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Staff Share: What it's Like to be at the Juno Beach Centre?

lynn@influenceproductions.com (Lynn Elmhirst) — Wed, 05 Feb 20 19:25:51 +0000

A visit to the Juno Beach Centre is life-changing. Walking in the footsteps of young, Canadian soldiers who landed on this stretch of beach in Normandy, France on DDay is emotional, eye-opening, and never-to-be-forgotten.

Some Canadians do more than visit. They work here. Permanent staff and young Canadians greet and guide visitors at the Centre, through the restored bunkers, and on Juno Beach itself, and work on programs that tell the story at the Juno Beach Centre of DDay from a Canadian point of view.

Many of the young guides are about the same age as the 19- and 20-year old soldiers who landed on Juno Beach in 1944 - and that's by design. It helps keep in perspective how young most of those Canadian soldiers were.

Here are some thoughts and insights of Juno Beach Centre team members about their daily presence in such an important and evocative place for Canadians.

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Travel Agents

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Mon, 08 Jul 19 15:25:23 +0000

Juno Beach Centre - Information for Travel Professionals

The Juno Beach Centre is located in Courseulles-sur-Mer in Normandy, France, a couple of hours north-west of Paris.

F.I.T travelers can reach the Juno Beach Centre from Paris, via the Chunnel from London, or easily by train/ rental car from the Netherlands or Belgium.

Juno Beach Centre has compiled local information to help travel professionals plan and book tours to the Centre.

Contact: resa@JunoBeach.org

In addition, many suppliers you are already working with can provide your individual or group departure clients scheduled land and river tours (usually Paris and / or London to Normandy with DDay Landing Beaches via land or Seine river cruises).

It's important when booking your client to confirm the supplier knows your client is specifically interested in the Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian sector of the DDay Landing Beaches to ensure the supplier includes the Juno Beach Centre on that tour.

About JBC

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Mon, 08 Jul 19 15:25:23 +0000

The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France, along the coast where the US and UK Landing Beaches are found nearby.

The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second World War, the Centre’s mandate is to preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance.

The Juno Beach Centre provides visitors with a better understanding of the contribution that Canada made to the Second World War. At the same time, the JBC showcases today’s Canada, allowing visitors to learn more about Canadian values and culture.

The Juno Beach Centre Travel Site is operated by our partners Travel Agency Tribes and BestTrip.tv, who curate the content and offers, including exclusive offers only available on this site, to help inform you about travel, and actually book a trip to the Juno Beach Centre.

When you reach out to start a trip through this site, you'll be contacted by travel specialists trained in travel options to the Juno Beach Centre. They will help you make the best travel choices for a memorable trip to this very special place.

We look forward to seeing you on Juno Beach!

The Best Trip You Can Make to Honour Canada's Veterans in Memory of the 75th Anniversay of DDay

lynn@influenceproductions.com (Lynn Elmhirst) — Thu, 30 May 19 19:25:19 +0000

2019 marks the 75^th anniversary of DDay. On June 6, 1944, Canada joined British, American and other Allied troops in storming the Nazi-held shore of France along the coast of Normandy.

Of the many things that could go wrong, most of them did. Yet the Allies persevered, and at the end of the day, all had gained a foothold onto European soil, the essential and long-sought after moment when they could begin to re-take Europe from the Nazis.

It's a fabled day in military history, one where true stories are better than any fiction, the subject of movies and documentaries and novels. And for countless families across Canada whose fathers, brothers, grandfathers and uncles fought on DDay or in any battle of World War 2, the place to honour their sacrifice and the almost inconceivable task they set to accomplish, is Juno Beach.

One of the five Landing Beaches, Juno Beach is Canada's beach. Today, you can stroll along a peaceful, sandy stretch looking across the Channel to England out of sight in the distance. Walk in the very footsteps of the soldiers who struggled ashore amid heavy gunfire. Re-live their stories at the Juno Beach Centre displays and learn about the entire Canadian war effort during the Second World War. Experience the imposing German fortifications still preserved on the beach that could easily have defeated the Canadians and caused DDay to fail.

The Juno Beach Centre is a labour of love, the result of a vision of veterans themselves and the non-stop efforts of a private foundation to preserve and maintain the beach and its lessons for Canadians and the world.

