"We will remember them..." Liberation 80, May 8th, 2025

We will remember those walked these streets and "liberated" the Netherlands in 1945.

May 8th, 2025 will mark the Liberation 80, the anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, also the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe (V-E Day).

There are over 60 soldiers who walked these streets within the boundaries of this project who served in the Netherlands and many of them died in the Liberation of the Netherlands in the winter and spring 1945. 

On May 5th, 2025, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of both the Liberation of the Netherlands and of the end of the war, we will be hosting a community event, in partnership with the Dundas Roncesvalles Peace Garden, to honour the lives of the soldiers who lived in our community and who served and never returned. 

Join us on Monday, May 5th at the Peace Garden at 1:15-2:30p.m. to begin our week of remembrance and commemoration with the installation of a special "They walked these streets-Liberation 80" memorial. Join your friends and neighbours in this community event that will commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands which happened in May 1945. 60 soldiers who lived in the Bloor West, Roncesvalles, High Park and Junction Communities and who died in the Second World War as part of the Liberation Campaign will be recognized. Come and learn about the service of these soldiers from commemorative information cards, hear about the lasting connections between Canada and the Netherlands after the war, and take part in an interactive ceremony to honour "those who walked these streets." We will remember them. 

You will also be able to learn more about 8 of the soldiers as featured in an article in the May issue of Neighbur newspaper. 

Want to learn more about the our Canadian "Liberators" who walked these streets? Check out this Google Map: They walked these streets... Liberators of the Netherlands created by research assistant, Lauren Woolfrey.