Victory gardens and other lessons from the past

By Michel Rossignol

While dealing with the disruptions and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how residents of Lowertown and other Canadians survived the Spanish Flu and other epidemics of the past can give us hope and improve our ability to cope with today’s upheavals. However, comparing our situation today with what Canadians experienced during the Second World War can also give worthwhile lessons.

Limited food supplies, line ups at grocery stores, and uncertainty about when things will return to normal have tested our patience during the last few weeks. However, Canadians had to deal with similar situations for six long years during the war, from late 1939 to mid 1945. Concerns about the availability and price of food items during the pandemic have prompted many residents of Lowertown and other parts of Ottawa to dig up their front lawns and their backyards to plant vegetables in order to have a secure source of food.

The same thing happened during the war. Canadians planted what were known as Victory Gardens around their homes to ensure a steady supply of vegetables. While the work done in Victory Gardens gave a boost to the country’s food production and eased the pain of wartime rationing, it also helped people think about other things besides the dangers and uncertainties of the war. It was not possible to completely escape the realities of the war because newspapers printed daily lists of local soldiers killed or injured in battles around the world, much like today’s daily reports on the number of persons with COVID-19 and those who have passed away.

During the war, trains arrived almost daily at Union Station, now the Senate building, with injured military personnel returning to their hometown for more treatment. For example, on May 25, 1944, as reported the next day in the Ottawa Citizen, many health care workers were at the station to welcome the injured soldiers, including a person who lived on Rideau Street, and to take them on stretchers to waiting ambulances. In May 1944, as in May 2020, dedicated health care workers did their best to help those in need regain their health.

After years of grief and uncertainties, Canadians celebrated with great joy the end of the war in Europe. Indeed, while May 8, 1945, was officially declared Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), people started celebrating on May 7, including residents of Lowertown who danced during the whole evening at the intersection of St. Patrick and Dalhousie streets. There will certainly be many reasons for us to celebrate when most of the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic will disappear into the past, but in the meantime, we will have a steady supply of vegetables from our Victory Gardens to help us stay healthy.