The Sunday Magazine

Remembering VE Day

More than a million Canadians served in the Second World War and 45,000 gave their lives. We take a look back to the historic day that marked a new beginning.

VE Day 70 years later

V-E Day celebrations on Bay Street, Toronto, Canada. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

May 8th, 1945. The war in Europe was over. On that momentous day 70 years ago, Canadians were spread across the globe. Some in the Pacific were still fighting. But members of the Canadian Forces in Holland, Germany, Italy, France, England -- and those on the home front -- could at last begin to think of peace.

Forty-five thousand Canadians had died. More than one million had served. For many, VE Day marked the beginning of a new life. This documentary was produced by Karen Levine in 1985, to mark the 40th anniversary of VE Day. It first aired on As It Happens.

These are the people who told their stories: John Chipman, Tony Gervasio, Irving Greenberg, Jane McGillivary, Evelyn Pepper, Francis "Popeye" Richard, Edith Wade, Bill and Esther Walsh.