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Winnipeg Free Press
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian students in Netherlands for 1945 liberation celebrations
HALIFAX – As the Netherlands marks the 80th anniversary of the country's liberation by the Canadian Army, more than 1,000 Canadian students will take part in events where they are expected to sense both the horror of war and the reverence of the Dutch for their liberators. Upwards of 175,000 Canadians fought as part of First Canadian Army in the Netherlands between September 1944 and early May 1945, with 7,600 killed during the campaign to liberate the country from its five-year German occupation. The fighting came to an end on May 5, 1945, when Canadian Lt.-Gen. Charles Foulkes accepted the surrender of German troops in the village of Wageningen. David Chisholm, vice-principal of Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, P.E.I., is a former history teacher who has long had a passion for keeping the stories of Canadian veterans alive. His school is one of five from the province taking part in the trip, which he hopes will instil the same passion in his students. 'We get the kids connected to their own families and their own community,' he said. 'They do projects, they do research and they connect to local veterans.' Chisholm said he was in the Netherlands for the 65th and 70th anniversary liberation celebrations, adding his students are about to experience something special. 'I got to experience what it's like to be a Canadian during the liberation time and the celebration … they are really going to see what it's like to be a Canadian and to be revered.' Amy Meunier, assistant deputy minister commemoration and public affairs with Veterans Affairs Canada, said her department works to help student tour groups be included in the various ceremonies, although they aren't part of Canada's official delegation. Meunier, who has worked for the department for the past 20 years, says the interest in travelling to the Netherlands for its liberation celebrations has only grown in that time. 'I think a large part of that is the role played by educators across Canada and veterans groups who go into schools and have conversations to get that spark going,' she said. Meunier said the chance for Canadian students to directly experience the gratitude of the Dutch people also leaves a lasting impression. She said it happens in a number of ways, including one-on-one conversations. 'You see this happening on a daily basis … there are always Canadian youth at events and you see those really informal connections happening and it's quite powerful,' she said. The P.E.I. group began their journey in France where on Thursday they visited the memorial to Canada's defining victory of the First World War at Vimy Ridge. The towering limestone monument, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of the ridge, is inscribed with the names of the more than 11,000 Canadian soldiers listed as missing during the first global conflict. Ian Sharpe, a Grade 12 student at Three Oaks, said it was very moving to see Vimy. 'You can appreciate it through pictures, but to see it in real life is breathtaking,' the 17-year-old said in a telephone interview from the national historic site. 'Having all those names listed one-by-one of some of the soldiers we couldn't identify, it's just hard to put into words.' The P.E.I. students also visited the Thelus military cemetery near Vimy and were then to travel to several battlefield sites in Belgium before attending ceremonies in the Dutch city of Bergen op Zoom, where there is a Canadian war cemetery. At the cemetery they will place a plaque on the grave of fallen soldier Alvah Ray Leard on behalf of his family. Leard of Northam, P.E.I., was killed in action at the age of 22 on Sept. 26, 1944. Sharpe said learning about Canada's contribution has been a revelation. 'As the trip approached, we did research in preparation for the liberation events, and it became clear how important a role we played with the liberation,' he said. Jackie Shaw, a teacher at St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School in Bowmanville, Ont., believes the celebrations will be a 'real eye-opener' for the group of 13 students from her school. Shaw said her students will take part on Sunday in a silent 'liberation march' through Bergen op Zoom that will end at the Canadian war cemetery, where some will lay wreaths. She said the students have gradually become aware of the gravity of Canada's wartime contribution. 'It's hard to get them to bridge the 80 years on some levels, but on other levels it's not so hard because they are relating to the fact that these people who were going over to fight were not much older than them,' Shaw said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2025.
