Remembrance: Dreaver | Canadian War Museum

Activity

Accordion Module

Izzy Doll

Carol Isfeld began knitting dolls like this for her son, Master Corporal Mark “Izzy” Isfeld, to hand out to children while he was serving as a peacekeeper in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Croatia. He was killed by a landmine explosion on that mission on 21 June 1994.

After his death, Carol Isfeld and her friends continued to make ”Izzy” dolls to remember Mark’s service. Other Canadians joined in, knitting thousands of dolls to be sent to children in need. Canadian soldiers and healthcare providers give Izzy dolls to children in conflict zones and disaster-torn areas.

The tag on this doll reads: “IZZY DOLL Made for you with love in memory of Mark Isfeld killed in Kakma, Croatia 21 jun 94 removing landmines serving with 1CER Unprofor.”

Making History Come Alive for Students

Date Made 1994

Object No. 19980071-005

Associated Persons

Carol Isfeld
Master Corporal Mark Isfeld

Materials Synthetic fibre

Institution Canadian War Museum

Collection --

label #1 value #1 label #2 value #2 label #3 value #3 label #4 value #4

The Izzy Doll

Learn about how one peacekeeper who died in Croatia is honoured to this day.

Every video in the Every Object Tells a Story series presents an account of wartime service and sacrifice.

Associated Persons

Carol Isfeld
Master Corporal Mark Isfeld

Institution Canadian War Museum

TRANSCRIPT: THE IZZY DOLL

The Canadian War Museum holds millions of objects in the National Collection. Each one tells a story. Let’s look closely at one of the Museum’s most popular artifacts: the Izzy Doll.

Measuring about 15 centimetres, the Izzy doll is a pocket- sized artifact. But what makes this doll special? Why does the Museum have so many of these dolls in the National Collection? The Izzy doll is a perfect example of a seemingly ordinary object that can help us tell an extraordinary story. Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s start with the obvious question, why is it called an Izzy doll?

This story starts in the 1990s, when Master Corporal Mark Isfeld of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment was serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Croatia. While serving, Isfeld was moved by the suffering he witnessed, especially among the children he and his fellow soldiers encountered in Croatia. He noticed that many children had no toys or personal possessions as their families had fled from danger. This inspired him to ask his mother, Carol Isfeld, to knit dolls small enough to fit in his pockets, that he could give to children as an offering of peace and comfort.

Master Corporal Isfeld was killed while on a mine clearing operation in Croatia on June 21st, 1994. After his death, fellow soldiers asked his mother if she could continue making dolls for them to distribute. They named the dolls “Izzy dolls” in his honour. Each doll comes with a tag that says:   “IZZY DOLL Made for you with love in memory of Mark Isfeld killed in Kakma, Croatia, June 21st 1994, while removing landmines serving with One Combat Engineer Regiment, United Nations Protection Force”.

What started with only Carol Isfeld and some friends making dolls quickly became something much larger as people across Canada joined in. The knitting pattern can now be found online and volunteers across Canada can knit these dolls and send them to Canadian troops deployed around the world.

How the dolls look has also evolved over the past couple of decades. Originally, they were made either as boys with the peacekeepers’ UN blue beret, or girls with braids and a floppy hat. Over time, the appearance of the doll has shifted to reflect the diversity of the children who receive these gifts of peace and they are now made in many different versions and colours.

The Izzy doll network, now including multiple Canadian groups and charities, continues to grow and to date over 1.3 million Izzy dolls have been distributed to kids around the world.

Thirty years since the original dolls were distributed, they remain a legacy of the late Master Corporal Mark “Izzy” Isfeld. This personal act of remembrance grew to have an international presence.

Accordion Module

Content Module - Secondary

Content Module - Tertiary

Content Module - Quaternary

This lesson uses a method of interpretation known as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), which encourages students to pause and examine images (art or photographs), then share their observations with the group. The goal of VTS is to develop patterns of thinking, rather than to learn specific facts about works of art. VTS is a way of facilitating a class discussion. Once the technique has been introduced to students, it should be repeated on a regular basis to interpret new works of art or photographs.

At the start of the class, introduce Visual Thinking Strategies. These strategies allow students to examine art, think, contribute observations and ideas, listen, and build understanding together. This approach works for all grade levels. Display a projection of the painting or photograph. Tell students that they should take 1 minute to look closely at the image in silence before the discussion will begin. Do not give the students the title of the painting or photograph as part of the introduction. Allow them to begin their study of the image with an open mind.

PART B: ASKING QUESTIONS

VTS discussions require the facilitator to ask students specific questions in a specific order. Phrasing matters, so use the questions as written. After they have examined the image, ask them:

What’s going on in this picture? When a student makes an inference (a comment that draws conclusions based on observations), respond as follows:
Paraphrase what the student said by repeating their comment back in different words
Ask them to explain their thinking with the question: What do you see that makes you say that? To encourage more students to participate, frequently ask:
What more can we find?

Moriyama Regeneration Hall Memorial Hall LeBreton Gallery: The Military Technology Collection

Date Made 2010

Object No. 20180556-001

Associated Persons

Michael Holden
Chief Joseph Dreaver
Sergeant Masumi Mitsui
Raymond Moriyama
Walter Allward

Materials Acrylic on canvas

Institution Canadian War Museum

Collection Beaverbrook Collection of War Art

label #1 value #1 label#2 value #2 label#3 value #3 10:40-10:55 Activity – Discussing Art and Photographs facilitated discussion of the painting The Flag 10:55-10:58 Watch Every Object Tells a Story: Teddy 0:58-11:01 Introduce and stand for two minutes of silence

Date Made 1918

Object No. 19710261-0056

Associated Persons

Alfred Bastien
Major Georges-Philéas Vanier

Materials Oil on canvas

Institution Canadian Museum of History

Collection Beaverbrook Collection of War Art

Copy - Dreaver (SH) - Secondary

Artistic representations of veterans are one way to commemorate their service. Indigenous artist Mike Holden, of the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, depicts Chief Joseph Dreaver (1881–1978). Chief Dreaver was a decorated soldier who served in both world wars. He lost two brothers in the First World War and a son in the Second World War. Throughout his life, he was a community leader.

The artist portrays Chief Dreaver in a traditional war bonnet, with his medal set displayed prominently, giving equal measure to his roles as Chief of the Mistawasis and a veteran. The use of a Canadian flag as a backdrop represents Chief Dreaver’s patriotism at a time when Indigenous peoples were not given the same rights as other Canadians. Finally, Holden depicted a heart at the centre of the uniform as a symbol of Chief Dreaver’s forgiveness with regard to the State.

Early Wars In Canada – Canadian Experience Gallery 1 The South African and First World Wars – Canadian Experience Gallery 2 The Second World War – Canadian Experience Gallery 3 Appendix

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Copy - Dreaver (SH)

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