The Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a formal apology to the descendants of the 2^e Construction Battalion on Saturday for treating Canada’s only all-black unit to serve in World War I.

In a ceremony attended by many elected officials and community leaders from Truro, Nova Scotia, Mr. Trudeau apologized for the “horrific” treatment of his soldiers who had been victims of racism during the war.

“We cannot change the past, but we must seize every opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately, we know that too many members of the Canadian Armed Forces still face systemic racism and discrimination, including racism against black communities,” Mr. Trudeau said during his speech.

The apology came after consultation with the descendants of the 600 members of the 2^e Construction Battalion, which Defense Minister Anita Anand called heroes when she announced plans to formally apologize last March.

Hundreds of black men in Canada were turned away when they volunteered to fight abroad in 1914 because they were undesirable in the white man’s war.

In 1916, after two years of protest, the Canadian Army received permission to create a separate battalion without combatants, and more than 300 of those who volunteered were from Nova Scotia.

Few of its members were combat-ready, largely because the battalion was repeatedly told that its front-line assistance was undesirable.

“They proudly donned the Canadian Expeditionary Force uniform after two years of refusal, but they never had the same opportunities and support as their white counterparts,” the prime minister recalled.

“Upon their return, the members of the 2nd^e The construction battalion never received the heroic welcome it deserved,” added Mr. Trudeau.

The Department of Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces have stated that the systemic racism experienced by the 2nd^e Construction Battalion represents hateful behavior.

Ms. Anand also reiterated in front of the crowd that she is committed to taking action to transform the culture of the Canadian Armed Forces to make it more inclusive.

“I am committed to eliminating systemic racism so that discrimination against members of the 2nd^e The construction battalion and those that follow will never happen again,” she said.

Mr. Trudeau used his speech to announce that in honor of WWII^e Construction Battalion, a pure silver collector’s coin to be issued by the Royal Canadian Mint next year during Black History Month to “allow Canadians across the country to participate in the celebration of his legacy.”

He invited Canadians to learn more about the 2^e Construction Battalion and other “unwritten and untold” stories of the country to honor these long-forgotten soldiers.

“There are stories like WWII^e Battalion, showing that the strength and resilience of our collective humanity cannot be summed up by the color of our skin,” stressed the Prime Minister.

Many descendants of battalion members said they were pleased with the apology and the fact that new people would learn about their ancestors’ history.

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