About the Foundation

Honour the past, inspire the future

Our Mission

The Canadian Battlefields Foundation is dedicated to remembering Canada’s military contributions to peace and freedom throughout the 20th century. By engaging in educational programs, commemorative events and student battlefield tours, we ensure these sacrifices continue to inspire and educate.

Our Organization

The Foundation is a non-profit organization led by a board of directors and run by a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving the memory of Canada’s role in the wars of the 20th century.

Our Story

The Canadian Battlefields Foundation was established in 1992 to educate and promote public awareness of Canada’s role in World War II. That was the year Le Mémorial opened in Caen, a Norman city liberated by Canadian soldiers in 1944.

WWII veteran Hamilton Southam learned that Canadians were absent from the commemoration honouring their achievements. Determined to change this, Southam founded the Canadian Battlefields Foundation to remind Canadians of our role in both world wars and encourage Canadian university students in the study of war and peace.

Two years later, Caen celebrated the 50th anniversary of its liberation. This time, CBF President Major-General Roland Reid attended, unveiling the CBF’s plaque affixed where Canadians had entered the city on July 9, 1944. He was accompanied by a Canadian Armed Forces guard and band who complemented the ceremony.

Canadian Memorial Garden
Caen, France

On May 11, 1995, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien officially opened the Canadian Memorial Garden in Caen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of victory over Germany. This serene and meaningful space was made possible through funding from the Foundation and the Canadian government.

Designed and constructed by a team of architecture student from Universite de Montreal and Carleton University, guided by Professor Terry Copp, the garden honours the sacrifices of the Canadian forces and provides a place for quiet reflection. It also serves as a starting point for those exploring the historic sites of the region.

As one of the CBF’s earliest accomplishments, the Canadian Memorial Garden remains a powerful symbol of remembrance and a cornerstone of the Foundation’s commitment to preserving Canada’s legacy.

Preserving Knowledge, Sharing Knowledge

Beyond funding and maintaining the Canadian Memorial Garden, the Foundation actively fosters the study of war and peace in universities while nurturing ties with the nations Canada helped liberate.

In 1994, the Foundation collaborated with the official historian at National Defence Headquarters and the staff of Le Mémorial in Caen to develop the exhibit “Le Canada au secours de l’Europe” (“Canada to the Rescue of Europe”). Its drew such widespread interest that its run was extended for an additional year.

That same year, the Foundation partnered with Wilfrid Laurier University’s Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies to co-publish battlefield guides by Prof. Terry Copp, designed to enrich the experience of Canadians visiting Normandy and northwest Europe.

Further extending its educational reach, the Foundation commissioned renowned historian J. L. Granatstein to write a concise history of the Normandy campaign. This accessible resource was distributed to high schools across the country, ensuring the next generation understands the significance of Canada’s contributions during the Second World War.

80th Anniversary of the
D-Day Landings and Liberation of Caen

On June 7th, 2024, to mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings and liberation of Caen, the CBF hosted the largest of its memorial services to date, with over 500 dignitaries, guests and local citizens in attendance, including the Mayor of Caen and 30 mayors representing some of the 220 plus towns and villages that had been liberated by Canadian Soldiers during the Normandy campaign. General Dwayne Eyre, the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs as well as Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orleans, Ontario and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Defence and General Dwayne Eyre, the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) were in attendance along with a very special guest – Major-General (Retired) Rick Rohmer, WWII D-Day veteran. A contingent of more than 100 hundred Canadian soldiers including the RCAF Band participated in the ceremony.

Student Battlefield Tours

In 1995, the Canadian Battlefields Foundation awarded its first bursary, enabling 12 university students to embark on an intensive three-week study tour of Normandy. This inaugural journey set the stage for a transformative program that has since touched the lives of hundreds of young Canadians.

Accompanied by esteemed Canadian historians, students have explored historic battlefields across Normandy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom. Along the way, they meet locals whose lives were forever shaped by Canadian soldiers and conduct in-depth research on a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Tours to Normandy conclude with a poignant ceremony organized by the Foundation and Le Mémorial. The experience is profound and life-changing, deepening the students’ understanding of history and their appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of those who came before them.

Donate please!

Your Support Helps Us Bring History to Life

Every step we take—from retracing battlefields to supporting students—is powered by the generosity of donors who believe in the importance of remembrance. Your gift supports our student bursary program, preserves memorial gardens, and funds annual commemorative ceremonies. Join us in keeping Canada’s history alive.