When Canada entered World War Two on September 10 1939, many of its male citizens joined the armed forces to fight the Nazis. But, with many men gone and a need to boost production, women had to fill this fill void and play an active role in the war effort. Here are some ways in which they made a vital contribution:

• At home, women enforced rationing, reduced waste and collected items which could be recycled for the war effort, e.g. metal, rubber and glass.
• Around 373,000 women worked in the manufacturing industry, of which 261,000 were employed in the production of munitions, especially aircraft and in gun plants.
• Women volunteered as nurses for the Red Cross or in the military canteens.
• Women also joined the armed forces, like the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, primarily as stenographers and secretaries, and the Canadian Women's Army Corps where they decoded messages.
• Women also organised home defense programs in case of invasion. Here, they wore a uniform, performed military drills and learned how to handle a weapon.

How did Canadian women contribute to the economy during World War II?

Canada's entry into the war in 1939 created a labour shortage that had serious implications on its female citizens. For the first time, women were encouraged to leave the home and become active members of Canada's workforce. (Although it is important to remember that women played an important domestic role in this period too, through enforcing rationing and recycling raw materials, like glass and metal).

Many contributed to the war effort by volunteering as nurses for the Red Cross and working in military canteens. A further 373,000 women worked in factories, especially munitions, where they manufactured vital equipment for Canadian soldiers in return for a competitive salary. 

Women also worked on farms in this period, to ensure Canada had a constant food supply. They planted crops, drove tractors and increased the country's egg and poultry production. 

Some women also joined the armed forces, though they were never posted to the front line. They worked primarily as codebreakers and secretaries.