Soldiers’ Memorial

The South Peace River country of Alberta supplied thousands of recruits for the World Wars. In 1914, the area was newly open to settlers, many of them bachelors of British descent. They flocked to enlist, even though it meant a long journey often starting on foot, then by train and boat.

Later, during World War II, “on a per capita basis, the Peace Country of northern Alberta sent more soldiers to the front than any region in the Dominion.” (Herald-Tribune, March 4, 1943)

Those who survived the wars were encouraged by the Soldiers Settlement Act of 1917 and the Veterans Land Act of 1942 to take up farming. Since the Peace Country still had land available for settlement, many returning soldiers came here.

The South Peace Regional Archives is creating an online memorial to the soldiers from the South Peace area who were involved in defending our country. We have over 1,500 First World War soldiers and over 2,300 Second World War soldiers listed on this site so far, and the list is growing.