Over the course of the war, nearly 45,000 Canadians gave their lives in the fight for a better world. After the success of D-Day, the Canadian Army joined in the pursuit and fought through Belgium and liberated the Netherlands before striking into Germany; their victory was achieved with the support of the Royal Canadian Air Force and enabled by the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Merchant Navy. May 8, 2025 marks 80 years since the end of the war in Europe.

To mark this important anniversary of VE Day, the Juno Beach Centre embarked on a research project to keep the names and memory of these individuals alive. By cross referencing the home addresses of those Canadians who perished between July 1944 and May 1945 with contemporary addresses, we found nearly 2,000 that still exist today.

In April 2025, 1,945 individual addresses in Canada were mailed a unique postcard that shares the name and story of someone who joined the Canadian military who lived there at the time of his enlistment. 

Check out the destination of each postcard through the interactive map below:

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Join us in commemorating this important historical moment, and learn more about Canadians’ sacrifices for freedom and democracy 80 years ago.

The Juno Beach Centre has several online resources to learn more about Canada and the Second World War:

Reading

• Liberation of the Netherlands and Capitulation of Germany
• First Canadian Army and the Battle of the Rhineland
• The Liberation of Coastal Ports, August 22nd – October 1st, 1944

Podcast Episodes

• Jumping Across the Rhine
• The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States fought Together to Defeat Fascism During the Second World War
• Canada’s Finest Hour: A VE Day75 Historian Roundtable (from 2020)

Legacy of Honour – Video Interviews with Veterans

• Don White (1924-2023)
• Norm Kirby (1925-2021)
• James Drummon Grieve

Consider supporting our work

The Juno Beach Centre Association is a a registered Canadian charitable organization. Consider making a donation to support education and awareness programs like this one.

Join us for a special VE Day online talk

Saturday, May 3, 2025
1pm EST
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This project was made possible by funds provided by the Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program.

Stay connected with the Juno Beach Centre, Canada’s only Second World War museum in Normandy, France