Propaganda: Using Canadian War Posters to Develop Critical Thinking & Digital Literacy

Propaganda! If there is one thing that most adults would agree on here in early 2026, it’s this: Never before in world history has propaganda been more ubiquitous and well-designed . . . in fact, digital tools are now so advanced that many thoughtful people are beginning to wonder how much they really ‘know’ and how much of the past they accurately understood. And if that’s the case for adults, how can we expect students to be competent at thinking critically about what they observe, hear, or read? During this session, attendees will observe how Canadian war posters (and cartoons) from the First and Second World Wars can be used in their classroom to educate about propaganda, engage critical thinking, and further develop digital literacy skills. During the second hour of the session, attendees will have an opportunity to connect/brainstorm with alike-subject-area teachers with a goal of creating a propaganda activity for their classroom(s). All resources referenced during this presentation are downloadable free-of-charge at ValourCanada.ca