Results

      In this interview, Bill Shields talks about signing up with the Royal Canadian Navy and being torpedoed while serving in March 1945. Bill went to Hamilton to join the navy and trained there for six weeks before being sent to Nova Scotia and then overseas to Scotland. In Scotland, he …

      In this interview, David Senst speaks about his involvement prior to and in World War II. David joined the army back in 1937 and was actually in Norway for some time when Russia was threatening Finland. He was present at the defence of Calais, while 250,000 British troops were trying …

      In this interview, Donald Leaver tells about his experience as an officer during World War II. Donald joined the militia in 1940 with the Lorne Scots and trained in Niagara. Wanting to get into the war and see some action, he took his tests to become an officer in Toronto …

      In this interview, Harry Barrett, former mayor of Oakville, talks about his experiences prior to and in the Second World War. Harry speaks about joining and training with the cadet core for five years. While training with them, he was issued uniforms and Ross Rifles from the First World War …

      In this interview, Hugh O’Donnell talks about his experiences as a paratrooper in World War II. Hugh was born in Glasgow in 1922 and transferred into the paratroopers after Churchill stated that anyone who wished to join them would be released from other duties. Among his memories, he speaks about …

      In this interview, Ivan Mavrinac talks about working as a Non-Commission Officer of Records at Petawawa, Ontario in World War II. Born in Croatia in 1920, Ivan and his family moved to Canada in 1929. He graduated in 1939 from a three year commercial course and was invited to join …

      In this interview, Frank Waywell talks about his involvement in the war effort before, during and after World War II. Frank first started in the Royal Army Medical Corps but then felt compelled to join the air force once he saw the severity of the war. He talks about his …

      In this interview, Alan John Cutmore talks about his experiences in the Canadian navy. In 1938, Alan and his family moved to Oakville from Toronto. He was seventeen. He and his brother went into the service in 1942. In June of that year he went to Halifax for training in …

      In this interview, John Caird talks about his experiences in the Royal Airforce. John first signed up for duty in Britain and then came across to Canada to train in Moncton and Alberta. He ended up in British Columbia as a trainer as a flying instructor for 15 months and …

      In this interview, Wess McIntosh speaks about his extensive involvement with the Canadian forces, first with the naval reserves and then with the airforce. Wes joined the navy in 1933, but he also started learning to fly in 1934. From there, he received his private pilot’s license in 1934 and …

      In a very lengthy interview, Roy Kelley talks about his extensive involvement in World War II. Roy joined up with the militia in 1936 and was sent overseas in 1941. He was with the Lorne Scots and trained in Georgetown, Ontario in addition to spending time in Hamilton, Ontario. Being …

      In this interview, R. F. Hank Ford describes his experiences going into World War II and working as a pilot during the war. Hank entered the war in 1939 after marrying his girlfriend and then trained at St. Catharines, Ontario before going overseas to Europe. He describes at length certain …

      In this fascinating and lengthy interview, Jim Gibb talks in detail about the multitude of experiences he had while serving in artillery from July 1940 to October 1, 1945 in World War II. Training in both England and Scotland and then landing in Sicily, Jim traveled through Italy, Spain, France, …

      In this interview, Bernard Rich speaks about his experiences as a pilot during the Second World War. Bernard explains that he joined the airforce when he was 19 years old because he couldn’t find work in Quebec City with him being so close to the draft age. After working as …

      In this interview, Joy Smith discusses being a trainer during World War II as a Non-Commission Officer. Joy explains that she originally became involved in the war effort because her father was a major in the First World War and a colonel of the Queen’s Own Rangers in the Second …

      In this interview, Geoffrey Smith talks about his experiences working in the navy and operating sonar equipment as an Anti-Submarine Detection and Investigation Officer. He describes how he ended up in this specialized division formed by Britain after World War I in order to more effectively hunt submarines. Geoffrey goes …

      The video explores the evolution of the Oakville Fire Department from its beginnings as a community service organization to its recognition in 1909 as an official department. It relates the story of Pumper No. 8, the special fire truck that was employed in 1948 to fight the Kendall Leather Factory …

      The video tells the story of one of Oakville’s first firefighting trucks and how its integrity, craftsmanship, and state of the art firefighting capabilities made it into an iconic image of the Oakville Fire Department. It describes how Pumper No. 8 heroically pumped for 30 straight hours in an effort …

      In the video, 97 year-old life-long Oakville resident Roy Kelley recalls how he joined the 1st Oakville Scout troop as a Wolf Cub in 1923, and continued to participate in the Scouting Programme through the 1920s and 1930s. Highlights include memories of camps and activities, the building of the Scout …

      The video features highlights of the Library's 'Meet the MakerBot' open house held at Central Branch. The community was invited to come and see what the Library does with its MakerBot 3D printer. They were encouraged to learn how it works, and to give the Library ideas on what kind …