Canadian combat engineers serving with NATO forces take a break near the village of Leyvani, Afghanistan, on July 5, 2004. Canadians had been told the area was a Taliban hotbed, but finding them was proving difficult.
[Stephen J. Thorne]

Canada to meet defence spending target by March 2026: Carney

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Declaring American dominance on the world stage at an end, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada will meet NATO’s two per cent-of-GDP military spending target by March 2026—six years earlier than originally planned.

It will be the first time Canada’s defence spending has hit the two per cent mark since 1990. Now NATO says it wants five per cent.

Addressing a conference of foreign policy wonks, national security officials and defence industry leaders June 9 in Toronto, Carney outlined his plan to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States and draw closer to its European allies.

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A series of tiny scale models titled “Little Canada Beyond Our Borders,” featured iconic Canadian landmarks. The first of which is a replica of The Canadian National Vimy Memorial. [Little Canada]

Toronto’s Little Canada unveils Dutch liberation miniature

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer was “only supposed to come to Canada for two years.”

It’s now been 26, explains the proud Canadian.

Originally from the Netherlands, one of his fondest childhood memories is being enamoured by Madurodam in The Hague, a miniature park and tourist attraction hosting tiny scale models of Dutch landmarks. Such was its profound impact on Brenninkmeijer, who spent some 10 years in the retail and investment business, that he ultimately replicated its micro magic in Toronto, founding Little Canada.

The displays within aren’t called miniatures, but “destinations,” seven of which depict iconic Canadian landmarks. A recent series called “Little Canada Beyond Our Borders,” however, does what its name suggests and highlights “where our nation played a significant role in the world.” First in the series was a tribute to Vimy Ridge. Now, in recognition of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, Brenninkmeijer has embarked on a journey to mark that occasion.

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• British-born French resident honours locally buried Canadian airmen
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• Remembering a Canadian downed by U.K. friendly fire in WW II.

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