In a world of battling monsters, Canada seemed quiet during the constant dissension of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Although the Cold War focused mainly on the two most powerful countries of that time, this event, lasting approximately four decades, shaped our humble country. During the end of 1940's through the 1980's, the world was hushed in fear of a battle brewing between the former war allies, United States and the Soviet Union. Here, the kings of each opposite worlds clashed. Capitalism versus communism, freedom versus totalitarianism and democracy versus dictatorship, conflicted. However, most fearfully, it was a war of intelligence. Each country was keen in discovering what their enemy was doing. With this, spies existed beneath the naked eye. The concepts of trust and loyalty were but an illusion. Canada, between all this, stood aside in isolationism. Consequently, Canada paid very little attention to the actions and involvement of the Soviet Union within the country. However, all this changed on September 5, 1945, when Igor Gouzenko, a cipher clerk revealed documents proving the existence of Russian espionage in Canada. .
Igor Gouzenko was born in January 13, 1919 in Moscow, Rogachov. With a father who was a definite Communist believer, Gouzenko felt pressured to live in this ideology. In 1926, he had joined the Youth Communist League where he was trained in the ways of Soviet's dictating nation. During 1937 to 1938, Igor Gouzenko studied art and architecture in Moscow. Unfortunately in 1939 he was recruited by the KGB to work as a cipher code clerk. At this time the Nazis were on their way into invading the Soviet Union and in 1941 Igor Gouzenko was put into front line as an intelligent security officer. The Nazis have invaded. Here, he served for 2 years. Opportunity came when in 1943 Igor Gouzenko was asked to work at the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa.
