Declassifying Spy Files

The Canadian government is thinking of creating a centre to declassify historical documents.

Bringing important culturally-related information out of the shadows and documenting it historically allows us to be more aware about who we are, what are our values and how we are acting in the world. Therefore, it’s crucial that governments develop a framework to roll out intelligence documents so that we have a historical record of the contributions made by women and men.

When I did my research into women spies in 2005/6 there were no files available for me to peruse about WW 2 Canadian women. I had to ask the American, British and French archival services for help in locating women spies. I did discover Canadian women who worked in espionage on the home front (not behind enemy lines), listening in to Japanese messaging, but these names were given to me by friends. None were searchable online.

Women’s contributions and their narratives are especially not available and often this is also due to a lack of good recording at time of their service, unlike their male counterpart. These aspects are both related to cultural shadow and what we, as a society, hold in it.