Building Sanctuary

A long-overdue evaluation of one of our most cherished myths – that Canadians extended American war resisters a warm welcome during the Vietnam War era.

This book brings to light the activities and influence of the anti-draft groups that sprang up to build support for American Vietnam war resisters in Canada.

Jessica Squires is an independent scholar of Canadian political, social, and cultural history who lives and works in Gatineau, Quebec.

Ian McKay, Department of History, Queen’s University:
Building Sanctuary is a fascinating study of war resistance and the sixties in North America. Based on official police records as well as oral interviews and newspaper evidence, it not only tells the engrossing story of the immigration to Canada of about forty thousand US war resisters but also subtly analyzes the political and ethical issues raised by resistance to the War in Vietnam. At a time when a reactivated militarism once more challenges progressives throughout the world, Jessica Squires provides us with an inspiring, insightful account of how an earlier generation of activists fought the madness of war – and emerged with some precious, if fragile, victories. A must-read for students of modern Canada, antiwar activism, and the sixties.