What do you think?
Rate this book
1945: The Year That Made Modern Canada
It was a watershed year for Canada and the world. 1945 set Canada on a bold course into the future. A huge sense of relief marked the end of hostilities. Yet there was also fear and uncertainty about the perilous new world that was unfolding in the wake of the American decision to use the atomic bomb to bring the war in the Pacific to a dramatic halt.
On the eve of WWII, the Dominion of Canada was a sleepy backwater still struggling to escape the despair of the Great Depression. But the war changed everything. After six long years of conflict, sacrifice and soul-searching, the country emerged onto the world stage as a modern, confident and truly independent nation no longer under the colonial sway of Great Britain.
Ken Cuthbertson has written a highly readable narrative that commemorates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of WWII and chronicles the events and personalities of a critical year that reshaped Canada. 1945: The Year That Made Modern Canada showcases the stories of people—some celebrated, some ordinary—who left their mark on the nation and helped create the Canada of today.
The author profiles an eclectic group of Canadians, including eccentric prime minister Mackenzie King, iconic hockey superstar Rocket Richard, business tycoon E. P. Taylor, Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko, the bandits of the Polka Dot Gang, crusading MP Agnes Macphail, and authors Gabrielle Roy and Hugh MacLennan, among many others. The book also covers topics like the Halifax riots, war brides, the birth of Canada's beloved social safety net, and the remarkable events that sparked the Cold War. 1945 is the unforgettable story of our nation at the moment of its modern birth.
On the eve of WWII, the Dominion of Canada was a sleepy backwater still struggling to escape the despair of the Great Depression. But the war changed everything. After six long years of conflict, sacrifice and soul-searching, the country emerged onto the world stage as a modern, confident and truly independent nation no longer under the colonial sway of Great Britain.
Ken Cuthbertson has written a highly readable narrative that commemorates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of WWII and chronicles the events and personalities of a critical year that reshaped Canada. 1945: The Year That Made Modern Canada showcases the stories of people—some celebrated, some ordinary—who left their mark on the nation and helped create the Canada of today.
The author profiles an eclectic group of Canadians, including eccentric prime minister Mackenzie King, iconic hockey superstar Rocket Richard, business tycoon E. P. Taylor, Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko, the bandits of the Polka Dot Gang, crusading MP Agnes Macphail, and authors Gabrielle Roy and Hugh MacLennan, among many others. The book also covers topics like the Halifax riots, war brides, the birth of Canada's beloved social safety net, and the remarkable events that sparked the Cold War. 1945 is the unforgettable story of our nation at the moment of its modern birth.
408 pages, Hardcover
Published October 13, 2020
7 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 21, 2020
I really enjoyed reading how so many interconnected issues in 1945 shaped this great country. Cuthbertson writes about business tycoons, athletic accomplishments, Agnes Macphail, Prime Minister Mackenzie King, Canada's role in WWII, and even a lengthy section on what really triggered the Cold War. It's impressive that all this content - and many other things I'm probably forgetting to note - feels thoroughly analyzed in just 350+ pages.
November 24, 2020
Canada, the war is over and those in the military are returning home but unsure what they are coming home to. Most of the factory jobs have been taken by women who many really don't want to give them up and the employers realize the women did far more work than the men did. The country has proven itself in more ways than just the war effort, the farmers have profited beyond belief but now what happens to the jobs that were specifically for the war effort? This story is about Canada and those that made is succeed much further than imaginable during the end of WWII.
This is not a book as in a novel sense where it tells a continuous story from Pg 1 to the end. Each chapter tells a story about a a person or event that occurs in Canada in 1945 which made Canada the country it is now. The event is stated ... but then goes to the previous history of the person or event that brought us to 1945 and then continues to what the end result was. Some stories are a bit boring depending on your interest but try to persevere as if you are Canadian .. this is about how we are now.
Some characters are mentioned many times throughout the book in several chapters, the PM, others in politics and those in the military. Some of well known people and some not so well known. C. D. Howe and Gen Harry Crerar for two, their stories are very interesting and there is a school in Scar named after Crerar.
Personally I loved this book but will admit I skipped past a few chapters that deal specifically with politics. Still you will get to know how much respect we as a country earned for our efforts in the war.
This is not a book as in a novel sense where it tells a continuous story from Pg 1 to the end. Each chapter tells a story about a a person or event that occurs in Canada in 1945 which made Canada the country it is now. The event is stated ... but then goes to the previous history of the person or event that brought us to 1945 and then continues to what the end result was. Some stories are a bit boring depending on your interest but try to persevere as if you are Canadian .. this is about how we are now.
