This summer, we sent a group of students dubbed “Canada’s Youth Ambassadors” to the 70th D-Day anniversary celebrations in Normandy. The group was accompanied by Tony Balch, a Second World War veteran who shared his story with the students attending the event on Juno Beach. We’re proud to announce that our students have been featured in a number of publications, including the most recent issue of the Student & Youth Travel Association‘s monthly publication, Teach & Travel magazine.
Excerpt from “Normandy visit underscores hometown history” in the September 2014 publication of the SYTA‘s Teach & Travel.
“June 6, 2014, marked the seventieth anniversary of World War II’s D-Day, when the Western Allied forces landed in Normandy. Explorica, an educational travel specialist, designed three D-Day-focused trips honouring Canada’s participation and allowing students to discover and experience the country’s role in liberating Europe.
One student group was joined by Ontario resident Anthony Frances Balch, a veteran who enlisted at fifteen years old, participated in missions on behalf of the British Royal Navy, and provided a firsthand account of the D-Day landings.
‘This is going to be a unique opportunity to revisit the beach in Juno, because I’m going to be in the company of young people who have no knowledge of it other than what they’ve read or heard,’ said Balch, prior to the trip. ‘I hope that I can instill in them the concept of the history of D-Day, whether they go on to consider the morality of war or its place in the overall history of the world, is up to them. This is a unique opportunity for me to be with the students and to, perhaps, see the beaches through their eyes as well as through my own.'”
Read the full story:
Featured in SYTA’s Teach & Travel magazine
Want to learn more about travelling on a commemorative tour?
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More Canadian history news from Explorica:
D-Day 2014 with Canada’s youth ambassadors
Remembering Beaumont Hamel this Canada Day
Celebrate the WWI centenary at the Imperial War Museum
CBC News’ D-Day live recreates the events of D-Day
Canadian history news about Explorica:
Canada’s youth ambassadors for 70th D-Day anniversary (Orangeville.com)
Students set to travel to Juno Beach with Second World War veteran (CTV Barrie)
Bon Voyage to Centre Dufferin Students! (Juno Beach Centre)
Toronto called on to donate towards D-Day memorial (CTV News Channel)
Ontario students to honour those who made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ on D-Day (CTV News Channel)
Juno Beach inspires teacher to keep history alive for students (CBC news)
Students off to Juno Beach for real-life history lesson(CTV News Channel)
CTV News Giving Back to Those Lost (CTV News Channel)
Honouring Her Great Uncle (CBC Radio–Metro Morning)