A national apology by the Government of Canada has been made to the relatives and descendants of the members of No. 2 Construction Battalion that served during the First World War.

The apology was held during an event in Nova Scotia yesterday (sat).

Veterans from the Battalion came from all over Canada, the United States and Barbados and have many significant ties to Saskatchewan.

The No.2 Construction Battalion was a predominately Black regiment that was primarily used for the production of timber to build and repair roads.

During the recruiting phase for the war, many Black men tried enlisting but were often ignored or told to go away as they weren’t needed.

The apology in Nova Scotia was to acknowledge the discrimination they faced.