heroism

1678Which 17th century heroine is known as the "Canadian Joan of Arc"?

Marie-Madeleine Jarret de Verchères, born in 1678 near Montréal, is celebrated as the "Canadian Joan of Arc" for her remarkable courage during a surprise Iroquois attack on her family’s fort in October 1692. Only fourteen years old at the time, Madeleine’s quick thinking and leadership saved the settlers by convincing the attackers that the fort was heavily defended, holding out for eight days until reinforcements arrived. Her heroism has been immortalized in a statue unveiled in Verchères in 1913, Canada’s second monument dedicated to a woman heroine. Today, her legacy continues to inspire, with her storied defense commemorated as a turning point in Canadian history and national identity.

1941Who was the first Canadian soldier to have earned the Victoria Cross during the Second World War?

Company Sergeant-Major John Osborn of the Winnipeg Grenadiers became the first Canadian soldier awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War for his extraordinary bravery in Hong Kong on 19 December 1941. Facing overwhelming odds, Osborn led a bayonet charge to capture and hold a key hill, ultimately sacrificing his own life by throwing himself on a grenade to save his comrades. His heroism was not fully recognized until after the war, and in 1946 he received the Victoria Cross posthumously. On 19 December 1991, a memorial was dedicated to Osborn at Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg, ensuring his legacy lives on 84 years after his courageous actions.