collection - Canadian Red Cross correspondence

The Red Cross first started as a movement in Europe in the 1860s -1870s. Canada first adopted the principles of the Red Cross during the Northwest Rebellion as the emblem was flown to symbolize neutrality and humanitarian work. In 1896 Canada was granted a branch of the British Red Cross due to the efforts of Dr. George Sterling Ryerson of Toronto and Colonel W.N. Ponton and M.P. Henry Corby of Belleville who petitioned the mother organization. At the same time, Miss Gordon of Belleville was working on creating a separate Canadian branch of the Society, independent of the British and American organizations. In 1909 the Government of Canada issued a charter incorporating the organization as an independent body, and was finally recognized by the international governing body in 1927.

The Society has been involved in both wartime and peacetime initiatives including: The Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Spanish Flu, as well as humanitarian efforts in Guatemala, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Algeria, Congo Nigeria, and others. In the 1990s, the CRC continued its mission of neutral humanitarian work, it spearheaded the 1999 Mine Ban Treaty, helped those in need by crossing the barricade during the Oka Crisis, and helped those in need during the Ice Storm. Into the 2000s, the CRC continued its mission by helping those in need in the Middle East, the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, Haiti, and elsewhere.