Frederick McLeod, son of 1905 Moose Factory Métis petitioner George McLeod, left his community in Moose Factory to enlist in the First World War in January 1916. After a year of training, Frederick sailed for overseas service with his unit on February 16, 1917. Upon arrival in England, the battalion was reorganized, and Frederick was reassigned to the 6th Railway Battalion, where he continued his training in preparation for entering active duty in France in April 1917. Unlike

Frederick McLeod, son of George McLeod and Isabelle McBean, was born on October 9th, 1893, into the vibrant and historic Métis community at Moose Factory. In 1905, when Frederick was at the impressionable age of thirteen, his father, George, was one of six Métis of Moose Factory, “born & brought up in the country”, to sign a petition to the government on behalf of their families and communities for “that scrip has been granted to the Halfbreeds of the North West Territory”. A

Edward Cyrus Richards, the Métis son of Reverend Edward Richards Sr. and Jane Jones, was born on June 14, 1887, near James Bay. A descendant of the Favell family, Edward worked as a clerk and was living at the Fort Hope Post on the Albany River before being conscripted during the First World War and forced to join the 1st Depot Battalion in June 1918. Edward's departure for Europe was delayed just one month after he joined his battalion when he was hospitalized in Port Arthur

Georges LeClaire (Leclerc) was born June 7, 1886, into Mary Cecilia Ferris and Frank Benjamin Leclerc’s growing Métis family. Born only five years after the railroad's arrival, Georges LeClaire's childhood unfolded during a time of rapid growth and rising tourism in Mattawa.  In 1908, Georges married Mary Vanasse, and three years later, their only child, Margaret Ida, was born. Georges was working as a guide in Mattawa when he voluntarily enlisted for service overseas during

Wilfred Vasseur was born July 12, 1893, to Charles Vasseur and Mary Jane Jeffrey in Penetanguishene. The Vasseurs were one of the Georgian Bay Métis Community's founding families who had received a land grant “across the bay” from the British naval base in Penetanguishene harbour after relocating from Drummond Island following the War of 1812. Wilfred's service during the First World War began on May 9, 1918, when he was conscripted during the conflict's final months. Unlike

Charles Henry Vasseur, born September 6, 1889, and Albert Paul Vasseur, born February 27, 1896, were two Métis brothers from Penetanguishene and descendants of one of the Georgian Bay Métis Community's founding Métis families. Their grandfather, Charles Vasseur, had received a land grant “across the bay” from the British naval establishment in Penetanguishene harbour after relocating from Drummond Island following the War of 1812.   On February 10, 1916, Charles and Albert ma