Building sanctuary : the movement to support Vietnam War resisters in Canada, 1965-73 /

Independent scholar Squires examines the experiences of those who left the US for Canada during the Vietnam War era (including, full disclosure, this reviewer). She addresses the myth of Canada as a safe haven and explains the roles of a variety of groups, individuals, governments, and media in the construction of this myth, and how Canadians have come to incorporate this sanctuary into their national identity. The author is very careful with terms and their meaning--"draft dodger," "deserters," and "war resisters"--and addresses the debates of the time as to whether resisters should stay in the US and agitate from there, or leave. Squires is clear about the variety of reasons for leaving, and particularly discusses issues of class. Canadian support for being a haven is linked to the social and political climate of Canada at the time, including Prime Minister Trudeau's "Just Society," nationalism, the strength of the political Left, and the various social movements for equality, although there is little about women, who left for their own political reasons. The impressive sources include large numbers of interviews and archival materials. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. P. LeClerc emerita, St. Lawrence University