For Canadians able to travel to Europe, a visit to the Juno Beach Centre is amazingly easy to accomplish. Its location makes it accessible by nearly any mode of transportation:

Traveling independently by
rental car,
private tour or
train and public transportation from all major cities of Northern Europe: Paris, London, Amsterdam and more;
Land tours that include the Juno Beach Centre as part of a wider tour of France or Northern Europe or a War Memorial or battlefields tour in the region;
Shore excursions offered by some cruise lines from:
River cruises on the Seine River from Paris to Normandy; or
Ocean cruises with a nearby city – usually the French town of Le Havre - as a port of call.

A visit to the Juno Beach Centre was described to me as a pilgrimage, and I agree. It's a pilgrimage every Canadian – new Canadians, old Canadians, French and English-speaking Canadians – should make.

Local cenotaphs and Remembrance ceremonies serve to remind us at home. But Juno Beach is special. For veterans, military and cadet groups, for families, even with young children (there's a children's program at the Centre), for community groups, for anyone who wants to include paying tribute as part of their vacation, honour this historic momen in Canada's history and our WW2 veterans by literally walking in their footsteps on Juno Beach.

By: Lynn Elmhirst, Producer/ Host, BestTrip.TV

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2019 is the 75th Anniversary of DDay, and This DDay Veteran Explains Why You Should Visit the Juno Beach Centre

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Mon, 18 Mar 19 15:25:11 +0000

There are fewer and fewer veterans of the DDay Landing Beaches to tell their stories, but Canada's Juno Beach Centre introduced us to Jim Parks, who shared his memories of landing on DDay as a young soldier, and why he believes all of us should travel there at least once in a lifetime.

2019 marks 75 years since this pivotal moment in Canadian and Allied history, and for Canadians moved by the sacrifices of our soldiers and fellow Canadians to end WW2, for families looking to provide their children with first hand insight and understanding of why we commemorate every Remembrance Day, for groups of families and friends and service groups who want to stand on the very beach Canadians landed on... this is the time to book a trip to Normandy and Canada's Juno Beach Centre, the only Canadian WW2 museum in Europe.

We encourage you to visit the DDay Landing Beaches in Normandy, walk in the footsteps of those Allied soldiers, and learn about the history of DDay on the very beaches where those history-changing events took place.

These are some of Jim's memories, insights, and his thoughts on visiting the DDay memorials like Juno Beach Centre in Normandy.

A Veteran of DDay Explains Why You Should Visit the Juno Beach Centre

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Mon, 18 Mar 19 14:26:50 +0000

DDay remains the iconic symbol of Allied unity and sacrifice to end World War 2. Thousands of soldiers from the US, Britain, Canada and other Allied nations landed on the beaches of France to free Europe. Today, you can visit the DDay Landing Beaches in Normandy, walk in the footsteps of those Allied soldiers, and learn about the history of DDay on the very beaches where those history-changing events took place.

These are some of Jim's memories, insights, and his thoughts on visiting the DDay memorials like Juno Beach Centre in Normandy.

Video: What Happens on a Visit to the Juno Beach Centre?

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

Veterans, their families, anyone interested in history, or the sacrifices of ordinary young men on an extraordinary moment for the world, all Canadians as well as citizens of all the nations who fought or were affected by these momentous times... all should make a pilgrimage to the Juno Beach Centre and the other DDay sites along the Normandy coast.

Many things have changed since that fateful day. Here's what you can expect on a visit to the Juno Beach Centre today.

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Video: Normandy WW2 Landing Beaches

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

It may not be the most joyful travel experience you have in Northern France, but for families of veterans, and any grateful citizen, a visit to the World War 2 Landing Beaches in Normandy creates a lifetime of memories.

BestTrip.TV journeyed to the shores on a stormy English Channel to remember the brave souls from the UK, the US, and Canada who stormed those beaches in a last-ditch effort to free Europe and end the war. Along the Normandy coast, remnants of battlefield sites, moving war monuments and memorials and Canada's Juno Beach Centre are essential visits for families of veterans and soldiers who gave their lives, students and history buffs and anyone who understands the importance of keeping humankind's tragic lessons alive.

