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1793        Militia Act exempts Mennonites, Quakers, and Brethren in Christ from military service

1868        Militia Act extends exemption to religious groups

1873        Order-in-Council grants exemption to all Kanadier Mennonites

1874        Mennonites in Russia render Alternative Service in forestry and non-combatant medical corps under the                          Red Cross.

1903        Russian Mennonites serve in Red Cross Medical Corps during Russo-Japanese War

1917        8000 Russian Mennonites serve on Red Cross trains, hospitals, etc.

                Canadian Military Act provides exemption to Mennonites from combatant service in the First World War.

1918        Verbal assurance of military exemption given to Mennonites from Prussia, Russia, and USA.

1938        Sayward Forest Fire destroys 30,000 hectares (75,000 acres) of timber on Vancouver Island.

May, 1939                Canadian Inter-Mennonite Conference on Military Exemption in Winkler, Manitoba.

1 Sept 1939              The beginning of the Second World War.

10 Sept 1939            Declaration of War by Canada.

June, 1940                National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) passed .

June, 1940                Conference of Historic Peace Churches (CHPC) organized by Quakers, Mennonites, and                                              Brethren in Christ

20 Aug 1940             National Registration Day for all men 18-36 years old.

27 Aug 1940             National War Services Regulations enacted.

Nov, 1940                 (CHPC) delegates negotiate with government.

Dec, 1940                  National War Services Regulations changed to include Alternative Service provisions.

May, 1941                 Alternative Service Work (ASW) announced by government.

June, 1941                 First ASW camps opened: Montreal River, ON; Riding Mountain National Park, MB; Lac                                               la Ronge, SK; and Jasper National Park, AB.

7 Dec 1941                Japanese attack Pearl Harbour, USA, beginning the war in the Pacific Ocean.

2 Jan 1942                 The Northern Beacon first published at Montreal River camp.

March, 1942              Alternative Service Workers required to serve for the duration of the war.

May, 1942                 Alternative Service Work begun under the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS).

June, 1942                 Government announces non-interest-bearing war bonds for relief purposes.

Oct, 1942                   The Beacon beings publication at Campbell River, BC.

16 Sept 1942             Order-in-Council approves leaves for conscientious objectors (COs).

February, 1942          COs in essential agricultural work no longer called for ASW.

April, 1943                Order-in-Council authorizes Alternative Service work in agriculture, industry, etc.

May, 1943                 ASW transferred from military to civilian control (Ministry of Labour)

October, 1943           CO service with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and Canadian Dental Corps started

March, 1944              BCFS Alternative Service Work camps closed; COs sent to essential positions in agriculture                                   and industry.

8 May 1945               Victory in Europe (VE) Day; the war in Europe ends.

August, 1945             USA drops two atomic bombs on Japan.

15 Aug 1945             Victory in Japan (VJ) Day; the war in the Pacific Ocean ends.

August, 1946            Order-in-Council discharges the last Alternative Service Workers; compulsory payments to the                                  Red Cross end.

[ASP, p.v]

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