Defence Minister to deliver apology to No. 2 Battalion
Anand confirms Truro will be the site, she will be in attendance
TRURO - Canada’s National Minister of Defence Anita Anand has ‘July 9 – Truro,’ firmly typed into her calendar.
“Make no mistake, I will be in Truro on July 9, for sure,” Anand said in conversation with The Saltwire Network, confirming Truro will indeed be the site for the official apology to the all-black No. 2 Construction Battalion, for the racism they experienced while attempting to enlist for service in the First World War.
“It’s extremely important to me to be there as someone who, throughout my whole life, has been standing up for the principle of nondiscrimination,” she said. “For me to be there is important to me, personally, and for our government. I will walk hand-in-hand with the community to ensure this apology is meaningful.”
Born and raised in Kentville, Anand talked about her home province, where she lived for 18 years and returned to for law school (Dalhousie University).
“I love Nova Scotia,” she said. “My friends are still there … it’s home.”
And now the ‘Hub of Nova Scotia’ will be home to an apology Anand said she put a focus on as soon as she became Minister of Defence and learned more about the battalion.
“I wanted to do something to ensure I was part of the experience to apologize to them and their decedents for what they experienced during their time serving our country,” she said, adding she has met with some descendants through the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia and the committee that is engaged with the centre to identify decedents and coordinate public awareness and consultation.
“And I’m committed to work with them not only in terms of the historical lines relating to discrimination but also in terms that, going forward, the Canadian Armed Forces is an institution that stands for diversity and inclusion so that all Canadians see themselves reflected in the Canadian Armed Forces.”
Anand said July 9 will be an important day for all Canadians.
“Let’s just think about what happened; at the outset of the
First World War, many Black Canadians tried to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force and were turned away because of the colour of their skin,” she said. “Despite this, they persevered in their pursuit to serve our country. They even wrote to the government and Governor General, who didn’t support them.
“I would just say that this is very important to our country … and it’s very important to me, personally, to provide an apology.”
Anand emphasized that, for too long, tolerance has been shown towards outdated behaviours, values, and policies.
“My top priority as minister is to ensure everyone in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces feels safe and protected, that they have the supports they need when they need them, and we have structures in place to ensure justice is served,” she said. “That we never again experience anything like what happened to the members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.”
She said that no matter how many issues are on her plate as Minister, and no matter how urgent a current situation may be, it’s vital to never forget the contributions of those who served Canada.
“Including those in the No. 2 Construction Battalion,” Anand said. “I will always stand to thank those who served and continue to serve, and I look forward to being able to apologize to those individuals who were treated differently based solely on the colour of their skin. It’s our duty as Canadians to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.”
Truro Mayor Bill Mills said it will be a huge event for the town.
“We’re very grateful for this opportunity to host,” he said, adding he was actually on his way to a meeting to discuss details for the day.
“It’s certainly something that is long overdue, and I hope and believe that it will bring some new beginnings; too little, too late for those who served in the battalion, but for their families, the descendants, there will be some closure.”
Mills said it will be an “incredible” day.
“For the Town of Truro, the Province of Nova Scotia, and Black communities, I dare say, right across the country,” he said. “I’m grateful for it.”