Glossary

Several terms or concepts are used in Tales of Animals in War that young students might not be familiar with. You can use this glossary to explain what these words mean or you could use it as a pre-reading activity. Students could use it as the basis of their own illustrated 'glossary'.

Achievement

something successfully carried through, especially through bold or brave action.

Artillery guns

large guns like cannons that are frequently used in war.

Canadian Armed Forces

Canada’s military including those who serve on land in the Canadian Army, on sea with the Royal Canadian Navy and in the air in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Conflicts

fighting between countries or groups of people.

Combat boots

these are military boots designed to be worn by soldiers during combat or combat training.

Freedom

a safe place to live, and play, to go to school. The right to think, speak or act without restraint.

Gas attack

a military attack in which a chemical gas is used as a weapon to injure or kill the enemy. It was a common tactic during the First World War.

Indigenous Peoples

the first peoples who lived on Canadian land before the arrival of European settlers and their children. They include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. They have their own distinct cultures, languages, and traditions. Indigenous peoples continue to live in communities across Canada, keeping strong connections to their past ways of life.

Mascot

an animal which is kept by a military unit for ceremonial purposes, to be a comfort to humans or to serve as a good luck charm.

Medal

a flat piece of metal with an image or inscription to commemorate an event or a person and given as an award. Animals can also receive a medal for bravery called the Dickin Medal.

Memorial

a memorial is anything created to honour and remember important people or things that happened in our history. For example a street, a highway, a park, a mountain or a lake could be named after those who served in times of war.   

Monument

a monument is a statue, building, or other structure built to honour an important person or event.

Peace

when there is no fighting and an agreement to end war.

Peacekeeper

a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who has served in a peacekeeping mission.

Poppy

a flower used to remember those who died in wartime. During the First World War, it was often the only flower that grew in the battlefields. It is one of the main symbols of remembrance and is the subject of the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields' by Canadian Dr. John McCrae.

Regiment

a group of military people with uniforms and traditions to create and promote an esprit de corps

Regiment badge

Canadian soldiers wore caps that had different emblems to identify their units in the First World War. The badges often had animal symbols – porcupines, beavers, horses, eagles, fish, moose…even mythical animals like unicorns and dragons.

Recognition

the act of saying thanks and appreciating Veterans for their service. Youth can also send Recognition Cards to Veterans and write their thanks and appreciation on the card.

Remember

to keep in mind. To recall someone or something from the past. To think of someone or something with emotion as when we remember those who served Canada in military conflicts at home or in other countries.

Sacrifice

the act of giving up something that you want to keep.

Tunnels

underground passageways that soldiers dug for protection and to keep out of the sight of the enemy, especially during the First World War.

Valour

boldness in facing danger, courage and bravery.

Veteran

a Veteran is a person who served in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vimy Ridge

the site of a great Canadian First World War battlefield victory in France in April 1917, and home of the majestic Canadian National Vimy Memorial.