War Brides National Historic Event

The war brides were designated as a national historic event in 1997.

Historical importance: Contributions of the some 48,000 war brides who came to Canada as a direct result of Canadian participation in World War II.

Commemorative plaque: 1055 Marginal Road, Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Between 1942 and 1948 some 48,000 women, accompanied by 22,000 children, mostly from Great Britain, landed here at Pier 21 as wives of Canadian servicemen stationed abroad during the Second World War. The high number of these wartime romances prompted the federal government to provide the new spouses with transportation to Canada and information about their adopted country. Across Canada, war bride clubs helped the women adapt to new customs and surroundings. In the succeeding generation, the war brides collectively strengthened many Canadians' emotional links with Britain.