A ceremony at the downtown Cenotaph in Campbell River on May 5 will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Netherlands.
Pieter Koeleman presented during the Feb. 27 council meeting to highlight the importance of holding the event. He said the event will mark the first time in five years Campbell River has hosted the ceremony after missing the 75th anniversary due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In 2019, the federal government declared May 5 as Dutch Heritage Day in Canada, a special occasion to celebrate the contributions that Canadians of Dutch heritage have made to the country on a social, cultural, and economic level. May 5 is also Liberation Day in the Netherlands, which marks the end of Nazi Germany’s occupation during the Second World War.
Koeleman told council the event is important because the fight for freedom, unfortunately, never ends, even today.
City council approved the request on Feb. 27. The anniversary celebration will include the participation of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 137, as well as a parade from the Legion to the Cenotaph and a flag raising ceremony. A flag raising ceremony will also take place at City Hall.
