This year, 2024, marks 80 years since D-Day. To mark this historical event Big Ideas worked with the Maple Leaf Trust to host Stories Behind the Poppy: D-Day80.
A series of three events hosted on Thursday 7th November spanning multiple timezones brought together over 14,000 young people to learn about D-Day and what happened next, taking part in interactive workshops aimed at primary and secondary aged students.
Students watched a film created for the event – an interview with centenarian Captain Bill Wilson, Canadian Navy Veteran who served at D-Day. His clear recollections of the day and his reflections on the Canadian contribution provided first hand information to the young people in attendance. The film can be watched here
We were honoured to have Canadian High Commissioner Ralph Goodale join the workshops, he spoke about his work with veterans, the importance of remembering shared history and nurturing friendship.
The High Commissioner wore a beautiful Metis beaded poppy, and Big Ideas’ hosts Cassie Cramer and Lottie Selwyn were also proud to wear beaded poppies created at the Algonquin reserve of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, in Quebec and given to us by our friend Faith Decontie. Faith co-hosted Stories Behind the Poppy with Big Ideas last year when we explored the stories of Canada’s Indigenous Veterans.
Most of the poetry used in remembrance is from the First World War, so Stories Behind the Poppy challenged participants to write a poem or epitaph ias an act or remembrance for those who died in World War Two. These poems were shared by Big Ideas, Maple Leaf Trust and the High Commissioner on social media on Armistice Day.
Big Ideas would like to thank the Maple Leaf Trust for funding this event for a third year.