Virtual history lecture to honour VE Day anniversary

Dr. Graham Broad, Associate Professor of History and 2020 full-time Teaching Award recipient, will be hosting a virtual discussion to honour the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day. The virtual history lesson, entitled At the End, the Beginning, How Canadians Experienced the Second World War and the Lessons for Today, will take place via Zoom on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. It is part of the Alumni at Home series and will also be part of King’s Virtual Open House, that takes place throughout the month of May.

VE Day 1945 marked the end of the European phases of the Second World War, the most destructive war in history, and the final defeat of Nazi Germany. COVID-19 has curtailed the celebrations and commemorations that would have otherwise taken place across Europe, including some at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France where King’s students in History 3710/4710 would have been doing research this month as recipients of the Juno Beach Fellowship under Dr. Broad’s leadership. The course is a new experiential learning history class developed by Dr. Broad and Katrina Pasierbek.

Were it not for the pandemic, celebrations and commemorations of VE Day would have been held all over Europe in May, and King's students in History 3710/4710 were to have taken part in some of them at the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy.

Dr. Broad explains that the virtual lecture will explore how Canadians at home experienced the war and dealt with its deprivations: shortages and rationing, separation from loved ones, and the experience of dealing with mass death.

“There are many parallels between their experience and ours today in the face of the global pandemic, but importance differences, too,” says Dr. Broad.

All are welcome to participate in this free lecture. For more information on Dr. Broad’s talk and to register to receive the Zoom link, please visit https://www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni/events-and-chapters/upcoming-alumni-events/history-lecture/