Spanish Flu Themes
In this section, you’ll find several short theme papers on various aspects of the pandemic written by a range of renowned academic experts. These unique themes were created to encourage and inspire registrants in exploring intriguing perspectives in their commemorative Spanish flu pandemic projects.
A Pandemics Primer
We have updated our original Spanish flu 101 article to reflect on the current global pandemic.
Webpage: A pandemics primer: Infectious disease outbreaks, from the plague to COVID-19
Peacetime Killer
How the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic felled nearly as many Canadians as the First World War. (John Lorinc)
Webpage: Read the article, originally published in Canada’s History Magazine, here. (Published here on March 28, 2020)
Excavating the Flu
Webpage: Learn how one would recover a body carrying the Spanish flu virus from permafrost.
From Bad to Worse
The Hunt for Microbes
Webpage: Making sense of the microbiology.
Location, Location, Location
Webpage: How geography could determine who died between 1918 and 1920.
The Plague Sweeps Canada
Nikkei Survivor
Webpage: How one Japanese Canadian experienced and survived the Spanish flu pandemic in Vancouver.
Regina’s Darkest Days
First Peoples Struggling to Survive
Webpage: A story about First Nations, influenza, and the work of the government.
Soldiers Struck Down
In the Prime of Life
Webpage: Why did the Spanish flu kill so many young men and women in full health?
The Last 100 Days
No Room at the Inn
Enemy Aliens
Webpage: New Canadians endure life in the pandemic as enemy aliens on Canada’s home front.