CBC
02-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Students follow in the footsteps of Canadian soldiers as they mark liberation of Netherlands
Students to retrace path of Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands 1 day ago Duration 2:02 At Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, P.E.I., students have created posters and plaques about local soldiers who died in the Second World War. But David Chisholm, the vice-principal and a former social studies teacher, knows there's no learning experience quite like a field trip to make history come to life. About 20 years ago, he had a transformative moment during a professional development trip to Europe, where he learned about the life of a fallen Canadian soldier. "I said all kids need to do this because we were at a point in time where I think that Remembrance Day was just kind of a one-day-a-year thing. And we just decided that here that we're going to try to do it a little bit differently." In late April, about 50 students in grades 11 and 12 from three P.E.I. schools, including Chisholm's, travelled to the Netherlands to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the country from the Nazis — an Allied operation in which the First Canadian Army played a key role, with 7,600 soldiers losing their lives in the process. At least 280,000 Dutch civilians died during the Nazi occupation, from causes ranging from starvation to deportation to death camps, a fate that took the life of young writer Anne Frank. The sense of fraternity and gratitude toward Canadians has stayed with the Dutch ever since, with Canadian vets and delegations still being extended the heroes' welcome decades after the war. WATCH | P.E.I. students on honouring local heroes who perished in Second World War: How the next generation honours the legacy of those who fought for peace 9 hours ago Duration 3:08 During the trip, which began in France, students will walk in the footsteps of Canadian soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation in April 1945, and place a plaque on the grave of a P.E.I. soldier, Alvah Ray Leard. They're among students from 34 high schools across Canada who will participate in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, which took place on May 8, 1945. In an interview before the trip, Grade 12 student Ian Sharpe said he'll be reflecting on the lives of Leard and his great-great-uncle, a stretcher-bearer who also died during the liberation of Europe in 1945. "You sort of get to experience things that you've seen in the books and in the movies," he said. "When you're learning about things like that, to actually be there and to realize the true sacrifice that was made by the Canadians, there is going to be a very moving experience." Making history matter Experiencing history on the very soil where it took place is one way to make it relevant to students. For young people born well into the 21st century, many without living relatives who fought in the war, Canada's role in VE Day 80 years ago can seem remote and abstract. Still, teachers like Jackie Shaw at St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School in Bowmanville, Ont., say the interest is there, sometimes in surprising places. "Some of these kids do have a connection via their parents serving in the Canadian military," Shaw said, while preparing her group of about 15 students for their trip to the Netherlands and France over a pizza lunch. "Some of them just, I think, naturally love history, which is great.... I think some of them are interested in it because of playing video games at some point." Tomas Kovacs, one of the Bowmanville students who went to Europe, remarked on the youth of the fallen Canadian soldiers: "Us living back then, we would have to go to war as well, because they were two years older than us. So not that big of an age gap." Chisholm, of Three Oaks in Summerside, said that connection to the youth of the fallen soldiers is something he's seen first-hand during his previous trips to Europe with students. "I'll have teenagers that will get to the graves and they'll kneel down and they'll leave their letters. And then we need to go console them because all of a sudden they're overwhelmed with emotion because they look at an age, you know, an 18-year-old, a 19-year-old, a 20-year-old. And they're thinking about how could they ever do that?" 'Canada is a nation that is well respected' Another teacher who took his students to Europe for the ceremonies, David McKinney of Parkland Secondary School in North Saanich, B.C., said it's not just about the lessons of the past. He said he hopes that seeing how Canadians are perceived by the Dutch gives students a greater sense of patriotism and pride. "I think it's also really important to remember that Canada is a nation that is well respected across the globe. And even though lately we've been ... bullied a little bit by the school bully, it's still important to remember that we're guests of honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a nation that heroically helped to free them." Jonathan May, one of the 30 students who went on the trip, said he's bracing himself for the hugs and celebrations. "They probably love us more than we love ourselves," May said. "It's, like, really humbling." "I think it'll be something I will remember for the rest of our lives," added his classmate, Drishti Balaiah. She, along with other students, created artwork to memorialize individual soldiers who perished in the liberation of Europe. "And how amazing will it be to be able to tell my kids, you know, I was there for that, the 80th anniversary of VE Day." WATCH | Students in North Saanich, B.C., prepare to travel to Europe to mark VE Day: Why honouring the legacy of freedom matters to the next generation 9 hours ago Duration 3:06 Students reflect on personal stories of Canadian soldiers who fought during the liberation of the Netherlands in the Second World War and how the sacrifices of the past allow them to stand for freedom today.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Students from 3 P.E.I. schools set to travel to Europe for a 'more personal' history lesson
A group of students from Three Oaks Senior High School will be travelling to Europe later this month to commemorate Canadian veterans who served in Europe as part of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. And they've certainly done their homework. Each student picked an Island soldier or veteran to research in order to prepare for the trip. Grade 12 student Ian Sharpe chose a relative who died in the Second World War. "I had the privilege to do my project on my great-great-uncle, Pte. Lawrence Bulger, who was born and raised in Portage, P.E.I.," Sharpe said during an interview with CBC News: Compass. "He served as a stretcher bearer for the Canadians during World War Two." Grade 12 student Ian Sharpe did his project on a relative who died in the Second World War. (CBC) As for Grade 11 student Hannah Heyman, she researched a veteran with whom she shares a special connection. "I live in the old house of the veteran I chose to represent," she said. "I had the honour to represent and interview in person a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran named Barry Copeland. He served as a navigator for 14 years and worked in military intelligence for 16 years." Grade 11 student Hannah Heyman did research on a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran