A free public event focused on understanding the First World War, its legacy, lessons, and mediation is planned for Saturday, Sept. 30, at the historic SoCA Armouries in downtown Windsor.

“Learning about the First World War” will open with local educators talking about how they teach the First World War, be it in the high school classroom, the Chimczuk Museum, or the Amherstburg Freedom Museum:

• “Teaching Canadian History to New Canadians”
  John Conlon, Assumption College Catholic High School
• “Poppies, Roses and Grassroots: Publicly Remembering and Honouring Windsor Veterans”
  Matt Pritchard, Chimczuk Museum
• “No. 2 Construction Battalion: A Family’s Journey”
  Barbara Porter, Amherstburg Freedom Museum

Film scholar Robert Burgoyne will deliver a keynote address on “Remediation, Trauma, and Preposterous History” in Peter Jackson’s 2018 documentary, They Shall Not Grow Old.

Dr. Burgoyne is a writer and lecturer whose work centres on the theory and representation of history in film. He The author of six books and numerous essays, his work has been translated into eight languages. He has lectured in thirteen countries. Robert was formerly chair in film studies at the University of St. Andrews and professor of English and film studies at Wayne State University. His most recent book, The New American War Film, will appear later this fall.

“I expect students, teachers and retirees, all groups who tend to show up to these kind of history events will be interested in attending this event,” says organizer Robert Nelson, head of the UWindsor history department.

“Learning about the First World War” starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Armouries Performance Hall, 353 Freedom Way. Burgoyne’s keynote talk starts at 5:30 p.m.

The event is part of The International Society for First World War Studies, an international conference that takes place every two years — this year in Canada for the first time.