Amber P.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Red River Heritage Fair

If Day

I did my project on If Day, which is when Winnipeg had a fake war to pretend what would happen if the Nazis invaded Winnipeg. They also used If Day as a way to raise money for the war.

 

 

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing that I learned would be that they really went all out. They took their regular planes, and re-painted them to make them look like Nazi planes. They also set up fake war hospitals for people who got fake injuries.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

That If Day did happen and is a very important part of our heritage. Also that it is really cool how the people who organized If Day got everyone in Winnipeg to participate. I can't imagine what it would be like trying to organize something like that today.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

My life compared to those back in the 1940s is very different. I can't even imagine how scary it would be to live through the Second World War. If anyone of my family members were forced to go to war, I would be terrified to see an officer come to my door.