Juno Beach: The Ultimate Canadian Pilgrimage

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

The past and next few years mark a number of World War 1 and World War 2 anniversaries. Commemorations take place here at home, and we hope everyone takes a moment to pause and reflect or attend a memorial service. Our thoughts also turn to the lands fought for and freed by Canadians, and how families, school and other groups, and independent travelers can make trips to the actual sites where our ancestors fought so bravely.

Jenna Zuschlag Misener is a past Executive Director of the non-governmental, non-profit Juno Beach Centre Association in Normandy, France, the Canadian WW2 Landing Beach. We invited her to share her thoughts about what she calls 'The Ultimate Canadian Pilgrimage'.In 2019, Canada commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy Landings. As the number of living veterans diminishes, it is more and more important for travelers to take up pilgrimage trips to France to experience the Canadian sector firsthand, walk in the footsteps of history, and keep memories alive.

The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, France. Opened in 2003 by veterans and volunteers with a vision to create a permanent memorial to all Canadians who served during the Second World War, the Centre’s mandate is to preserve this legacy for future generations through education and remembrance. The Centre pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the War. 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day.

The Centre stands on the very beach of the Canadian landing, surrounded by abandoned wartime weapons and defenses, and for many visitors, a trip to the Juno Beach Centre brings home the reality of textbook tales of the war.

We hope Canadians will be inspired to include remembrance in their travels to France. Whether you have a week or just a day, there are many ways to explore the Canadian sector of Juno Beach, either on a self-guided tour or as a short trip from Paris, London, or beyond.

Planning your PilgrimageThe Centre is located in the coastal town of Courseulles-sur-Mer, a short drive from the city of Caen or Bayeux and just two hours by train from Paris.

There are a number of high-quality tour companies that also offer day trips to the Canadian sector, including stops at the Juno Beach Centre and other important sites around the region. Some companies offer tours from Paris, or they can pick you up once you have arrived in the region. In many cases, these tours can be customized based on your time frame and even your own family history.

You can also book an excursion from a Seine river cruise. More and more cruise companies stop in port cities like Cherbourg and Le Havre and offer excursions to the sector and the Juno Beach Centre for their Canadian passengers. No mention of the Canadian sector in your Landing Beach shore excursion itinerary? Ask your travel advisor and the cruise line in advance to make sure the Canadian landing beach is included in your journey.

Normandy is a very bicycle-friendly region. The Centre has published the 'Maple Leaf Route Cycling Tour' that allows you to follow in the footsteps of Canadians from Juno Beach all the way to the Canadian WW1 Memorial at Vimy Ridge.

We've also published a new brochure with information about visiting Juno Beach and the Canadian sector in 2017 if you are planning on traveling to France during the Centennial of Vimy Ridge.

(The Canadian WW1 Memorial at Vimy Ridge; Juno Beach Centre)

We hope this information is helpful to you! We're always thrilled to welcome Canadians to the Juno Beach Centre, and the Centre staff in Canada and France is pleased to help travelers make the most of their time in Normandy and take advantage of the historical and cultural richness offered in this region of France.

The Juno Beach Centre web site has helpful travel tips and contact information.

We look forward to hearing from anyone interested in the Juno Beach Centre, and to welcoming Canadians to the Centre in the near future. As we like to say, 'See you on the beach!'

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What's your Favorite Experience at the Juno Beach Centre?

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

Visitors Share: What's it Like to Visit Canada's DDay Landing Beach and Juno Beach Centre?

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the DDay Landings in Normandy that were the beginning of the end of World War 2. Canada joined Britain, the US and other Allied nations sailing across the English Channel to the heavily fortified beaches along the French coast in Normandy.

You may know the end of this dramatic history. But at Canada's Juno Beach Centre, on the very ground where the Canadians landed in June, 1944, you can experience the rest of that story. It is a pilgrimage for all Canadians and everyone interested in peace today.

We asked visitors at the Juno Beach Centre what it was like to be at this momentous place in Canadian and world history. Here's what they shared with us.

Family Visits to the Juno Beach Centre

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

Staff Share: What it's Like to be at the Juno Beach Centre?

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000

Traveling with a Group to the Juno Beach Centre

anabelunga@gmail.com (Anabel Fernandez) — Wed, 06 Mar 19 17:55:56 +0000