A big day in Russia

[Vereya]

The 9th of May is not too far off. It is a very big holiday in Russia, it is the day when we celebrate our victory in World War II. And it is in fact one of the very few official holidays that has a special significance practically for everyone, because in practically every Russian family there is at least one World War II veteran.
And I just wanted to know - what is the general opinion in Canada concerning World War II? Was it historically important for Canada? What is the general outlook?

 

[Dexter Sinister]

The 9th of May is not too far off. It is a very big holiday in Russia, it is the day when we celebrate our victory in World War II.

As well you should; the old USSR paid a terrible price in blood and treasure for that victory. We do such things on November 11th, what we call Remembrance Day. It's not a celebration though, it's a solemn ceremonial occasion on which we remember and honour our dead.

World War 2 was indeed historically important to Canada. There were Canadian forces in Sicily, in Italy, on the beach on D-Day when the western allies opened the second front Stalin had been demanding for years, there were Canadian air crews doing bombing runs over occupied Europe, and Canadian sailors did heroic service in convoy escort duties. It was Canadians who liberated much of The Netherlands, and it was Canadians who first shook hands with the Red Army in the final push to end it all, at Wismar on the Baltic Sea six days before the war officially ended. One of my relatives was there, with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

So yes, it was a big deal.