Canada watched as the Austro-Serbian war began on 28 July and saw the ripple effect it caused through international markets. Canadians, including those in Waterloo Region, were reminded to keep working to maintain the Canadian economy. Canada needed to remain strong, so that when Great Britain called on citizens for support Canadians could display their loyalty through monetary and material support.
In addition to monetary and material support, the Canadian government notified their citizens that Canada would send a contingent to Europe in the event of war. On 31 July, Waterloo Region and the rest of Canada were informed that a plan was in place to send a 20,000 man contingent if war was declared. Additional contingents would be sent if needed.
(“Canada Will Be Ready to Help Motherland,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 31 July 1914.)
