Nipissing University is proud to share that History students, Nelaya Boyd and Aeongus Madigan, have been selected to participate in the highly prestigious Canadian Battlefields Foundation (CBF) Study Tour taking place May 23 to June 8. Each year, only 12 students from across the country are chosen for this immersive educational experience that brings Canada's military history to life on the very grounds where it unfolded.
Established in 1992, the CBF is dedicated to preserving the memory of Canadians who fought and died in the world wars. Its annual study tour, led by some of Canada's foremost military historians, has become a rite of passage for emerging scholars and future educators.
(left to right) Canadian Battlefields Foundation (CBF) Study Tour participants from Nipissing University, Dr. Steven Connor, students Aeongus Madigan & Nelaya Boyd, and Professor Anna Pearson
This year's tour holds special significance for the Nipissing community, as two of the University's own professors will serve as academic leaders. Dr. Stephen Connor, professor in the Department of History, and Anna Pearson, adjunct faculty member in the Schulich School of Education, will co-lead the tour alongside Dr. Scott Sheffield from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Pearson emphasized the lasting educational value of the experience.
"For history students, there's something profoundly moving about standing in the places they've only read about, it builds historical empathy, fosters critical thinking and analysis, and helps them connect with the past in ways that lectures alone simply can't offer," said Pearson.
Over two weeks, students will visit significant sites of Canadian involvement in the First and Second World Wars, including Flanders, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, the Scheldt Estuary and the Hochwald Forest. The tour also includes visits to cemeteries and memorials throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The experience will provide students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of key battles and military strategies, while also engaging in meaningful reflection on the human cost of war, exploring themes of sacrifice, memory and national identity.
"I feel incredibly honoured to have been selected for this battlefield tour. It's a great privilege to be one of the lucky few chosen. Being able to go out and see the sites that you usually only learn about in classroom environments is incredibly exciting," said Madigan. "I'm hopeful it will further my understanding and passion for history, and allow me to contribute to the remembrance of those who gave their lives at these sites."
Boyd is especially looking forward to connecting with the personal stories behind the historical events. "I am looking forward to walking the paths of Canadian soldiers and seeing sites of commemoration and memory," she shared. "I hope to make long lasting connections with like-minded individuals who are also interested in Canadian history."
A special focus of this year's tour is the Canadian troops' liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. Students will learn how the legacy of liberation is remembered across generations and national borders, and how these memories continue to shape our understanding of history today.
To learn more about the Canadian Battlefields Foundation Study Tour, visit: https://cbf-fccb.ca/student-battlefield-tour
