May 29, 2022

On 78th Anniversary of D-Day, Canadian Museum in Normandy Is under Threat

The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France. The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second World War, the Juno Beach Centre’s mandate is to preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance.

Now, however, a French property developer, plans to erect a seventy-unit condominium development on Juno Beach, just east of and between the Canadian museum and the Seulles River. The development is called Domaine des Dunes. Museum officials stress that they are not generally opposed to projects like these on former battlegrounds; the French deserve to enjoy the freedoms secured by the sacrifices of many veterans.

The Dunes project, however, was created without input from the community or from the Juno Beach Centre. Today, despite local opposition, the project has advanced to the point where the developer is demanding use of the JBC’s private road for access to the building site by construction vehicles and workers. There are great concerns for the impact that this will have on the Juno Beach Centre.

Les Amis du Centre Juno Beach and the citizens of Courseulles-sur-Mer understand and cherish the sacrifices Canadians made to liberate their town and country. They have been vocal in their opposition to this project over the last two years. Representations have been made to French and Canadian officials, but the centre needs others to join this fight for history.

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This is an existential threat to the Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian memorial presence in Normandy. Without support, the legacy that veterans built for future generations on Juno Beach may disappear entirely. To join in the fight to “Save Juno Beach”, please go to https://www.savejunobeach.ca.