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The face of Canada’s civil defence campaign at the outset of the Cold War was a middle–aged, neat, and calm housewife who was prepared for anything — includ¬ing nuclear war. She appeared on posters and pamphlets throughout Canada, reminding women that they were the first line of defence. Her name? Bea Alerte.

We meet Bea Alerte — and her sidekick, Justin Case — in the first chapter of Tarah Brookfield’s Cold War Comforts: Canadian Women, Child Safety, and Global Insecurity. In this captivating read, Brookfield shares the many ways in which women responded and rallied in the face of the Cold War. From stocking pantries and learning CPR to organizing peace rallies and staging protests on Parliament Hill, Canadian women were active and valued members in the fight for democracy, freedom, and a safe future for their children.

Children take centre stage in Cold War Comforts. Brookfield shows how they became part of Cold War rhetoric and informed strategic decisions about defence programs, domestic policies, and international relief efforts. From the period between 1945 and 1975, Brookfield mentions initiatives such as tooth drives, the UNICEF trick–or–treat campaign, Operation Babylift, toy weapon bans, and foster care and international adoption programs. These examples demonstrate that child safety was the common motivation for Canadian women’s efforts.

Building wonderfully on the work of the Cold War historians who precede her, Brookfield uses her own research to provide new voices that deepen our understanding of this precarious time in Canadian history. Cold War Comforts is an engaging look at the many women who navigated new waters to ensure a peaceful future for their children, and for our country.