Announcement of Funding for the Dominion Institute's Memory Project: Stories of the Second World War

Ottawa, Ontario
June 4, 2009

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and a special welcome to those of you who will be sharing your memories with us today.

It's great to be here on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our Government, who have been working to rebuild our military since 2006.

Over the years, our military history has left tangible traces. It has also left intangibles traces: memories, wounds, and victories.

This heritage belongs to all Canadians, and the best guardians of our collective memory are, without question, our veterans.

For me and for many Canadians, the best way to show our appreciation to veterans is to preserve the memory of what they experienced.

This duty to remember allows us to keep our soldiers' exploits alive and, most importantly, to know where we come from and where we are going. It makes us true citizens who are proud and committed to our way of life.

That is precisely the goal of the Dominion Institute, whose mission is to encourage the curiosity of Canadians of all ages about their history.

And what the Institute does is extraordinary. Through the Memory Project, the Institute arranges for thousands of young Canadians to meet veterans at their schools or community centres, so they can put a face and a voice to our history and never forget it.

Since this is the digital age, these young people can also browse through the Memory Project Digital Archive. Of course, the Archives aren't just for students, but for all Canadians. They offer access to hundreds of photographs, profiles, and audio clips about the history of our soldiers. It is truly fascinating.

Our ability to use the Internet to give Canadians access to their heritage is growing fast.

We recently launched the completely revamped virtualmuseum.ca. It is a unique and exciting example of what art and culture can look like in the digital age - easy access, customized content, diversity, and lots of great Canadian and international content.

And today, I am pleased and honoured to announce that our Government will provide the Dominion Institute with over $2.6 million to help it pursue its Memory Project. The funds will enable the Institute to add new World War II artefacts, such as photos, documents, medals, badges, and audio files, to the Digital Archives.

Two days before the 65th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, our support clearly demonstrates our Government's commitment to preserve our heritage. We want to give Canadians every opportunity to pay tribute to their veterans, to share their stories, and to learn more about what they experienced.

Over one million Canadians served in World War II, and 15,000 of them landed on the beaches at Normandy to defend our freedom and our way of life. The Dominion Institute's Memory Project: Stories of the Second World War and the June 6 commemoration ceremonies both provide opportunities for Canadians to remember the willing sacrifices made by brave men and women who served Canada in times of war and peace.

Thank you.