Have you heard of the No. 2 Construction Battalion? Highlighting the contributions of Black Canadians in WW1

Highlighting the contributions of Black Canadians in WW1

By Serena Virk (she/her), teacher and author, Ontario

It is never too late to learn about No. 2 Construction Battalion, also known as the Black Battalion. In the First World War, when so many brave young people enlisted to fight, there were many Black men who wanted to join, but many were denied because of racism from commanding officers. Instead, the Black Battalion was created. It was primarily a labour unit that supported the war effort by cutting lumber, milling logs, and maintaining infrastructure. 

These men were still soldiers, and they served Canada proudly. We Remember the Black Battalion features a free-verse poem about Black Canadian soldiers that introduces topics like racism and discrimination in a format suitable for young readers. A glossary and reflection questions section help educators engage with students on the issues raised in the book.

More online resources about the Black Battalion

To complement the book, I created www.virkbooks.com, a website offering year-long, cross-curricular lesson activities for teachers. The lesson activities are designed for primary and junior grades. By connecting history to multiple subjects, VirkBooks empowers educators to teach about the Black Battalion while meeting curriculum goals in social studies, language arts, math, French, and technology.

In addition to the book and lesson activities, educators are encouraged to use the No. 2 Construction Battalion website, www.no2constructionbattalion.ca, as a research tool. This resource provides historical insights through member profiles, the battalion’s myths, and a video gallery. Teachers can guide students in exploring archival materials, photographs, and stories to build a deeper understanding of the soldiers’ experiences.

For example, students might use the website to research where individual battalion members lived and map their journeys to enlistment. This activity can be tied to the curriculum and fosters critical thinking about the social and geographic diversity of Canada’s Black communities during the early 20th century.

The website also includes lesson plans for teachers that can accompany the stories, videos, and other resources about the Black Battalion.

Teachers may also be interested in visiting www.blackcanadianveterans.com to read more stories about members of the Black Battalion as well as other contributions of Black Canadians in the military.

Why this story matters

Teaching about the No. 2 Construction Battalion is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black Canadians to the nation’s history. By integrating We Remember the Black Battalion into the classroom, educators can spark meaningful discussions about fairness, representation, and how history shapes the present. The book’s lessons encourage students to reflect on the importance of inclusion and the value of remembering those who paved the way for a more equitable future.

Book giveaway

Upload a teaching resource to bctf.ca/classroom-resources before October 31, 2025, for your chance to win a copy of We Remember the Black Battalion. Teachers who upload a resource will be entered in a draw to win one of three copies of this book.

Or visit www.virkbooks.com to buy a copy and find free lesson activities.