Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 15th, 2011

[Susan Mousseau]

We have the same problem. Prior to 2003, there was no memorial in France; there was nothing to commemorate.

How the Juno Beach Centre was conceived was conceived is the following. I was on a tour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-day, and we had three bus loads of veterans who went to Courseulles-sur-Mer, Beny-sur-Mer, and Bernières-sur-Mer—which is specifically where my father landed—and there was nothing there. The Winnipeg Rifles maybe had a small monument, but there was no focal point.

This group of veterans came home from that 50th anniversary and said that they had to do something. Garth Webb was the spearhead of this whole program. He began fundraising but hit roadblock after roadblock. He went to Canadian companies such as the Royal Bank and Molson's, the typical big Canadian companies, looking for funding. It was only with Walmart, which was looking for a Canadian cause.... It was the right time at the right place, and they took us on board and helped us fundraise. They never really gave us any money.

I think to answer your question, it would take the same kind of impassioned veterans group for Korea to do the same thing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you, Ms. Mousseau. We're over the time and we'll try to move along quickly.

While we're waiting, the flag was brought in to be signed. We can pass it around. They even provided a pen. So if the committee is okay with that, while we finish the questioning, we'll pass the flag around.

We will go to Mr. Anders for a couple of minutes.

You're going to take it instead? Sorry, then, Ms. Adams.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

You've done an extraordinary job with youth in commemorating our veterans' sacrifice. As a group, how many students, how many youth, would you say each year gain an experience through your programs?

[David Houghton]

Why don't I start because I'm sure that I'm the smallest? We're probably dealing with 300 or 400, but we're trying to ramp that up to 1,000-plus.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

That's still remarkable.

[David Houghton]

Thank you.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

How many years has that been going on now?

[David Houghton]

For five years.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

My goodness.

Ms. Mousseau.

[Susan Mousseau]

I can tell you that about 56,000 visitors a year attend the Juno Beach Centre. The largest group among those people is Canadian school groups. I can't tell you the specific number, but I would say it's probably 30%.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Again, that's very remarkable.

[Susan Mousseau]

It's remarkable.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Owen and Mr. Robinson.

[Greg Owen]

What I can say is that we've looked at our numbers, and over the last three years up to and including this April, we will have had over 11,000 students visit Juno Beach. There have been over 9,000 to Vimy Ridge, and certainly in the 3,000 to 5,000 range have been to Beaumont-Hamel, which tends to be a lesser known site. But if you're from Newfoundland, it's probably the most important part of your history that you would learn about, and it is quite a place for all Canadians to visit in addition to visiting Juno Beach and Vimy.

[David Robinson]

For me, personally, we have over 500 to the Battle of Hong Kong, and close to 3,000 to Italy, for Ortona. Altogether, by the time this tour is over, we will have had over 15,000 students since 2004.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

That's truly extraordinary. Clearly, commemoration is something that's very significant to our youth and to families. Wouldn't you agree?

Do you find from the considerable uptake that there's much more demand than you are actually able to provide?

[David Robinson]

One of the things I talk about that we as a country don't understand sometimes or celebrate is how much Canadians truly love their history and their country. I don't think a lot of different levels everywhere understand how important Canada's history is to Canadians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you very much. We're pretty close to the end of the time. I don't know if Mr. Anders still wanted to ask a question.

Are you all fine?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Lobb is next.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Okay, very briefly, if you would.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

This question is for Mr. Owen and Mr. Robinson. I don't mean to make light of this, but I just want you to tell this committee what you have seen.

Mr. Robinson, obviously, you've been in education your entire life. The youngest generation coming through has played video games--Call of Duty, etc.--and can't take its eyes off its iPhones for five seconds. They're on all of these things. So then you take them for a tour.

Tell me, do they put their iPhones away for a few minutes? Tell me how it all comes together. And then also tell me what your relationship is with past students and how their lives have been changed by going there.

[David Robinson]

I have some really quick stories.

At the 60th anniversary at Juno Beach, there was a young girl on my trip, spoiled rotten but a good kid. After all the ceremonies the only people allowed on the beach are the Queen—our Queen—the veterans, and my students. We're on the beach. Our young lady has her “aha” moment. She found a veteran sitting on the sand, went up to him, and asked if she could help him, if he needed anything. He said he was fine, but he never made it past that point.

She said: “Are you sure? Do you want some water?” She walked away and he said: “Miss, there is something you can do for me. Would you get me some stones? I promised my grandchildren I'd bring them back some stones from Juno Beach”.

Off she wandered and then brought back some stones. He was standing up now and she held out her hand with these little stones, and he held up his arms, which had two hooks. He said, “Would you put them in my pocket for me? This is where I lost my hands”.

This girl will graduate from the University of Alberta this year on her full scholarship in an MBA program. When she came back she became our citizen of the year at my school.

On VE day, we had a first nation student at Juno Beach wading out into the water past his knees, because this is where both his grandparents on his father's and mother's side died. They never made it ashore.

We were in Italy with a school from Ottawa. The kids had to carry the city of Ottawa quarterback football star away from the gravesite of the soldier whom he had adopted. He had come face to face.

I get emails all the time from parents asking what we've done to their child. They've come back changed. They say, “Please come with us and see for yourself”. It's absolutely amazing what happens to these kids.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

We're going to get a chance to thank you briefly and then we have to suspend and go into committee business.

Thank you very much for all of that.

[Proceedings continue in camera]