Library and Archives Canada (LAC) announces the release of eight heritage films on its YouTube channel. Canadians can now discover and enjoy with ease the following short films:

• Arrival of the Governor General, Lord Minto, at Quebec, 1902
• Canadian National Pictorial, 1921
• Her Own Fault, 1921
• State Funeral of the Late Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Feb. 22, 1919
• The Great Toronto Fire, April 19, 1904
• The Last Post for Distinguished Soldier, 1929
• The Rugged Road to Learning, 1921
• Transport in the North, 1925

The films served as a successful method to inform and influence the public. They were used to achieve many goals, from enticing potential immigrants, to increasing industrial investment, to encouraging the public to embrace changes. Perhaps most interesting however, is what these films reveal about how Canadians pictured themselves in the early part of the 20th century.

As part of its ongoing commitment to providing Canadians with quick and easy access to their documentary heritage, LAC will release three more sets of films on its YouTube channel in the coming months. Stay tuned!

You can also find archived versions of the films on other media on the Virtual Silver Screen page.