Some characters are mentioned many times throughout the book in several chapters, the PM, others in politics and those in the military. Some of well known people and some not so well known. C. D. Howe and Gen Harry Crerar for two, their stories are very interesting and there is a school in Scar named after Crerar.
Personally I loved this book but will admit I skipped past a few chapters that deal specifically with politics. Still you will get to know how much respect we as a country earned for our efforts in the war.
November 8, 2020
Very informative, enjoyable read.
This is a great book for any history junky. Each chapter highlights a different event that happened in 1945, in Canada, most notably the end of WWll. All the events highlighted are chosen as important markers that still impact Canadians today (like the introduction of welfare and the baby bonus).
This is a good book for anyone who enjoys history, Canadianna or WWll buffs. It didn't read like a history textbook, which is what I was afraid of. It's well written, well researched and enjoyable to read.
The author does a nice job of highlighting famous Canadians most have us have already heard of (like Rocket Richard) while introducing important political figures who shaped Canada in the background. There's also some nice homages to 'regular' Canadians who bravely served our country in WWll.
Keep several bookmarks or a notepad close at hand. This is a good book to use to lead you to Canadian history topics you might want to read about more in depth.
This is a great book for any history junky. Each chapter highlights a different event that happened in 1945, in Canada, most notably the end of WWll. All the events highlighted are chosen as important markers that still impact Canadians today (like the introduction of welfare and the baby bonus).
This is a good book for anyone who enjoys history, Canadianna or WWll buffs. It didn't read like a history textbook, which is what I was afraid of. It's well written, well researched and enjoyable to read.
The author does a nice job of highlighting famous Canadians most have us have already heard of (like Rocket Richard) while introducing important political figures who shaped Canada in the background. There's also some nice homages to 'regular' Canadians who bravely served our country in WWll.
Keep several bookmarks or a notepad close at hand. This is a good book to use to lead you to Canadian history topics you might want to read about more in depth.
January 12, 2021
A very interesting read. I like the author’s writing style - informative and entertaining.
December 29, 2020
A potted history of Canada circa 1945, with the author's hypothesis in search of evidence. Yes, the end of the Second World War was a milestone in Canadian history but many of the changes the author chooses to focus on were already underway and may or may not have been accelerated by the war, he doesn't make this clear. The examples chosen for each chapter are weakly linked and others are puzzling - the long digression about Rocket Richard, for example.
Most annoying is the authorial tic of regularly chirping in with anachronistic observations in a weak effort to appear either au courant or more authoritative. Disappointing Christmas-bait, as that easy last-minute gift for Dad.
Most annoying is the authorial tic of regularly chirping in with anachronistic observations in a weak effort to appear either au courant or more authoritative. Disappointing Christmas-bait, as that easy last-minute gift for Dad.
March 31, 2021
Detailed events of life, politics, and post-war Canada in a remarkable year. Engaging writing
February 4, 2021
A very fine work of Canadian history. Lots of our history's best known names appear - MacKenzie King, Maurice Richard, Agnes Macphail. And some important names get resurrected - Leonard Murray, the Polka Dot Gang, and several business leaders of the time. There are so many threads intersecting during the war years in Canada and the author does a great job weaving them together. The final chapter that covers the Gouzenko affair was my favorite part of the book. Igor Gouzenko is the least-known important figure in Canadian history and I loved seeing his story in a book! The author injects some humor that's a little grandpa-ish but it just adds to the book's charm.
November 2, 2020
To me, this reads more like "this is what Canada was like in 1945...look how far we've come", as opposed to being "Canada in 1945...gateway to the future". So, the thesis of the book is debatable...but what isn't debatable is that it is a straightforward, easy to read, concise, informative, entertaining, and thoroughly enthusiastic work of scholarship.
December 29, 2020
Excellent book about how Canada emerged from WWII as one of the strongest of the middle powers. Meticulous research and factual material about William Lyon Mackenzie King and the Liberal government of the day.
February 17, 2021
This book really took me back to my Canadian Studies undergrad at U of T -- including referencing the work of two of my former professors. That said, I didn't really learn much. It was more of a refresh of my undergrad days.
December 7, 2021
Off the top, I must commend the author on writing style. This is a narrative history and I enjoyed his conversational style and liberal use of quips. It gave a jaunty but still professional vibe. I have often said, 1945 is the most interesting year and, in the case of Canada, that seems proven throughout the book.
