Museum Talks: German POWs in WWII Canada - The Metcalfe Project
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Now on YouTube! Did you know that during WWII, German POW camps were set up across Canada - including one in Hull, Quebec, referred to as Camp 32. The Metcalfe Project was a joint project between the Canadian Department of Labour, the Department of National Defense and International Red Cross to help alleviate the shortage of labour in Canada by using POWs interred in camps, and paying them a modest wage for their labour. The internees were easily identifiable with their uniform of a jacket with a red bullseye on the back. The internees were released from the POW camp at Hull to work on dairy farms, farms and small businesses throughout Carleton County. Some of these farms included: James Bell (RR3, Osgoode), Malcolm Boyd (RR1, Winchester), John Campbell (Osgoode) and W.C. Reid (RR4, Osgoode). There are over 50 POW names listed as farm labour in the former Osgoode Township 1943 and 1944.
Dr. Michael O'Hagan has a PhD in History from Western University with a specialization in German Prisoners of War in Canada during the Second World War.
Jane Cooper is an historian, researcher and writer. Undertaking government policy research by day, by night she escapes into the history of the early 20th century. Jane has worked on several well-known local history projects including some in partnership with the Osgoode Museum - Private Sully Goes to War, as well as A Historical Tour of Turn of the Century Metcalfe, just to name a few.
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