Craig Baird
A
thread 1/7
On this day in 2000, Veronica Foster, aka Ronnie The Bren Gun Girl, passed away.

Born in Montreal in 1922, she became a Canadian icon during the Second World War.
This is her story.

While born in Montreal, she was raised in Toronto.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
Avatar Avatar Avatar
0
0
6
Craig Baird
A
thread 2/7
In 1941, when she was 19, she started working for the John Inglis Company in Toronto.

The company produced Bren light guns and throughout Canada, a labour shortage because of men fighting overseas was causing problems.
To fill those positions, companies began to hire women for the factory work.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0
Craig Baird
A
thread 3/7
In 1941, while working for the John Inglis Company, Foster was discovered by the National Film Board and became the poster girl for the campaign to encourage women to work in factories.

The campaign was incredibly successful and made Foster famous nationwide and a Canadian icon.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0
Craig Baird
A
thread 4/7
While she has been compared to Rosie the Riveter in the United States, Ronnie The Bren Gun Girl predates her by a year.

In 1943, Foster became a vocalist for Mart Kenney (grandfather of former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney) and his Western Gentlemen.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0
Craig Baird
A
thread 5/7
She married the band's trombonist, George Guerette and together they had five children. When her husband died in 1963, she raised the children herself working as a vocalist, model and then real estate agent. She sold real estate until her death on May 4, 2000.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0
Craig Baird
A
thread 6/7
Canada Post created a stamp to honour her, and the National Film Board released a documentary Rosies of the North.
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0
Craig Baird
A
thread 7/7
If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at http://www.buymeacoffee.co...
01:57 PM - May 04, 2024
0
0

 

{{ notificationModalContent }} {{ promptModalMessage }}