Veterans of the Gulf War gathered in Halifax on Saturday to mark the 35th anniversary of the end of the armed conflict. On August 24, 1990, three Canadian warships departed from Halifax towards the Persian Gulf. Lisa Sheffar, the program manager for Veterans Affairs Canada, highlighted the short preparation time they had before going to war: only three weeks.
Over the following months, over 4,000 Canadians were deployed to push Iraqi invasion forces out of Kuwait. The coalition’s ground offensive ended 35 years ago, on February 24, 1991, four days after it began.
To commemorate the event, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Gulf War Veterans Group of Canada organized a special commemoration. 25 veterans from across the country were brought together in Halifax for three days of remembrance.
This war marked a milestone in Canadian military history, as women were called to combat alongside their male colleagues in all roles. According to Lisa Sheffar, it was an important moment for Canadian military women.
Former naval combat operator Sylvia Glavin still vividly remembers the events. She volunteered at the time when combat positions were opened to women, as it felt right for her.
Women in combat remained a minority within the troops. Sylvia Glavin recalled being the only female in her section, with 3 women and 60 men. The commemoration events took place over three days and concluded with official ceremonies on Saturday morning.
