Canadian Women ' s Army Corps The Canadian Women ' s Army Corps was a non - combatant branch of the Canadian Army for women established during World War II to release men from those non - combatant roles in the Canadian armed forces as part of expanding Canada ' s war effort . Most women served in Canada but some served overseas , most in roles such as secretaries , mechanics , cooks and so on . The CWAC was finally abolished as a separate corps in 1964 when women were fully integrated into the Canadian armed forces . The headquarters of the CWAC was based in Goodwin House in Ottawa . History of the CWACs . The Canadian Women ' s Army Corps ( CWAC ) was authorized on August 13 , 1941 , in response to a shortage of personnel caused by the increase in the size of Canada ' s navy , army and air force . At first the organization was called the Canadian Women ' s Auxiliary Corps and was not an official part of the armed forces . On March 13 , 1942 , the women were inducted into the Canadian Army and became the Canadian Women ' s Army Corps . They wore a cap badge of three maple leaves , and collar badges of the goddess Athena . A February 1943 CWAC advertisement in the " Edmonton Journal " noted that prospective recruits had to be in excellent health , at least tall and ( or within above or below the standard of weight laid down in medical tables for different heights ) , with no dependants , a minimum of Grade 8 education , aged 18 to 45 , and a British subject , as Canadians were at that time . Since women were not allowed to enter in combat of any kind the CWACs worked as secretaries , clerks , canteen workers , vehicle drivers and many other non - combat military jobs . They were only paid two - thirds of what the men were paid in the same occupation ( this figure later became four - fifths ) . CWACs served overseas , first in 1942 in Washington , DC , and then with the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom . In 1944 CWACs served in Italy and in 1945 in north - west Europe , usually as clerks in headquarters establishments . After VE Day , more served with Canadian occupation forces in Germany . In all , approximately 3000 served Canada overseas . While no members of the CWAC were killed due to enemy action , four were wounded in a German V - 2 missile attack on Antwerp in 1945 . " The CWAC was the largest force with 22 , 000 members , followed by the Air Force Women ' s Division with 17 , 000 and the WRCNS with just under 7 , 000 . " In August 1946 the CWACs were disbanded . The Canadian Women ' s Army Corps was redesignated The Canadian Women ' s Army Corps on 22 Mar 1948 . The Canadian Women ' s Army Corps reverted to the Canadian Women ' s Army Corps on 18 Apr 1955 . The CWACS were disbanded for good in 1964 . " Canadian Women ’ s Army Corps " ( 2000 ) by André Gauthier ( sculptor ) is a 6 ’ 4 ” high bronze statue in front of the Kitchener Armoury in Kitchener , Ontario . Uniforms . The CWAC had many different jobs with different uniforms . A canteen worker could wear overalls , a radioman could wear the battledress trousers and the battledress jacket ( most common ) . Uniforms came in many different forms . Mostly if at home front women wore the dress skirts ( or trousers , but it was looked down upon by men ) and round hats . If it was a job that meant getting your hands dirty , such as working on an engine of an airplane or vehicle , they would wear normal hardy clothing . Official regulations regarding uniforms were that the women must wear a : " Khaki greatcoat , barathea skirt and hip - length jacket , peak cap with high crown , and a cap badge with three maple leaves on a stem on which was incribed ' Canadian Women ' s Army Corps ' . Helmeted head of Athene appears on buttons and badges . " After the war . In the subsequent years after World War II , the CWAC and other military organizations were disbanded as women were finally incorporated into the Canadian Forces . " The perceived unsuitability of women for military service , because of their alleged physical weakness and emotional instability in the face of danger , [ was ] an assumption which [ had ] been misused to justify the exclusion of women from active military duty . " With the changing tide of Canadian culture towards equality of the sexes , women were finally able to achieve full access to combative roles . No longer believed to be too weak or fragile to be engaged in conflict and confined solely to their homes and families , women were finally given their chance to participate fully in the Canadian military . Today , Canadian women still represent only a small fraction of the total population of the Canadian Forces . However , the CF is committed to following the principles laid out in the Canadian Constitution , guaranteeing " that every citizen has equal rights and responsibilities " , which has led the " Canadian Forces to expand employment opportunities for women . The ultimate responsibility of the CF , however , remains the maintenance of national security . " Effect on equality within Canada . The CWAC , as well as other military organizations aimed at attracting young women into the Canadian forces during World War II , paved the way for women ’ s future involvement in combative roles . With tens of thousands of women involved in these organizations , it provided Canadian women across the country with the opportunity to do their part in a global conflict . Although their involvement was critical to the allied victory , it did not change the power dynamics within Canada regarding military involvement . Sexism returned with full force following the Second World War , forcing women in Canada , and across the world , back into their homes and kitchens . " Women ' s admittance to the army in World War II had not brought about a change in the distribution of power between the sexes in Canada . " The freedom they had experienced during the war was over — it was time to return to their " normal " and " proper " domestic duties . Other scholars argue that the Second World War provided women with the first large - scale opportunity to leave the homes of their parents , husbands , and children to engage in paid labour . Never before had this happened at such a high rate for women . This mass exodus of women from Canadian households allowed the women to forge new identities as military service women and munitions workers because of their newfound ability to earn a paycheque doing work in the public sphere . This brief period of freedom provided women across the world with the ability to enter into the public sphere and would eventually drive some to become part of the women ' s liberation movement — a key aspect of second - wave feminism .