Military studies conference

By Christina Chibani

Experienced military veterans and historians came together to discuss the battles of Canadian wars at a conference open to the public.

The 13th annual Windsor Military Studies Conference took place this past weekend to provide education through a series of lectures and presentations on the history of  Canadian military.

The event took place Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. Guest speakers included Tim Cook, a WWI historian at the Canadian War Museum and an award winning author of 10 books.

The conference presented a wide range of topics such as the Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario war conflicts, individuals’ details of military battles won and lost, the history of the Seven Years War, the War of 1812 and the ‘other side of war’ which includes personal impact families and friends experienced when their loved ones were at war.
Rob Nelson, head of the history department at the University of Windsor, is writing a monograph called Making War: Common Soldiers and the Making of Britain’s American Empire in the Seven Years War. He said that the two-day event allows academics and military veterans to share their experience.

“There is a lot of military history in Windsor and we get a lot of people from the community who attend and come to share or learn their history,” said Nelson.

The conference provides education and entertainment to those who are interested in the history of Canadian military and allows the public to ask questions of the guest speakers.

Michael Beale is the past president of the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association who organized the conference. He said that even though the two-day conference turned into a one-day event, the show still went well.

“Our presenters brought history to life, in many cases by introducing family histories from Southwestern Ontario and Michigan and how these same families played a part in world history. Next year promises to be even better,” said Beale.

The conference also displayed different book vendors, performances by the Windsor Regiment Band and The Essex and Kent Scottish Pipes and Drums, along with other exhibits.