Arne de Kruijff
Project Manager, 80 Years of Freedom Committee

Recently, I moved to Toronto after growing up, studying, and starting my career in the Netherlands. I was born in Wageningen, the historic city where the Second World War came to an end for the Netherlands. It was there, on May 5, 1945, after five years of occupation and oppression, that Canadian General Charles Foulkes, commanding the First Canadian Army, negotiated the German surrender.

As I listened to stories about my grandfather fighting in the Battle of the Grebbeberg, and all that my grandparents endured during WWII, a few sentiments have stayed with me quite vividly. First, a deep respect for them—and their entire generation—for their strength and resilience. Second, a profound sense of gratitude toward our liberators, who dropped everything and came to our aid. And third, a sentiment that unfortunately grows ever more poignant: that such horrors, and such disregard for human life and freedom, must never happen again.

For me, this Tribute—set up quite literally on the home shores of our liberators—beautifully captures these sentiments. That’s why I am proud to contribute to this exhibition. It honours the lives and sacrifices of those who made our freedom possible, and it powerfully reminds us of what we stand to lose.