Timeline Back
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]