Canada to meet defence spending target by March 2026: Carney

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An item from the Legion Magazine.
Front Lines
Front Lines

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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The Briefing
The Briefing

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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You Make an Impact!

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An item from the Wreaths Across America organization that may be of interest to members.

WAA.MovingTheMission.Header.1521x542.2020

Hello Michael Barbour,

 

Believe it or not, we are already halfway through the year and planning for National Wreaths Across America Day 2025 is well underway! We have continued to grow, and this year, we’ll surpass the 5,000 participating locations milestone. This mean more opportunities to get involved and support the mission.

 

This is also an opportunity for us to improve communication and support for your efforts. Returning and new Honor Fleet members alike should expect to complete and onboarding process with the WAA team this year! Onboarding will include a webinar and access to professional driver resources ahead of load pick-up. Keep an eye out as we start to schedule onboarding!

 

Should you need anything, the WAA Transportation Team is always here – don’t hesitate to reach out! Thank you for your continued support, flexibility and passion for the mission.

 

With gratitude,
WAA Transportation Team
 

Your Impact

Because of you, the mission moves forward.  Hauling what is referred to as “a truckload of respect,” members of the Honor Fleet transports millions of sponsored veterans’ wreaths to locations all across the country. On National Wreaths Across America Day, these wreaths are laid on veterans’ graves.
young girl wreath

When placing the wreath, volunteers say the name of the service member out loud, remembering and honoring their sacrifice.These wreaths could not reach their location to be placed without you!
 

Professional Driver Quick Facts

We’re looking forward to a successful season! Here are some quick facts for professional drivers and carriers to keep in mind:

 

  • In most cases, unless otherwise stated, all professional drivers participating should expect a multi-stop load when delivering veterans’ wreaths for WAA; on average, 8-12 stops.
  • Because sponsorships continue to come in right up to the last minute, final wreath counts are not available until the professional driver arrives for loading.
  • Load drops can be delivered on the route that best suits the professional driver!
  •  Don’t be surprised if volunteers at the location are full of gratitude and want to make a connection with you; YOU are valued by the local community!
 
WAA_MasterLogo_Trucking

We Need Your Help!

We are reaching out to our transportation partners to ensure we have your updated information for 2025 including your trailer types, contact information, etc.

Not receiving our emails? Please contact your IT team to white label our email, trucking@wreathsacrossamerica.org, or check your spam folder.
 

Trucking Tuesdays

Listen to Trucking Tributes every Tuesday on Wreaths Across America Radio. If you have a story you’d like to share, click on the button below to schedule an interview.
WAA_MasterLogo_Radio (1)
 

Stay in the Know

The Moving the Mission Facebook Group is a space for supporters of Wreaths Across America working in the transportation industry to connect with and learn from one another. Members will share their stories of support, learn more about Wreaths Across America, including volunteer opportunities, and network with other industry professionals.
 
Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504

Dig this: The lowly shovel held in high esteem by soldiers

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An item from the Legion Magazine.
Front Lines
Front Lines

Entrenching tools like this WW I-era model have long been used for much more than digging. Beginning in 1915, soldiers routinely sharpened the shovel for use as a weapon in close-quarters fighting.
[Auckland Museum]

Dig this: The lowly shovel held in high esteem by soldiers

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Ask a veteran of virtually any wartime infantry what piece of kit he valued most, and chances are he’ll say his shovel.

Yes, the lowly shovel, known in military parlance as the entrenching, or intrenching, tool, also called a trenching tool, or simply e-tool—any way you call it, the shovel, or spade, has provided shelter, convenience, security and, to the degree possible, peace of mind to millennia of grunts. So long as you had your shovel, you had options.

With the right combination of arms, shoulders, legs and back at the top end, the business end of the shovel dug life-sustaining wells, trenches and foxholes; filled sandbags and potholes; removed obstacles and erected barriers. It fashioned cooking pits and latrines; chopped wood and pried objects; removed earth, debris and rubble from trapped soldiers and civilians. And it buried the dead.

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The Briefing
The Briefing

Méharicourt Communal Cemetery is the final resting place of numerous Canadian airmen, including Victoria Cross recipient Andrew Mynarski. [Poppy Mercier]

British-born French resident honours locally buried Canadian airmen

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

In Méharicourt Communal Cemetery, about 45 minutes from Courcelette, France, lies WW II Canadian Victoria Cross recipient Andrew Mynarski. Etched into the white—if weathered—gravestone is the symbol of the Commonwealth’s highest military honour, earned on June 13, 1944, when the Royal Canadian Air Force airman attempted to save a trapped member of his crew while his crippled Lancaster bomber burned around him. Mynarski died shortly after his exploits, but would be remembered.

