No. 2 Construction Battalion Legacy Project, Honouring Black Canadian Military History Through Education
The No. 2 Construction Battalion Legacy Project represents I-Think’s commitment to transforming how students engage with Canadian military history and Remembrance Day. This initiative builds on our successful Remembrance Day Challenge Kits from previous years, with a specific focus on honouring the courageous contributions of the No. 2 Construction Battalion members and their families.
Funded by Veterans Affairs Canada, this project commemorates the bravery and sacrifices of the battalion members during World War I, highlighting their resilience in the face of racism and prejudice, while providing valuable educational resources for schools and communities across Ontario.
390+ Students
13 Classrooms
4,000+ Community Members Impacted
The Challenge
Each year around November 11th, schools across Canada observe Remembrance Day. However, many students struggle to connect meaningfully with this observance, often participating in ceremonies without a deep understanding of their significance. Additionally, the stories of Black Canadian soldiers—particularly those who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion—are frequently overlooked in traditional curriculum and commemorations.
The question that students took on was: How might we help our school design Remembrance Day to be meaningful to our school community?
Our Approach
I-Think integrated the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion directly into our standard Remembrance Day Challenge Kit. This approach ensures that all participating students encounter and engage with this critical piece of Canadian history, making it an essential part of their Remembrance Day learning experience rather than an optional add-on.
Our Challenge Kit includes:
- Core Historical Content: Comprehensive materials about the No. 2 Construction Battalion, their formation, contributions, and the systemic challenges they faced
- Engaging Educational Activities: Age-appropriate activities tailored for K-12 classrooms that explore the significance of the Battalion’s service
- Curriculum-Aligned Lesson Plans: Teaching materials designed to connect with educational standards while centering often overlooked histories
- Multimedia Resources: Videos, images, and interactive elements that bring the Battalion’s story to life
- Primary Source Documents: Historical materials that allow students to engage directly with this important history
- Problem-Solving Frameworks: I-Think’s unique tools that help students think critically about how Remembrance Day can be more inclusive and representative
- Resource Repository: A comprehensive collection of articles, interviews, and supplementary materials for deeper exploration
All components were developed with input from historians, educators, and community stakeholders to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and sensitivity in representing the experiences of the No. 2 Construction Battalion members and their families. By embedding this content within our standard Challenge Kit, we’ve made a deliberate choice to elevate Black Canadian military history as an integral part of how students understand and commemorate Remembrance Day.
We worked to:
- Help students develop a more meaningful connection to Remembrance Day
- Highlight the specific contributions of the No. 2 Construction Battalion
- Provide educators with accessible tools to integrate these stories into their teaching
- Empower students to reimagine how Remembrance Day is commemorated in their schools
Student Thinking and Recommendations
Here are some examples of student thinking that showcased the commemoration of the No. 2 Construction Battalion
- Using the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion to launch school-wide discussions on racism, equity, and remembrance
- A presentation including a video of Spencer Alexander speaking about his grandfather, a member of the battalion
- Fact cards about the battalion distributed during a fundraising bake sale
- Kahoot quizzes and posters with QR codes linking to stories and media about the battalion
- Skits and interpretive dance performances that reflected the struggles and resilience of the battalion members
The following values were especially connected to the No. 2 Construction Battalion:
- Recognition – of the battalion’s overlooked service
- Justice – for the discrimination they faced
- Knowledge – spreading awareness of their contributions
- Voice – making space for Black Canadian narratives
Learning Journey and Core Themes Students demonstrated impressive levels of collaboration, critical thinking, and empathy. Their learning journey can be described through several recurring themes:
- Uncovering Hidden Histories Students were deeply moved by learning about the No. 2 Construction Battalion and the racial discrimination its members faced. Many noted that this history had been previously overlooked and expressed a strong desire to ensure it was shared widely.
- Connection and Empathy Students found that learning about the battalion helped them connect with Black Canadian history and recognize the contributions of people often left out of dominant narratives. This led to a heightened sense of empathy and urgency to share these stories.
- Empowerment through Storytelling The idea that remembrance should go beyond facts to include emotion and personal narrative led students to propose activities centered around storytelling—especially stories like those of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.
- Purposeful Remembrance The students aimed to make Remembrance Day not only about memorializing sacrifice but also about education and justice. They viewed the No. 2 Construction Battalion as a powerful symbol of resilience, courage, and a reminder of the importance of inclusion.
Special Event
We were able to gather 2 schools for a special in-person event where students got to speak with on another, walk through a No. 2 Construction Battalion Exhibit, and learn from Captain Kevin Junor.
Thank you to Veterans Affairs Canada for their generous contribution to our No. 2 Construction Battalion Legacy Project
