Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's my privilege to have the opportunity to address you and the members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs today.
My name is Don Cooper, and I am the president of the Juno Beach Centre Association, which owns and operates the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. For those of you who aren’t familiar with us, the Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War memorial, museum and cultural centre located on the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy.
The Juno Beach Centre is crucial to Canada’s commemorative efforts in Europe. It is not simply a museum about war. It's a place for testimonies and life stories. It's a historic site, interpretative centre and memorial combined.
It is also a cultural representation of the society these Second World War veterans built for their children and grandchildren and for those who would come to settle here in the decades after the war—today’s Canada.
The Juno Beach Centre was born of a simple question posed by a group of Second World War veterans. They stood on the spot where, decades earlier, they had landed as young men to begin freeing northwestern Europe from the clutches of Nazi Germany—Juno Beach, Normandy. D-Day, June 6, 1944, would become one of the most significant events in the history of the modern world.
As they looked across the sand and visited the graves of their fallen friends in Normandy, they wondered what would happen when they themselves were no longer around to share these stories. Who would remember? With the same tenacity and resilience they had had in the war, these veterans took it upon themselves to raise $12 million from public and private donors to build the Juno Beach Centre on the very stretch of beach they had landed on so many years before.
Today, the Juno Beach Centre stands as a sacred piece of Canada in France. It commemorates the story of Canadians who put their lives on hold—or sacrificed them entirely—to fight for a better world. Our founding veterans envisioned a centre that was a living memorial, a place at once of remembrance and of learning, especially for the younger generations who would be the ones to take up the torch when the veterans were no longer with us to bear witness.
Since opening in 2003, we have showcased Canada’s Second World War story to over one million visitors. Our success is the result of hard work and many passionate staff, volunteers, donors and partners. Veterans Affairs Canada has been one of our steadfast supporters. Over many years, they have generously supported our operations and our aspirations. We would not be able to do what we do without VAC.
There is perhaps no better testament to the strength of our relationship than the success of the official Canadian ceremony hosted at the Juno Beach Centre to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019. For anyone who had the honour to attend, it was one of the most moving experiences imaginable, to see more than 40 veterans, now all in their nineties, once again standing on Juno Beach and remembering.
Almost 20 years since opening our doors, we have accomplished more than I can possibly mention right now. We are proud of all our achievements, but perhaps most of all, of our powerful youth programs, which bring history to life for Canadians at home and for those who travel to Juno Beach, as well as for thousands of French students who participate in our educational programs every year.
Our balanced and diverse presentation of Canada’s Second World War story includes many perspectives, including the experiences of indigenous soldiers, Black and Chinese soldiers and the many Canadians who courageously served Canada.
Our commitment is to create a space where families can learn and share together, whether they are Canadian, French or from anywhere around the world and whether or not they have a personal connection to the war. It is a profound moment each time a veteran has returned to Juno Beach with their own children and grandchildren. When they tell us we have done their stories justice, we know we have done our job.
We were invited today to provide the committee with input on the long-term Canadian strategy for commemorations as drafted by Veterans Affairs Canada. Our response is that we think the draft accurately identifies an appropriate vision and mission for the decade ahead and the necessary goals that will serve Canada well in the coming years.
The Juno Beach Centre sees itself marching in common step toward similar goals within the limitations of our World War II story of remembrance. We hope to complement and enhance the activities laid out in the VAC strategic plan and play our part in this effort. We have unique assets to manage and protect on a historic heritage site, and we will carry our message to visitors and those back home alike.
Events that celebrate key dates are an essential tool in the remembrance efforts, but as identified in the VAC plan, the real challenge is in reaching the millions of Canadians of all origins and personal histories with a common message of their shared Canadian military history. It is a history that we can be proud of and one that can bind us as a nation if properly communicated.
Recently, we also launched our new strategic plan, which sets out our path to 2024 when we will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
One of our most ambitious and important goals to achieve by then is the transformation of our contemporary Canada room, the final room in our museum, that acts as a window through which Europeans can learn about Canadian culture, traditions, diversity and values, as well as the military history we impart. We aim to open this brand new, updated space for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
A key element to this initiative, as well as all of our operations going forward, will be the integration of sustainable development principles into everything we do. It is our belief that the climate emergency facing the world is our generation's greatest battle and that to live up to the standards set by our forefathers we must again come together to safeguard the world and the peace they fought for. In alignment with the United Nations sustainable development goals for 2030, we are now transforming the museum to act as a regional and national leader in sustainable tourism. These are two of our most aspirational goals, with many others included in the blueprint for the future.
Despite the very real challenges COVID-19 has presented, we're ready to embark on the next five years of recovery and growth. Juno Beach itself has become a strong symbol of the culture and values embodied by Canada, written in the stories of the men and women who demonstrated immeasurable courage and resilience during the Second World War.
More than 75 years have passed since the bonds of friendship between nations—liberators and the liberated—were forged in fire. The JBC demonstrates how they continue today, with the shared purpose of educating newer generations about some of the most important moments in Canada's history and how they can take up the torch of remembrance to become active participants in creating a better world.
We truly believe there's no better place for Canada to share its story with the rest of the world than on Juno Beach.
Thank you.