It deals with specific events like The Halifax Riots and new movements ranging from the social safety net to women’s rights (they kept industry going while the men fought) to the start of universal health care. As effective as that is, it is when the author covers people that the book excels. I am probably one of the few who was very aware of General Harry Crerar though I knew nothing of Rear-Admiral Murray. The former stoically if unimaginatively led Canadian troops in Europe. The latter was sent out to pasture after Canadian sailors tore apart Halifax in alcohol-fuelled riots.
The book also digs deep into Prime Minister King who remains a strange individual but effective leader. He hung onto power and saw Canada through dark days. Still, the author strays into ridicule like many contemporary historians. Cuthbertson describes King as, “Short and pudgy as a dumpling” and having a challenged combover. King never married and there is speculation that he may have had a relationship with his two-decade serving valet. This content may not contribute to the book’s thesis but it is entertaining.
The tale of Rocket Richard who suffered following his hockey career was fascinating. It stands as the sole Francophone aspect of the book (outside of Francophones being wary of what a global war meant to them). Richard is presented as the bridge between Canada’s “two solitudes”. I was surprised to learn he was twice rejected for military service due to two broken ankles and broken wrist suffered in sport. He doubled down on hockey and shone during the war playing for the Canadiens when there were just two Francophones on the team.
Businessmen who stepped into the war effort are given their due including the well-known C.D. Howe and mostly forgotten, E.P. Taylor. What just these two men contributed during the war and what they accomplished following, is astonishing. The book goes on to cover war brides, Irgor Gouzenko (who seemingly ushered in the Cold War), and the unfairness of how troops were brought back home.
The book makes the case that though the war had its deprivations and nearly 100,000 were killed or wounded, the conflict was good for Canada. 1945 made for an interesting year. The war put Canada on the world stage and modernized the economy. Yet, there were many fault-lines that would only grow. And that is why history goes on.
It deals with specific events like The Halifax Riots and new movements ranging from the social safety net to women’s rights (they kept industry going while the men fought) to the start of universal health care. As effective as that is, it is when the author covers people that the book excels. I am probably one of the few who was very aware of General Harry Crerar though I knew nothing of Rear-Admiral Murray. The former stoically if unimaginatively led Canadian troops in Europe. The latter was sent out to pasture after Canadian sailors tore apart Halifax in alcohol-fuelled riots.
The book also digs deep into Prime Minister King who remains a strange individual but effective leader. He hung onto power and saw Canada through dark days. Still, the author strays into ridicule like many contemporary historians. Cuthbertson describes King as, “Short and pudgy as a dumpling” and having a challenged combover. King never married and there is speculation that he may have had a relationship with his two-decade serving valet. This content may not contribute to the book’s thesis but it is entertaining.
The tale of Rocket Richard who suffered following his hockey career was fascinating. It stands as the sole Francophone aspect of the book (outside of Francophones being wary of what a global war meant to them). Richard is presented as the bridge between Canada’s “two solitudes”. I was surprised to learn he was twice rejected for military service due to two broken ankles and broken wrist suffered in sport. He doubled down on hockey and shone during the war playing for the Canadiens when there were just two Francophones on the team.
Businessmen who stepped into the war effort are given their due including the well-known C.D. Howe and mostly forgotten, E.P. Taylor. What just these two men contributed during the war and what they accomplished following, is astonishing. The book goes on to cover war brides, Irgor Gouzenko (who seemingly ushered in the Cold War), and the unfairness of how troops were brought back home.
The book makes the case that though the war had its deprivations and nearly 100,000 were killed or wounded, the conflict was good for Canada. 1945 made for an interesting year. The war put Canada on the world stage and modernized the economy. Yet, there were many fault-lines that would only grow. And that is why history goes on.
July 30, 2025
Having been born in 1945, I felt I had an obligation to read this book. After all, if the author though 1945 was "The Year That Made Modern Canada" I wanted to see how my birth played a part!
Seriously though, I knew 1945 saw the end of WWll in Europe and the start of the "baby boom," and having lived the momentous effect the latter had on Canada's economy right up to this day, I was more than a little curious to see what else was at play to have it be the making of modern Canada.
This book covers some of the same ground that I found in my earlier reading of The Good Allies by Tim Cook in that there is quite a bit of background material on Canada's Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King and covers some of the war years that were covered in Cook's book, but it picks up where The Good Allies leaves off. The period from the last days of the war in Europe, VE day and the issues of Canada's hesitance in joining in with the Pacific theatre of WWll were issues I had never read much about and an important part of our post war history. (The two books make complementary set.)
