‘A time of reflection’: Iqaluit marks 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion
Wreaths laid to commemorate turning point in Second World War
Six members of Royal Canadian Legion branch 168 and four guests, including Nunavut Commissioner Eva Aariak and Iqaluit city Coun. Kyle Sheppard, gather at the cenotaph in front of the legion on Thursday. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Iqaluit joined cities worldwide Thursday in marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing with a ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion.
“It’s a time of reflection,” Nunavut Commissioner Eva Aariak said after the ceremony at the legion’s branch. “It’s important to recognize and remember how many people have died for our freedom.”
Aariak was one of the guests at the ceremony, along with Coun. Kyle Sheppard representing city council, six legion members and about 15 members of the public.
The landing of Allied forces on the beaches at Normandy on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War, which started in 1939.
Nearly 160,000 troops from eight Allied countries left England, crossed the English Channel, and landed on the north of France that morning, including approximately 14,000 Canadians who were dispatched at Juno Beach, one of five target points of the attack.
The invasion, known as Operation Overlord, lasted for about 11 weeks and 5,500 Canadians died including 381 on D-Day alone, according to the Juno Beach memorial website.
The German army surrendered on May 7, 1945, and the Second World War ended on Sept. 2 that year.
On Thursday morning, after a brief indoor introduction at 10:45 a.m. with speeches from president John Graham and vice-president Jarrod Selkirk of the legion branch 168, Aariak and others laid wreaths at the cenotaph outside, in front of the legion hall.
“Remembrance is the number one purpose and objective of the Royal Canadian Legion,” said Graham, following the event. “It’s making sure that those who did pay the supreme sacrifice are remembered.”
He said: “All the rights and privileges that we enjoy today were paid by the blood of the youth of this great nation.”
In France on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his French counterpart Gabriel Attal, Prince William and 13 Canadian veterans of the Second World War were among those attending the Canadian ceremony at Juno Beach.
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok was also there, along with the premiers of Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Yukon, other federal officials and Cindy Woodhouse, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The international D-Day ceremony on Omaha Beach was attended by 20 heads of state including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Nunavut Commissioner Eva Aariak and RCMP Sgt. Sam Munden prepare to lay a wreath to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day, at the Iqaluit cenotaph on Thursday. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Thank you for attending Coun. Kyle Sheppard.
However, please show your proper request during ceremonies. Hands, or thumbs in the pocket is not appropriate!!!!, especially since you’re representing the city of Iqaluit
Seems like they weren’t ready for a picture so I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
However given how triggered he got by your comment and this photo (check his twitter lol), I’ll allow it.
His disdain for media has always been problematic since he started on council. He does good work sometimes on council and can be the voice of reason (usually when other councilors get all loony) but there’s so much ego that seeps in, hard to take him seriously. It’s like Kenny Bell with more composure.
1944 the great battle, i dont remember i was not even born yet, wait, i think we were all happyly staying in tentes and igloos back then, living peacefull life without war, Right ? so why that ceremony in iqaluit if we didnt even contribute to the war and die as bloody meat grinder from qabloona’s big cannons ? just some thoughts
If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding!
Where is the premier & minister J
Probably sitting back. Drinking a few. Tasting the big city life.
premier and minister j are over seas wasting our money taking pictures. expensive pictures they are. Lets hope they flew on economy class going for the photo opp.
Mean while, Nunavut is going through a 3rd crisis in just one week screaming for help! Can’t wait to see the photos that will show where they went and for what purpose for missing this D-Day event . The House should expose how much money has been spent on the Premier and ministers and the duration and reason for their travel. Not only have they travelled into each Nunavut community and posting photos all over media and now overseas? Premier of Nunavut and his chosen ministers, stop wasting money and stay put and work in your office. Nunavut is in dire need of help! Think how much money can be better used than these very expensive photos for the whole world to see.
These young men went though unbelievable trauma to make sure the world remained free. Thank a veteran for your freedoms ❤️
The entire point of Kyle being there is to show respect on an important day in history. I find it silly that he got so upset over a photo posted by Nunatsiaq that is about D-Day. Sorry Kyle that the photo is upsetting, luckily people have given you the freedom to speak on it.
The eastern front of the WW2 European theater was where Russian troops held Hitler’s army at bay and pushed it back to Berlin. Funny that zero nil Russian delegates were there but a fascist head of state from Ukrania was. Meanwhile Biden made good use of his Depends at the memorial service.
But freedom is but another passing fad in Canada as speaking anything other than the officially fed Ottawa line is met with fury, closing of personal bank accounts, imprisonment, facing off with mounted security details, etc. Freedom democracy is window dressing.