JBSI - reflection on Normandy's connection to Canada

When teaching World War Two in grade 10 Canadian I have always spoken about the connection between Canada and the Netherlands.  Even though I have never experienced it, I teach students how much the people in the Netherlands still love Canadians.  I tell them of the importance of having a Canadian flag on their backpack or jacket.  We talk about the tulips in Ottawa.  I've never mentioned a strong connection between Canada and France.  I now feel unbelievably bad.  I want to bring all my former classes back and say "hey, the people in Normandy LOVE Canadians for what we did from June 6 to the end of August 1944."
As part of our Juno Beach Centre Summer Institute tour, we were overwhelmed by the gratitude of the people in Normandy.  Many small towns had memorials built for the work and sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers as they liberated occupied France from the Germans.
At Dieppe there was a small park dedicated to Canadians.  It not only commemorated what Canadians attempted on August 19, 1942, but a long history of connection between France and Canada.

Of course there are also monuments for regiments that fought in Dieppe August 19, 1942.

But this was a large Allied raid in a major port.  One might expect there to be memorials here.  What I didn't expect were the numerous Canadian flags all over the Normandy countryside.  And the people's reaction toward us (Canadian history teachers visiting and learning about the Normandy invasion).
At Le Mesnil-Patry, we were met by a group of community members at a memorial their committee had fundraised for.  This same committee also worked with Garth Webb (Canadian veteran and Juno Beach Centre founder) to get the JBC built.  We had a small remembrance ceremony at the memorial they had built before they hosted us for a typical Norman picnic lunch.  One of the touching moments at the brief ceremony was when we all sang "Oh, Canada" en francais.  They knew all the words.  Our group of teachers were all moved by their knowledge of our anthem.

 Our hosts in Le Mesnil-Patry.

In Le Mesnil-Patry.

Another remembrance ceremony we were invited to was quite a bit bigger.  The first Sunday of August every year, the Cinteaux Canadian Cemetery in Bretteville-sur-Laize has a remembrance ceremony.  We were all surprised by the size of this event.  In attendance were veterans, citizens and politicians - including someone who I think was basically the equivalent of our Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Again both the Canadian and French national anthems were sung.

 The flags, and people getting set up in the parking lot prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

Two of our Canadian teachers from BC, with an enlisted Canadian soldier representing a regiment from BC.

Two of our teachers read L. Binyon's "Ode of Remembrance" in both English and French.

These are just a couple examples that stand out as they were events.  But as the bus drove through Normandy the Canadian flags and memorial plaques were everywhere.  As I look forward to teaching grade 10 Canadian history again this year, I know that my stories about how Canada is connected to the Europeans liberated at the end of World War II will change and will be much more personal as I share my photos of and experiences with the people of Normandy.