A piece of Canada’s history during the Second World War is coming to the big screen in Chatham.
The 50-minute documentary film “We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” will screen at Galaxy Cinemas in Chatham on Monday, presented by the Chatham-Kent Film Group.
The film tells the story of the 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during and after the Second World War, helping to sustain the nation’s food supply when young men left to fight overseas.
“We wanted to capture the story of how the Farmerettes helped win the Second World War by volunteering to aid farmers with food production,” said producer Bonnie Sitter in a news release. “Most of these girls had never seen a farm. They came from all over Ontario as volunteers. They weren’t conscripted. They chose to roll up their sleeves and do their part for Canada, and their efforts have largely been forgotten.”
The film, which took two years to complete, includes interviews with 20 Farmerettes who are now in their 90s.
Screenings of the documentary will take place at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
