The Canadian army played a major role in the liberations of the Netherlands, the country where I live, in World War II. Almost a year before the Germans surrendered, a combined army of British, Canadians and Polish soldiers liberated the city of Antwerpen. In the Battle of the Scheldt, the Canadian 1st army then started the liberation of the Netherlands.
Some Canadians stayed here after the war. The son of one of the soldiers who stayed here became an English teacher (his native language was Dutch!) at a secondary school. He was the first one to teach me English.
And last year I visited Canada twice, for work. It was so easy, you get on a plane and 8 hours later you’re in Toronto. It is a beautiful place with very friendly people.
But if there had been no Canadian soldier here, 67 years ago, it would have been a hell of a lot more difficult for me to get there.
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