Harman Idema, Consul General for the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Together with our team at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Toronto I enjoy staying in touch with the large Dutch community in Ontario, be it through our National Day celebrations, visiting Dutch entrepreneurs, engaging with Dutch organizations or during the commemoration of May 4th (‘dodenherdenking’) and celebrations of May 5th (Liberation Day/bevrijdingsdag).

Speaking with war veterans at elderly homes on Liberation Day and engaging with organizations set up by Dutch people especially during the migration wave in the 1950’s, have made me contemplate how we will commemorate the efforts of our liberators and celebrate our freedom in the future. It has convinced me that we have to look for new ways to say ‘thank you’ to Canada and to actively engage younger generations. Freedom and democracy are not self-evident as we can see in the current geopolitical context.

Why did the Second World War occur and, what did it mean for the Dutch and for the soldiers who came to fight to liberate the Netherlands? What does it mean for the current times we live in? The role the Canadian forces played in liberating our country should never be forgotten.

With the 80th anniversary of our liberation, the idea arose of a proper tribute for Ontario, to thank the Canadian forces and also to engage younger generations. I am very satisfied that we have been able to get together a motivated, engaged and professional team of volunteers and artists who have shaped this idea into a concrete project, with both a physical and a digital component, focusing on both those who gave their lives and/or contributed to our freedom and on raising awareness and connecting past times to the future for younger generations.

I am proud to be part of this wonderful initiative that will further strengthen the excellent relations between Canada and the Netherlands.