TORONTO—An historic $1 million matching gift is seeking to leverage donations to support the creation of a new Canadian D-Day Monument and investment in the Juno Beach Centre’s “bold new vision.”
“The $1 million matching gift from our partners at Canso and Lysander in support of the new D-Day monument is more than a donation, it’s a transformational investment in the future of the Juno Beach Centre,” said Chris LaBossiere, president, Juno Beach Centre Association. “With a strong start from the Arthur J.E. Child Foundation, this campaign is gaining real momentum. These generous commitments remind us that remembrance is a shared responsibility. With the match in place, there has never been a more impactful time to support Canada’s museum on the D-Day landing beaches.
“We are proud to support the Juno Beach Centre in preserving Canada’s legacy of service and sacrifice,” reads a statement from Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. and Lysander Funds Ltd. “This matching gift is our way of honouring the past while inspiring future generations to remember the values our Veterans fought for.”
In 2022, Canadians, outraged at a condominium development being set on Juno Beach, helped the Juno Beach Centre Association (JBCA) win an important victory by speaking out against the enormous insult to the memory of our nations’ soldiers. That victory now makes it possible that a monument dedicated to all Canadians who lost their lives on D-Day be established on the former battlefield.
The future Canadian D-Day Monument will be the first of its kind: a permanent tribute on Juno Beach featuring the names of all 381 Canadian soldiers and aircrew who were killed on June 6, 1944 during the Allied invasion of Normandy. While Canada has commemorated D-Day in many ways, there is currently no single monument on Juno Beach listing all their names, a void this new initiative will fill.
“Three years ago, thousands of Canadians stepped up to help us preserve the Juno Beach Centre and the sanctity of Juno Beach from a condo development,” said Juno Beach Centre Association Executive Director Alex Fitzgerald-Black. “Now, at a time when Canadian patriotism is at a peak, we call upon Canadians to support the creation of a monument to permanently honour the nearly 400 Canadians who fell in the spearhead that eventually defeated Nazi Germany and restored freedom to millions.”
According to the centre, the monument will be the centrepiece of a renewed commitment to stewardship of heritage lands, as the Juno Beach Centre evolves into a living memorial that reflects not only Canada’s past, but its duty to future generations. The Centre’s Capital Campaign supports three pillars: preserving and stewarding sacred ground; leading in sustainability and visitor experience; and inspiring through education and remembrance.
The matching campaign was launched during JBCA’s June 6 ’Honour the Past – Protect the Future’ event in Toronto, featuring keynote historian Marc Milner, with moderation by J’Lyn Nye, RCAF Honorary Colonel, and two living Second World War veterans — Major Jim Parks and Private William Seifried — who serve as living reminders of the stories we must preserve.
The event also celebrated a $100,000 launch gift from the Arthur J.E. Child Foundation, the first major contribution toward the matched funds.
