Caledon commemorates No. 2 Construction Battalion with memorial plaques

January 29, 2026 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The No. 2 Construction Battalion is the largest Black unit in Canadian history, whose members, for numerous years, faced adversity, rejection, and racism in their attempt to serve their country.

The Town of Caledon has issued a commemorative plaque not only to recognize the service of the Battalion, but also to honour Caledon resident Thomas Bush, a member of the Battalion who died during the First World War.

The plaque was unveiled at North Peel Community Church, where various community members, members of Council, dignitaries, and Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans gathered to remember the legacy of the Battalion.

“Their legacy is one of resilience, service, and quiet excellence. Today, we ensure that legacy is visibly and permanently acknowledged,” said Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson, event emcee and King Charles III Coronation Medal recipient.

“I am proud to recognize the historic contribution, service, and legacy of Canada’s largest Black military unit which served during the First World War,” said Mayor Annette Groves. “The No. 2 Construction Battalion holds a unique and important place in Canadian history as the country’s only all-Black unit to serve during the First World War.”

While many were enlisting in the First World War in 1914, by the beginning of 1915, almost 200 Black volunteers had been turned away from registration, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Following this large-scale rejection of Black volunteers, Black communities across Canada wrote to Militia Headquarters and the Governor-General to request that Black Canadians be allowed to enlist.

Although they were not willing to allow battalions to accept Black soldiers, their consideration instead was to form a labour battalion, a service urgently needed on the Front Lines.

It wasn’t until 1916 that the No. 2 Construction Battalion was authorized as a labour battalion.

In both 1920 and 1926, the Battalion was commemorated at the Provincial Legislature in Toronto, but it wasn’t until 1992 that the Government of Canada recognized the story of the Battalion as a national historic event.

In 2022, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with the Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, issued a National Apology to the families and descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion by the Government of Canada.

“Although they were assigned non-combat roles, the work carried out was a success of Canada’s wartime efforts. Throughout their service, these men endured ongoing challenges including inadequate rations, equipment, housing, and medical care, hardships no one should have faced,” said Groves. “When the war ended, they returned home without the recognition, honour, or support.”

MPP for Dufferin-Caledon Sylvia Jones also attended the commemoration, and said when reading the history of the battalion, and what they were able to achieve under incredibly negative circumstances, “I am very proud of the fact that our community, led by Kevin, have moved heaven and earth to make sure that we will remember and we acknowledge that sacrifice.”

The Kevin who Jones referenced is Retired Captain Kevin Junor, who was credited with ensuring the story of this Battalion, and those who sacrificed so much, continues to be told.

Junor had a career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserves that spanned three decades.

He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2024.

Junor became the first Black Regimental Sergeant Major for the Toronto Scottish Regiment and was later commissioned as a Captain with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

He also served as a member of the National Apology Advisory Committee for the formal apology that was delivered by Trudeau to the descendants of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.

When Junor moved to Caledon 21 years ago, he says that he never would have thought that this day would happen, to see everyone gathered there that day.

“The No. 2 Construction battalion, these men, I still don’t understand it, they were told that you’re Black, so you can’t fight for Canada. They didn’t go home and just sit there; they fought for the right to be able to potentially spill their blood on foreign soil,” says Junor.

“When they went over, they weren’t respected. But, they held their heads up high.”

Junor leads the Remembrance Day ceremony annually in Caledon, and says now, when he can look at the Cenotaph and see this plaque, he can be reminded each and every year.

Words fail him, he said.

Another speaker at the plaque unveiling was Mary Beth Sutherland, granddaughter of the Commanding Officer for No. 2 Construction Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel H. Sutherland.

She shared that for her grandfather, the No. 2 Construction Battalion was an important chapter in his life, and he respected the men he served with, and their will to fight for their country.

At one point, to continue serving with the battalion, Sutherland had to revert in rank to a Major, which he did, and according to Mary Beth, “it was less important than staying with this Battalion.”

Singing both Amazing Grace and the Canadian National Anthem at the unveiling were Loraine Christie and Tanya Reid, accompanied by Elijah Fisher on the keyboard.

After the unveiling, Junor handed out a few commemorative coins.

He explained that commemorative coins are a military tradition that acknowledges excellence and outstanding work.

When he began this project, Veterans Affairs funded these coins to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals, which he was able to present that day.

Attendees afterward were encouraged to take photos with the new plaque and view the informative boards around the room that tell the legacy of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.