Women War Workers in Canada, 1939-1945

Women at war on the home front

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3628043)

Woman filing a part in the Canadian Dominion Arsenals plant, November 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197975)

Female workers painting engine oil tanks used in a De Havilland Mosquito on the production line in Ontario, Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197967)

Male and female workers standing on the wing of a de Havilland mosquito fighter-bomber aircraft during its construction in a hangar, Sep 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3627117)

Woman munitions worker examining .303 brass casings in  the Canadian Dominion Arsenals plant, 24 Aug 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196136)

Female munitions workers take a break at the Dominion Arsenals Ltd. plant, 24 Aug1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198129)

Female workers inserting bullets into magazine clips at the John Inglis Co. munitions plant, 10 April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196471)

Della Watchorn, female worker at the Aluminum Company of Canada, assists Royal Canadian Air Force inspector LAC C. Huntley check the numbers of Harvard propeller blades ready for shipment to be machined, January 1943

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197980)

Overhead view of male and female workers assembling a Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver powered by a Wright R-2600 engine, on the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd. production floor at Fort William, Ontario in 1944. More than 800 Helldivers would roll off this line in 1943-45. Other Helldivers were built by Fairchild of Canada at Longueuil, near Montreal. Most went to the USN and a few to the RN. CCF SB2Cs were designated SBW-1, SBW-3 and SBW-4, while Fairchild’s were SBF-1 and SBF-3. The twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur are now today’s Thunder Bay.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198130)

Agnes Wong, Chinese-Canadian munitions worker, adding a butt to the end of a STEN gun at the John Inglis Company plant, 10 April 1944.

In March 1938, the company won a contract with the British and Canadian governments to supply 5,000 Bren machine guns to Great Britain and 7,000 to Canada. Both countries shared the capital costs of creating a factory to produce them. Inglis started production in 1940, and the contracts were extended several times. By 1943, they were producing 60% of the Bren machine guns destined for the British Commonwealth forces, and 30% of the British Army's own requirements. They also produced a large proportion of the Polsten 20 mm autocannon for the British Commonwealth, as well as the Browning Hi-Power (or High Power) pistol for both the Commonwealth nations and other Canadian allies (primarily the Nationalist Chinese Army).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 1971-271 NPC)

Female workers Agnes Apostle of Dauphin, Manitoba and Joyce Horne of Toronto, Ontario conduct a final assembly of a 9 m.m. semi-automatic pistol destined for China at the John Inglis Co. munitions plant. Toronto, Ontario, April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193083)

Women conducting the inspection of 25-pounder artillery cartridge cases, Montréal, Québec, March 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193560)

Mildred Caswell and Kay Card (l to r), are crane operators in the extrusion department of the Aluminum Co. of Canada's plant at Kingston, Ontario, Jan 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198230)

Female worker Muriel Ubdegrove operating a charger for the annealing furnace in the Aluminum Company of Canada, Kingston plant, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3625863)

Women shipyard workers building a ship in Vancouver, British Columbia, June 1943.

While a few women had produced ammunition in factories during the South African War, during the First and Second World Wars they entered the munitions industry en masse. According to the Imperial Munitions Board, about 35,000 women worked in munitions factories in Ontario and Quebec during the First World War. In 1943, approximately 261,000 women were involved in the production of war goods, accounting for more than 30 per cent of the aircraft industry, close to 50 per cent of the employees in many gun plants, and a distinct majority in munitions inspection.

Women also worked to ensure a thriving domestic economy. During the First and Second World Wars, they produced and conserved food; raised funds to finance hospitals, ambulances, hostels and aircraft; and volunteered their services inside and outside the country. Many women also joined such public service organizations as the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada, the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, the Young Women’s Christian Association and the Canadian Red Cross Society.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197400)

Workmen testing the range of motion of a 20-mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun mounted on a naval ship. Female worker holds a ruler to measure the range of motion, May 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197925)

Women shipyard workers having lunch in a row boat on a Victory ship while it is stationed in the Burrard drydocks, Vancouver, British Columbia, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196230)

Women workers bolt steel girders in place over the hold of a new ship in the Pictou shipyard, Nova Scotia, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196905)

Woman shipbuilder poses next to a ventilator during construction of a ship, September 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191607)

Woman shipbuilder operating a drill on a sheet of metal to be used to build a ship, September 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3192538)

A woman employee checks the interior of a Ram Cruiser tank, Montreal Locomotive Works, 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3597738)

A female power machine operator checks through the finished army service uniforms, 16 April 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3597745)

Women workers stitch service uniforms using sewing machines at the Great Western Garment Company (GWG), Edmonton, Alberta, 16 April 1942.GWG was a Canadian denim and western ware clothing company founded in 1911. During the Second World War, GWG produced up to 100,000 pieces of military clothing per month for the Canadian and Allied armed forces, making it the largest clothing manufacturer in the British Commonwealth.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193567)

Woman worker sewing cordite bags at the Canadian Car Munitions Ltd., Cherrier plant, Montreal, Quebec, May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3370860)

Women defence workers in Canada during the Second World War.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196460)

View of men and women workers laying out sheets of aluminum on cutting tables in the sheet mill of the Aluminum Company of Canada plant, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196192)

Mrs. Mabel Irven, a fitter, poses next to a finished six-pounder anti-tank gun, Dominion Engineering Works plant, November 1942.

