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1940: The University At War
The overwhelming influence on University life in 1940 was the
declaration of war the previous year.
As time progressed the role of universities across the country became
clearer. During the Great War our
contribution had largely been one of recruits, but this was a different war and
the role of universities in the war effort was to prove to be a key component
in the eventual outcome. Instead of
draining the campuses of young men, the Government of Canada was encouraging students taking courses in “sciences, engineering,
medicine or agriculture to remain at the Universities until they had completed
their academic preparation.”
Men of education and skill were in high demand but so were men with
military training. It was determined
that those attending classes were also to be prepared for military service
ahead. A major change in academic life
was the institution of compulsory training for all male students who were
physically fit. Training was conducted
through the Canadian Officer’s Training Corp (COTC) with command and
administrative functions carried out by members of faculty and staff, many
of whom were veterans. The University
of Saskatchewan was thus able keep the training “a genuine university activity.”1
| Related Collections |  |
Canadian Officers Training Corps fonds, MG 118.
| Images | |
1940a:
Memorabilia. COTC fonds, MG 118, file 15.
1940b: The Greystone, 1940.
1940c: President’s
Office fonds, RG 2001, Series II, B. 104.
1940d: Campus,
[ca. 1940]. Photograph Collection,
A-3575.
| Sources | |
1. Annual Report, 1939-1940.
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