"War brides" is the term used to refer to the 48,000 women, along with 22,000 children, that made their way over to Canada from Europe to make new lives away from war and destruction. I was also one of the biggest immigration anomalies in Canada's history.

Most of them came from Britain, and made their way to Canada, heading from Pier 21 in Halifax, all the way to the prairies to make a new life. Most of them living on the prairies is one of the reasons why the War Brides and Families held their 2018 reunion here in Moose Jaw this past weekend. In fact, the decision was almost unanimous.

"We were in Ottawa last year for the 150th, and when it was suggested we come to Moose Jaw, every single person that was there and there was almost a hundred, said 'yes, we're going to Moose Jaw," explained Lynn Martin, President of the Canadian War Brides and Families. "And one of the reasons is that a great percentage of our war brides came west to farms and marry farmers."

On top of that, the first legally constituted war brides association came to be in Saskatchewan around 1975.

The Temple Spa was filled with war brides, their families, dignitaries and other special guests to celebrate their reunion together. Mayor Fraser Tolmie was MC for the event, and our recently appointed Lieutenant Governor Tom Molloy. Mayor Tolmie is actually a descendant of a war bride, which is why this was a special event for himself as well. He was able to deliver a heartfelt message to those attending.

"I never got to tell [my grandparents] what I get to tell you. And that is thank you. Thank you for falling in love with a Canadian like my Aunt did, and coming to Canada. Thank you for sacrifice during those years of the bombs, and thank you for your selflessness of leaving your families behind to start a new life," Mayor Tolmie said. "I'm a better person because of you. My country is a better country because of you. My city is a better city because of you."

Jean Fells was even in attendance of the reunion. Fells is 91 years old now and orchestrated the separate provincial groups merging into their nation wide group.

"When we organized the Canadian War Brides and Families was because our war brides were getting older, and we felt the young people needed to come and get involved and I think they were beginning to realize the importance of war brides groups," Fells explained. "The Saskatchewan group broke down and just dissolved, but in 2011 I organized a reunion up in Saskatoon and from there then the Canadian War Brides and Families was organized."

It's been 72 years since the first war brides started making their way to Canada, and they continue to try and connect every year at their reunions. It's one big night of nostalgia and catching up, with the room full of emotion and stories. The women who had made their way over all walked the gang plank to get on the boat. Something that won't seem like a big task to you until you're the one walking the board.

They all left a life behind to start a new one. Fells even had problems with that, but with the amazing support from her close-knit family and supportive in-laws made the switch over easier and they were there for her whenever she needed them, especially when she lost her first child who died a month after it was born.

Another woman to look out for at the reunion was Bev Tosh. Tosh is an artist who does portraits of war brides in their wedding dresses. She walked the gangplank as a child with her mother when she came back to Canada after her parents got divorced. She's painted over 200 war bride portraits since she began by doing Fells' portrait. Since then, her works have been shown worldwide at art exhibits and war memorial. To her, these women are like her aunts. She doesn't know them too well at first, but she learns their story and with the work on the portrait, she feels connected afterwards. You can learn more about her work here.

There are many war brides still living in Canada and many have their own story. Luckily, the Canadian War Brides and Families provides a few biographies of these women.

"It's really a matter of keeping family ties and of course our war brides are just like family," Fells said. "It's really good to get together and I guess we're heading to Edmonton next year so I'm saying right now, if you are a daughter or a son of a war bride, we want you to join our association.