(Legion Magazine Photo)

Women on their way to work at a factory in Edmonton, September 1943.

When men left their factory jobs to fight overseas, women stepped up to fill their positions en mass.  These jobs became essential during the war when munitions supplies became vital to the war effort.  Women excelled in these historically male-dominated roles.  Some conservative protesters rallied against women leaving the home, arguing this would hurt the traditional family ideals.  This was especially true in Quebec, where the strong-arm of the Catholic Church kept many women from working outside the home.  The government supported this new essential workforce by creating the first government run daycares.  Though women shone in these positions and were even recruited in industrial communities, the jobs remained extremely gendered and women were expected to leave the factories when veterans returned home. Women's work in factory during the second war is the most important role played by women on the home front.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196045)

Woman worker assembles instrument panels for cruiser tanks at the Montreal Locomotive Works plant.

Women in the workforce meant that working mothers needed access to childcare.  In anticipation of mothers in the workforce, the Federal Minister of Labour was empowered to enter into agreements for the establishment of daycare facilities for the children of mothers working in war industries.  From 1942 to 1946, the Dominion-Provincial Wartime Agreement allowed for subsidized day nursery care for mothers working in essential wartime industries.  Provinces that were most industrialized, such as Ontario and Quebec, saw a growing demand for this type of service and took advantage of this agreement to establish their own standards and regulations.  This program provided aid to mothers working in war industries; however, it placed strict limitations similar services for women with young children in other work sectors.  These wartime day nurseries boasted organized play, frequent outings and other features that would become early childhood education.  In June 1946, with the war in Europe over, Federal funding for day nurseries was pulled and the majority of day nurseries were closed.  However, some municipalities continued offering day care services and made up the shortfall.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197919)

Women workers operating a giant crane at a Vancouver, B.C. shipyard, May 1943.

At the beginning of the war 600,000 women in Canada held permanent jobs in the private sector, by the peak in 1943 1.2 million women had jobs.  Women quickly gained a good reputation for their mechanical dexterity and fine precision due to their smaller stature.  At home a woman could work as: Cafeteria workers, Loggers or lumberjills, Shipbuilders, Scientists, and Munitions workers.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197513)

Anita Plouffe operates a spray gun to paint identification marks on the case of a completed 20-mm shell in the Bouchard plant of the Defense Industries Limited, July 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193563)

Mrs. A. Mackay, shown here handling a riveting-gun, was employed during the Second World War in the shipyard at Pictou, Nova Scotia, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3625433)

A 16-year old female riveter in the shipyard at Pictou, Nova Scotia, January 1943.

(Legion Magazine Photo)

A welder works on a Bren gun at John Inglis Company Ltd., 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193623)

Veronica Foster, an employee of John Inglis Co., known as "The Bren Gun Girl", inspects a lathe at the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant, May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3193621)

Veronica Foster, an employee of John Inglis Co. Ltd. and known as "The Bren Gun Girl" posing with a finished Bren gun in the John Inglis Co. Ltd. Bren gun plant, 10 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191927)

Veronica Foster, an employee of John Inglis Co. Ltd. known as "The Bren Gun Girl", preparing to go to a party at the Glen Eagle Country Club, 10 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195738)

Women workers adjust machines at the Bren gun plant John Inglis Co., 8 April 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197320)

Sophie Nicolak operates a machine stamping Chinese characters from a metal plate to the body of a Bren gun for shipment to China from the John Inglis Co. plant, April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196250)

Woman operator takes a micrometer reading during the honing operation of the bore of a 4-inch gun at the National Railways Munitions Ltd. plant, 9 February 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3625339)

Women workers using rags to clean a steam locomotive, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194192)

Women workers using rags to clean a steam locomotive, January 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195838)

Female munitions worker welds magazine clip of a Bren gun in the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant, 10 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205103)

Female workers at Halifax Shipyards, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, September 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196964)

Mrs. Jack Wright, a munitions plant employee, punches in to work at a time clock in the munitions factory, September 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3626129)

Female worker soldering a primer box in a munitions factory, September 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3626739)

A female worker arranges Bren guns at the John Inglis Co.'s Bren gun factory, 8 April 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191599)

Agnes Wong of Whitecourt, Alberta, assembles a sten gun produced for China by the Small Arms Ltd. plant, April 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195207)

Woman worker at the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant welds Bren gun magazines, 8 April 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195840)

Evelyn Turner, 18, light welder. She is shown here welding a Bren gun magazine at the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant, 10 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195808)

Woman munitions worker examines a part of the Bren gun at the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant, May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196435)

Woman working withy laboratory equipment ("Boulange") connected to the copper screens used to test the velocity of fired gun shells, at the Valcartier test ranges, February 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195819)

Woman munitions worker operates drill at the John Inglis Co. Bren gun plant, May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3195707)

Woman munitions worker, March 1941.