who worked as a navigator and served in military intelligence. Her family lives in the house he used to occupy. (CBC) Those were just two of the stories told at the Three Oaks Senior High library on Wednesday as about 50 students from three schools shared their research, in front of an audience that included 10 local veterans. It was all leading up to the 18-day trip the students are taking at the end of the month, starting off in France before heading to the Netherlands. They will start by sightseeing around Paris before heading north to war sites including Vimy Ridge, where Canadians were recognized for their valour in a key April 1917 battle. Victory against the Germans came at a steep price: Nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed and about 7,000 were injured. A wounded soldier is transported by stretcher at Vimy Ridge, France, in April 1917. (The Canadian Press) "While we're in Vimy Ridge we'll be visiting Thélus Military Cemetery, which is a cemetery which our school has unofficially adopted," Sharpe said. Another stop they're making will be at Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands to honour a fallen Canadian soldier and leave a memento at his grave. "This plaque is dedicated to Alvah Ray Leard, who was killed during World War Two," Sharpe said, displaying the item during the Compass interview. "His family has only ever visited his grave once since the war happened, so on behalf of them, we will be bringing this plaque to them to carry on Alvah's legacy." Students from Three Oaks will place this plaque on the grave of Alvah Ray Leard in Bergen op Zoom on behalf of his family. (CBC) When they reach the grave, the students will FaceTime Leard's family back in Canada. "We thought that that would be a great opportunity for the family to see where one of their own veterans was buried and where he lost his life," said Heyman. For eight months near the end of the war, Canadian troops advancing across the Netherlands gradually pushed back Nazi soldiers, freeing Dutch villages and towns one by one, to the great gratitude of the starving residents. About 7,600 Canadians died in the campaign. Dutch civilians and Canadian Army troops in Utrecht, Netherlands celebrate the liberation of the country from Nazi Germany in May 1945. (Alexander M. Stirton/Canadian Department of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-134377) Heyman said she was interested in this trip because it would make the history of the war real in a vivid and personal way. "I've always been a bit of a history buff, and I thought that this trip to Europe and to visit the memorial sites was not only a great way to get to travel but also to learn about history in a much more personal way," she said. Sharpe said he found researching the stories of local veterans in advance very meaningful. "It's been so many years since the war has happened, there isn't as much of an opportunity for the veterans themselves to share their stories," he said. "So we as the group have taken on the responsibility of telling their stories and passing the torch on to the generations below us, and our fellow students."
CBC
12-04-2025
- General
- CBC
Students from 3 P.E.I. schools set to travel to Europe for a 'more personal' history lesson
A group of students from Three Oaks Senior High School will be travelling to Europe later this month to commemorate Canadian veterans who served in Europe as part of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. And they've certainly done their homework. Each student picked an Island soldier or veteran to research in order to prepare for the trip. Grade 12 student Ian Sharpe chose a relative who died in the Second World War. "I had the privilege to do my project on my great-great-uncle, Pte. Lawrence Bulger, who was born and raised in Portage, P.E.I.," Sharpe said during an interview with CBC News: Compass. "He served as a stretcher bearer for the Canadians during World War Two." As for Grade 11 student Hannah Heyman, she researched a veteran with whom she shares a special connection. "I live in the old house of the veteran I chose to represent," she said. "I had the honour to represent and interview in person a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran named Barry Copeland. He served as a navigator for 14 years and worked in military intelligence for 16 years." Those were just two of the stories told at the Three Oaks Senior High library on Wednesday as about 50 students from three schools shared their research, in front of an audience that included 10 local veterans. It was all leading up to the 18-day trip the students are taking at the end of the month, starting off in France before heading to the Netherlands. They will start by sightseeing around Paris before heading north to war sites including Vimy Ridge, where Canadians were recognized for their valour in a key April 1917 battle. Victory against the Germans came at a steep price: Nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed and about 7,000 were injured. "While we're in Vimy Ridge we'll be visiting Thélus Military Cemetery, which is a cemetery which our school has unofficially adopted," Sharpe said. Another stop they're making will be at Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands to honour a fallen Canadian soldier and leave a memento at his grave. "This plaque is dedicated to Alvah Ray Leard, who was killed during World War Two," Sharpe said, displaying the item during the Compass interview. "His family has only ever visited his grave once since the war happened, so on behalf of them, we will be bringing this plaque to them to carry on Alvah's legacy." When they reach the grave, the students will FaceTime Leard's family back in Canada. "We thought that that would be a great opportunity for the family to see where one of their own veterans was buried and where he lost his life," said Heyman. For eight months near the end of the war, Canadian troops advancing across the Netherlands gradually pushed back Nazi soldiers, freeing Dutch villages and towns one by one, to the great gratitude of the starving residents. About 7,600 Canadians died in the campaign. Heyman said she was interested in this trip because it would make the history of the war real in a vivid and personal way. "I've always been a bit of a history buff, and I thought that this trip to Europe and to visit the memorial sites was not only a great way to get to travel but also to learn about history in a much more personal way," she said. How Veterans Affairs on P.E.I. is readying for 80th anniversary of Netherlands liberation 16 days ago Duration 2:38 Veterans Affairs staff in Charlottetown are preparing for what could be the last trip to Europe for the remaining veterans of the Second World War. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Holland and V-E Day, and about 25 elderly veterans will travel to the Netherlands. As the last survivors pass away, Veterans Affairs Canada also looking to redefine who Canadians identify as veterans. CBC's Nancy Russell has the story. Sharpe said he found researching the stories of local veterans in advance very meaningful. "It's been so many years since the war has happened, there isn't as much of an opportunity for the veterans themselves to share their stories," he said. "So we as the group have taken on the responsibility of telling their stories and passing the torch on to the generations below us, and our fellow students."
