Canadian War Museum hosts Wars With Words

Experts from across the country will stand off against each other at the Wars With Words conference on April 9.

They will be battling it out about some of Canadian military history’s most controversial subjects at the Canadian War Museum.

The conference is taking place on Vimy Ridge Day, which marks the battle widely recognized as a major Canadian victory.

A sign displayed at the Bomber Command exhibit in 2007 sparked controversy among veterans who argued that the display portrayed them as war criminals.

Many historians and educators were outraged that the museum caved to the pressure and reworded the sign, changing the whole sense of the exhibit.

The conference will consist of a variety of conversations, spanning over lunch and dinner.

Attendees will include retired Canadian general Lewis Mackenzie, and David Bashow, editor of the Canadian Military Journal.

 The day will end with a head-to-head debate between Morton and Roger Sarty, from Laurier University, who will not know the topics in advance.

The audience will be encouraged to participate in the discussion at a number of points during the day.