The author includes insights into life in general including the hockey career of Maurice (Rocket) Richard and the forming of the national Hockey League. He also touches on the role women played in WWll including Elsie MacGill who was tagged as being the Canadian Rosie the Riveter. While Rosie, with her good looks and brassy attitude represented all the women in the USA who took on the work of men in the war-time factories, MacGill was described as being somewhat nerdy looking. Shew earned a master of science degree in aero-space engineering and became the first woman in the world accredited in that profession. In the 1940s she became the manager of the Canada Car and Foundry, Thunder Bay factory where she oversaw the production of over 2,000 Hawker Hurricanes, a workhorse Allied fighter plane and became known as the Queen of the Hurricanes! And 1945 saw the defection of Igor Gouzenko from his post at the Soviet Union legation in Ottawa. The results being Canada's inclusion in what would become the 5eyes Intelligence Pact.
All this only scratches the surface of an excellent collection of stories of the people and events of this pivotal year in Canada's history. Cuthbertson has done Canadians a great service to bring these stories together and makes a strong case for 1945 being the "Year That Made Modern Canada," even if my start didn't make an appearance!
Seriously though, I knew 1945 saw the end of WWll in Europe and the start of the "baby boom," and having lived the momentous effect the latter had on Canada's economy right up to this day, I was more than a little curious to see what else was at play to have it be the making of modern Canada.
This book covers some of the same ground that I found in my earlier reading of The Good Allies by Tim Cook in that there is quite a bit of background material on Canada's Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King and covers some of the war years that were covered in Cook's book, but it picks up where The Good Allies leaves off. The period from the last days of the war in Europe, VE day and the issues of Canada's hesitance in joining in with the Pacific theatre of WWll were issues I had never read much about and an important part of our post war history. (The two books make complementary set.)
The author includes insights into life in general including the hockey career of Maurice (Rocket) Richard and the forming of the national Hockey League. He also touches on the role women played in WWll including Elsie MacGill who was tagged as being the Canadian Rosie the Riveter. While Rosie, with her good looks and brassy attitude represented all the women in the USA who took on the work of men in the war-time factories, MacGill was described as being somewhat nerdy looking. Shew earned a master of science degree in aero-space engineering and became the first woman in the world accredited in that profession. In the 1940s she became the manager of the Canada Car and Foundry, Thunder Bay factory where she oversaw the production of over 2,000 Hawker Hurricanes, a workhorse Allied fighter plane and became known as the Queen of the Hurricanes! And 1945 saw the defection of Igor Gouzenko from his post at the Soviet Union legation in Ottawa. The results being Canada's inclusion in what would become the 5eyes Intelligence Pact.
All this only scratches the surface of an excellent collection of stories of the people and events of this pivotal year in Canada's history. Cuthbertson has done Canadians a great service to bring these stories together and makes a strong case for 1945 being the "Year That Made Modern Canada," even if my start didn't make an appearance!
June 30, 2024
Deceiving. This book is less about Canada's society as a whole and more about individuals who were in the spotlight during 1945. That makes the title of this book misleading and frankly, I didn't know or care to know about most of the people detailed in this book, from the moronically superstitious and power hungry Prime Minister to business men, minor politicians, heads of military and a long drawn out section about hockey and the "Rocket" Richard, a sport I care little about. This book got boring very quickly. The authour's attempts at humour are pathetically flat and not in the least bit funny, nor are any of his analogies in any way relevant. The first two thirds of this book was as dry and boring as everything Canadian media has tried to veer away from since the 1970's; like reading a college economics textbook. Very disappointing and then, part three started and it finally pulled itself out of the fire. The authour's jokes were just as bad, but at least the broader national interests took shape more than the stories of people about which most of us care nothing about.
July 15, 2023
An episodic look at events and aspects of the year 1945 in and for Canada, with some reflections on what has transpired since. It covers up to, including, and after VE Day. Subjects are as varied as Rocket Richard, war brides, the Halifax riots, and the birth of the modern social safety net. It came out in 2020, just after (COVID hit) and some of his then-current observations, such as NATO having faded to irrelevance, have since been overcome by events. Accessible history, and worth a read.
September 18, 2022
The author provides an interesting dive into Canadian history and argues that WW2 allowed for the building of a Canadian identity independent of the UK. I learned about the CCF which I had never heard of before.
January 4, 2026
This book has many interesting anecdotes. However, they are spoiled by the author’s opinionated and pedantic style.
December 20, 2024
The rather good telling of canada in the war.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews