English Montreal School Board students keep First World War memories alive
A century removed from the violence and bloodshed, children at the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) keep the lessons of the First World War alive.
If you ask Grade 6 students at Gerald McShane Elementary in Montreal North about the musical version of In Flanders Fields, they often point out that low notes can be challenging.
For teacher Daniela Alongi, the themes of death and sacrifice come through in an important teaching moment.
"It's a poem that they usually learn with their homeroom teachers," said Alongi. "But when we put it to music, I think it becomes more meaningful to them."
"I think about the soldiers who died for our country," said Grade 6 student Eva Ferrara, reflecting on the song.
Over at Leonardo da Vinci School nearby in Riviere-des-Prairies, students learn about the sacrifices not only made by soldiers, but also by women during the war.
Without them "working in the factories, people wouldn't eat. They wouldn't get their food on time," said Justin Rakowski, a Grade 6 student there.
To teach a topic that's by now more than 100 years removed from the present day isn't the easiest, but as Remembrance Day approaches, the students are developing a newfound understanding of wartime sacrifices.
"It is a little bit difficult because they didn't live in that period of time," said Sabrina Gavita, a teacher at Leonardo da Vinci. "But honestly, many of them are understanding of the dynamic."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.