The Initiative
Our Shared Sacrifice is a youth-led public history initiative recovering overlooked First World War service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and connected Commonwealth formations, including British Indian Army units that fought alongside Canadian forces. The project has produced original archival research, editor-reviewed and commissioned publications, classroom curriculum, and a forthcoming permanent commemorative installation in France.
It is founded and directed by Daniyal Elahi and Harris Elahi, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, 337 Queen's York Rangers, Toronto.
Origin
Daniyal and Harris first conducted archival research on Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers between 2023 and 2024, at ages 13 and 14 during the early stages of the research, under academic mentorship. That earlier research led to a 55-minute documentary, Our Shared History and Sacrifice, on The Veterans Channel, on which the brothers were credited members of the historical and archival research teams. It later became the foundation for the founding of Our Shared Sacrifice as an independent youth-led initiative in September 2025.
During that earlier research, Daniyal noticed a passing archival reference to Private Hasan Amat, a Muslim soldier of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Amat was not a focus of the published article. In November 2024, a junior cadet at 337 Queen's York Rangers told Daniyal he wished he could see more people who looked like himself in stories of Canadian remembrance. The combination of the archival reference and the junior cadet's comment moved Daniyal to research Private Amat in earnest. Over the following ten months he traced Amat's full service record at Library and Archives Canada, working with Harris, and identified him as the first identified Muslim soldier killed in action serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, to our knowledge.
In late 2025, Daniyal and Harris founded Our Shared Sacrifice as an independent youth-led initiative to recover Private Amat's story and other overlooked First World War service. The Veterans Affairs Canada Commemorative Partnership Program awarded a grant in November 2025 supporting the project from its founding period.
The Founders
Daniyal Elahi
Warrant Officer, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, 337 Queen's York Rangers. Daniyal leads archival research and academic writing for Our Shared Sacrifice. He directs and produces Our Shared Sacrifice: The Briefs, the project's documentary brief series broadcast on The Veterans Channel, and co-wrote the audio narration scripts and conducted the historical research for the series with Harris. He is the author of the project's research and public-history publications, including the RCMI SITREP feature on Private Amat (April–May 2026), the ActiveHistory.ca article (December 2025), and the Legion Magazine commissioned feature on Private Hasan Amat (forthcoming, July/August 2027). He is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Young Heritage Leaders (January 2026) and the Order of St. George Field Medal.
Harris Elahi
Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, 337 Queen's York Rangers. Harris leads digital platforms, public communications, and audience development for Our Shared Sacrifice. He serves as Associate Producer on Our Shared Sacrifice: The Briefs, the project's documentary brief series for The Veterans Channel, and co-wrote the audio narration scripts and conducted the historical research for the series with Daniyal. The project’s content has reached more than 5 million views across Facebook and Instagram between November 2025 and June 2026, including about 2.5 million organic views on Facebook and more than one million people reached on Facebook. He led the private fundraising for the $25,000 Hill 70 commemorative bench and plaque in France. He is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Young Heritage Leaders (January 2026) and the Order of St. George Field Medal.
Awards & Recognition
Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Young Heritage Leaders (Daniyal Elahi and Harris Elahi, January 2026; formal investiture at Queen's Park, April 17, 2026).
Order of St. George Field Medal (Daniyal Elahi and Harris Elahi).
Project Structure
Our Shared Sacrifice is administered by the Canadian Relief & Development Agency (Charity No. 82109 4273 RR0001) as fiscal agent. CRDA provides charitable administration only. All programmatic work, research, publications, education, and communications are led, written, produced, and directed by Daniyal Elahi and Harris Elahi.