier, she would be mourning
her husband’s death right now. Macbeth was a
truly good man, but ambition combined with a
series of bad decisions lead him to his demise.
Despite being a tyrannous king recently, Macbeth will be remembered as the loyal,
brave, and noble man that he was for most of his life.

Ask Away! 
A very interesting question was sent in by one of our readers, so we decided to
implement an advice column-esque section for characters in literature. We will be
starting off this new section with none other than Macbeth!
 
Q: Just out of curiosity, what advice would you have given Macbeth during the events
that occured in the famous play if you were a friend of his? -Phil
A: First of all, I would tell Macbeth that evil is never the answer and that his actions will
come back to haunt him, which they did. I would also recommend that he try his best to
resist the temptation of the witches’ prophecies and continue to be the kind-hearted,
noble man that he had been for almost his entire life. I would definitely advise him to
not listen to his wife as much, as she seems to be a very strong source of evil for him. I
believe that all Macbeth needs to do is take a step back and really think about what he
has done and what he plans to do; he will quickly realize that his actions are simply
wrong and that he needs to fix his mistakes and seek forgiveness.

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Vimy   

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Play Review 
 
Vimy​ is a play that takes place in France,
although all of its characters are Canadian. It revolves
around six main characters: Clare, Mike, Jean-Paul,
Will, Sid, and Laurie. There are only two other
characters, Claude and Bert, which can be doubled
with one of the other characters; Claude can be
played by Mike, and Bert can be played by Jean-Paul.
The storyline is very intricate and confusing
because it transitions from a flashback to the present,
then back to a flashback (and so on) with little to no
warning. After reading it over a few times, it begins to
make sense and one can understand which parts are
flashbacks and which parts are not. Also, in some
parts of the play, two completely different scenes with two different dialogues are shown
at the same time, which adds a layer of confusion. For example, Clare is talking to
Laurie’s ghost while Jean-Paul is in the room asking her a question, but he does not
notice Laurie.
Performing the play is a great idea, but I think all actors should have the play
explained to them first. Students can easily misinterpret different parts of the play
because it may sound like it is a flashback, when in reality, it is present time.
Overall, I think this play would be confusing for youths or anyone that is reading
the play instead of watching it. Although it is short, which makes it easy to read over
multiple times, I feel that there it is very easy to miss a small detail that can change a lot
about the play. On the other hand, the play tells a very interesting story. It stands out by
presenting a short and concise yet powerful storyline. ​Vimy​ also teaches students how
to break down and understand potentially confusing literature.

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Poetry Feature  

 
The Soil at Vimy Ridge
by Inés Fiedler

I am the soil at Vimy Ridge,

Unchanging in my essence.
I’ve been here since the soldiers left;
Was here before their presence.

I have witnessed bloody battles,

And a peaceful time before:
A still and calm so beautiful
Before the raging war.

I’ve felt the boots of twenty thousand

March towards their slaughter,
Sacrificing everything for
Wives and sons and daughters.

I’ve heard the echoes of their cries,

Free of arrogance or pride.
Full of fear, yet they fought
And for your freedom died.

I was watching when the fighting stopped

And victory was declared.
The Canadians proved themselves as more
Than soldiers who were scared.

Now I hold twelve thousand markers,

Of men who fought and fell
My duty is to make sure that
They rest forever well.

I am the soil at Vimy Ridge,

A witness to the war,
Some may say they’ve seen it all
But I have seen much more.

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This poem perfectly displays the battle’s impact, its aftermath, its reality, and
most importantly, the identity of the Canadians who fought in it. They were selfless and
good at heart, risking everything for their country and its people and to protect their
family and friends back home. They represent the Canadian identity and serve as an
example for what all Canadians should strive to be.

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The purpose of this advertisement is to help spread awareness for veterans. This
advertisement relates to the course’s poetry unit as it focused on war and veterans. The
play ​Vimy​ revolves around war and the horrible effects that it had on soldiers, from shell
shock to blindness. We, the readers, also learn that a lot of people lost loved ones in
battle, as Clare loses Laurie. The message behind this ad reminds us that we owe our
lives to veterans because if it were not for them, we would not be able to live in peace
and safety, a luxury that is often taken for granted.

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