| Although the study of Canada's involvement in the Second World War has been wide-ranging, home front conditions have been somewhat neglected. This has been especially true of the prairie experience. By examining home front issues and events in Regina through the utilization of the ‘watershed’ and ‘good war’ theoretical frameworks, the impact of the war can be assessed. Generally, Regina's home front experience was similar to that found in other cities in Canada and on the prairies; however, it is the degree and type of changes that occurred during the war which are studied.;The onset of war not only ended the Depression of the 1930s, but also brought increased employment and prosperity. With the war too came shortages of consumer goods, rationing, family dislocation, and a severe housing shortage. Both men and women rallied to the Allied cause by enlisting in the armed forces and engaging in war effort activities on the home front. While all of these activities created change in the city, Reginans' common values and patterns of life were not greatly altered.;The economic instability after World War I, followed by the Depression of the 1930s and the disruptions to daily life during the Second World War, affected the outlook of many Canadians and influenced their vision of the post-war society. Like all Canadians, Reginans were searching for post-war security and stability. Their vision included ideals of domesticity, which included material well-being, secure and long-term employment, and a continuation of pre-war social values. |
