Thousands of women made a significant contribution to the military munitions industry, notably here at the Dominion Arsenal where they began working in 1882. In keeping with contemporary beliefs about women’s innate abilities, they were assigned tasks requiring meticulous and patient work. They skilfully performed the dangerous operations of filling, assembling, and inspecting munitions in privately-owned and state-run plants across the country. During the Second World War, over 7,000 women worked at the Arsenal alone, testifying to the indispensable labour women provided in the defence of Canada.