Simcoe County students to visit Dieppe for 80th anniversary of raid
A group of local students will be making the trip to Europe this week for a commemorative ceremony honouring those who served.
Maia Edwards and Micah Froese are two of 44 students travelling to France for the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.
The group of students will be among the youngest to attend the Commemorative ceremony.
“I think it is very important for us because it is our Canadian history. Where we live it would not be the same without the events that unfolded in history,” said Micah Froese.
After learning about it in class, the High school students say they are looking forward to seeing it in real life and paying tribute to the soldiers.
“The conditions were so horrible, it was such a big deal for the Canadians. It was really their first battle and really paved the way for the rest of the war,” said Maia Edwards.
The trip has been in the works for a year and a half. The group includes students aged 15 to 17, from Barrie, Innisfil, Elmvale and the GTA.
Trip Organizer Craig Froese said it’s important for the younger generation to be aware of the historic event.
“More soldiers from Canada fell at Dieppe then at Juno Beach. Although it was a failure, we learned a lot from Dieppe that helped with the Juno Beach invasion and Normandy,” Froese said.
Parents also think it’s a great opportunity for their kids.
“We always like to travel as a family to learn about new cultures and when she could combine that with learning about some of the activities and events she heads about in her history class, we thought it was a fantastic opportunity,” said Jani Edwards, Maia’s mother.
1000 people are expected to attend the solemn event on August 19th, according to the federal government.
The students leave for the 10-day trip tomorrow with their first stop in Paris. They will also visit Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.