Remembering Ontario’s Farmerettes: Women reminisce about their work during Second World War
A new book details the labour shortage during the Second World War, which sparked the creation of the Farmerettes.
Dianne Rath’s mother, Doreen MacKichan, was a Farmerette. It was also called the ‘Farm Service Force’.
“We never knew until she died that she was a Farmerette based on the pictures,” said Rath. “She was a part of the war effort and we now call her ‘Shero’ because it’s a marvelous piece of history.”
The Farmerettes began as a movement of women who took over manual labour jobs on southern Ontario farms while men were serving in the Second World War. The women were compelled to do the work to keep food on the tables of their neighbours.
Rath recalled how her mother, who was 15-years-old at the time, lied to get into the program as she was one year shy of meeting the age requirement.
Once her mother became of age the following year, she didn’t return to the program because she had a hometown boyfriend and a job at Glencoe’s Dairy Bar. Though, Rath said many of the Farmerettes met boys during their time in the program, who they eventually married.
On Saturday, a group of former Farmerettes met at the Kitchener Public Library to swap stories and reminisce.
“We got quite strong and tanned and gained weight because of the muscle,” said Joan Tovery, a former Farmerette. “When I got home my mother barely knew me, I changed so much.”
The hard labour was a shocking change of pace for the 16 and 17 year-olds, most of whom did not come from farming families.
“We signed up in high school and we went because it was a chance to go away and to not be at home with our parents, it was an adventure,” recalled Shirleyan English, another former Farmerette. “For most of us it was the best summer of our lives and we all remember it quite intensely.”
A collection of their stories was recently published in a new book titled ‘Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz’, named after the produce they picked.
“So many people don’t know what the Farmerettes did or even had heard of the Farmerettes,” said Tovery.
With many of the ladies now in their 80’s or 90’s, the book serves as a reminder of all their hard work.
“I kept a promise to the Farmerettes that they would see their story in print,” said Bonnie Sitter, the author and researcher behind the book.
The stories of the Farmerettes will also be turned into a play by a theatre company in Blyth, Ontario next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.