This learning resource introduces students to the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the
first and only all-Black battalion to serve in the Canadian military. Through community
narratives, such as those from Chuck Smith and Douglas Ruck, students will explore how
African Nova Scotian and Black soldiers fought against institutional racism to serve their country
during the First World War, only to be excluded from combat roles and sent overseas in
obscurity. The battalion's story highlights resilience, cultural preservation, and the ongoing
struggle for recognition of Black Canadians in Canadian history.
