101-year-old war veteran shares WW II stories from the chemistry lab

Paul Beaubien's chemical inventions helped the Allies beat the Germans during the Second World War, but for decades he couldn't talk about it not even to his family.

• How to watch theRemembrance Day ceremony on CBC

Now 101, the Ottawa veteran is finally sharing his war stories from the lab, including how heused chemicals to createblackout curtains.

"During the war, you don't have months and months and months of research. You've got to find a solution today, in a very limited time," he said.

Beaubien was born inShawiniganFalls, Que.Hestudied science in Montreal, then returned to work at Shawinigan Chemicals.

Beaubieninitially joined theair force to fight in theSecond World War, but his professional experience landed him a spot in the lab in Ottawa. He alsomade twotrips to the United Kingdom during the war.

After the war, Beaubien workedon secret projects at theNational Research Council in Ottawa.

Beaubien said he is "honoured" to be laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony at thePerley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre, where he lives.

"It means they recognize my contribution," he said.

• Listen here to the interview with Paul Beaubien.