Immediately beside his final resting place, however, are the names of lesser-known Canadians, who, aboard a different aircraft—KB714—also sacrificed their lives on the same bombing mission that night. Among their number was 28-year-old Flying Officer Russel Nelson Wilson from Landis, Sask., serving with 419 (Moose) Squadron when the pilot and his six other crew members perished amid operations to destroy railyards at Cambrai. Their plane crashed in the Somme, near Courcelette.

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Canvet Publications Ltd.
86 Aird Place |
Kanata, Ontario | K2L 0A1 | Canada |
1-844-602-5737 | 613-591-0116 | magazine@legion.ca

Celebrating Pride with our Hildebrand Fellows 🏳️‍🌈

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A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.

Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

News from Berkeley

• New Hildebrand Fellow Alexandra Coakley studies role of gay newspapers in AIDS activism

• Hildebrand Fellow Jennifer Kaplan continues study of non-binary French use in Montreal queer community

External Events

• The SF Expat Canadian Meetup Group 13th Annual Canada Day Celebration

• Berkeley Club of Canada Summer Mixer in Toronto

• Digital Moose Lounge Canada Day Picnic

• Friends of Canada at SF Pride

NEWS FROM BERKELEY

New Hildebrand Fellow Alexandra Coakley Studies Role of Gay Newspapers in AIDS Activism

The Canadian Studies Program is pleased to celebrate Pride Month with the announcement that Alexandra Coakley has been awarded an Edward E. Hildebrand Research Fellowship for Summer 2025.

Alexandra is a PhD student in the Department of History. Her research focuses on small local newspapers and international activism in the late 20th century. Her dissertation project examines the work of queer journalists during the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the ACT UP protest movement. Her Hildebrand Fellowship will support her travel to Toronto, where she will explore the critical role of the Canadian queer press in combating the disease.

Alexandra holds a BA in history from Occidental College, and she worked as an editor before arriving at Berkeley.

Hildebrand Fellow Jennifer Kaplan Continues Study of Non-Binary French Use in Montreal Queer Community

Hildebrand Fellow Jennifer Kaplan will also receive additional funding this summer towards her ongoing research on novel linguistic gender expressions among Montreal’s LGBT+ community.

Jennifer works across the fields of (socio)-linguistics, queer theory, trans theory, and feminist theory. To date, she has conducted research on New York City English, language attitudes and ideologies in the French press, and non-binary Romance language varieties. Her dissertation project, which is supported by the Hildebrand Fellowship and a Fulbright-Hays DDRA, applies the lenses of queer theory and transfeminism alongside methods of linguistic ethnography to examine the language practices and linguistic attitudes and ideologies within francophone queer, trans, and non-binary communities in Montreal. Through a combination of interviews, survey data, and ethnography, she examines what kinds of language(s) are being used and the contexts and linguistic attitudes and ideologies that condition and surround their usage. In her free time she enjoys befriending neighborhood cats, attending drag shows, and haunting your local coffee shop.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

The SF Expat Canadian Meetup Group 13th Annual Canada Day Celebration

Tues., June 24 | 5:30 pm | San Francisco, CA | RSVP

Join the San Francisco Canadian Expat Meetup Group to celebrate Canada Day in the city! ​Wear your red & white, rep your favorite Canadian team gear, and get ready to sing, “Oh Canada!” with fellow Canadians! Everyone is welcome – bring friends, family and coworkers. The event will be held in a new location with its own lane this year – which means block party! Learn more via Meetup.

Berkeley Club of Canada Summer Mixer in Toronto

Fri., June 27 | 6:00 pm | Toronto, ON | RSVP

The Berkeley Club of Canada invites all Toronto-area Bears to their summer mixer – a vibrant evening dedicated to fostering connections and celebrating our shared Berkeley spirit. This is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with fellow alumni, engage with current students, and warmly welcome the newest members of the Cal family. Please RSVP by June 20.

Digital Moose Lounge Canada Day Picnic

Sat., June 28 | 11:00 am | San Mateo, CA | Tickets

Our friends at the DML invite you to celebrate Canada’s birthday at their always-popular annual Canada Day Picnic on the Peninsula. Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon of games and activities for all ages along with a delicious BBQ lunch. Meet new friends and reconnect with old ones as you embrace your Canadian pride. Remember to wear your red & white Canada gear, alumni colors or support your favorite Canadian sports team.

Friends of Canada at SF Pride

Sun., June 29 | San Francisco, CA | RSVP

Consul General Rana Sarkar cordially invites you to join Canadians marching in the 55th Annual San Francisco Pride Parade! This year’s theme is “Queer Joy is Resistance.”

All are welcome to join Consulate staff and their families and friends to celebrate diversity and to support the 2SLGBTQI+ members of our communities here in San Francisco, at home in Canada, and abroad. The assembly point and time will be announced approximately one week prior to the parade; please register to receive updates.

Canadian Studies Program

213 Philosophy Hall #2308

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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley 213 Philosophy Hall #2308 | Berkeley, CA 94720 US