Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Are you a Canadian Second World War veteran who fought in France? If so, you may be entitled to receive France's highest distinction.
Ahead of Remembrance Day, the consulate general of France in Vancouver has put out a call for Canadian veterans who took part in the Dieppe Raid in 1942 or the battles to liberate France in 1944 as they may be eligible for France's National Order of the Legion of Honour.
The Dieppe Raid in August 1942 had been an unsuccessful attempt by the Allies to get a foothold in France. Nearly 5,000 out of the 6,000 Allied troops that participated in the operation were Canadian. More than half of these men were killed, wounded or captured, and the operation ended in a Nazi victory.
However, the lessons learned at Dieppe that set the foundation for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, 14,000 Canadian soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy alongside Allied troops, setting the stage for the liberation of France.
Veterans who participated in these battles could be eligible to receive the France's highest order of merit.
"It's essential to pay tribute, to recognize their commitment, express our gratitude to them so that we don't forget their commitments," Nicolas Baudouin, the French consul general in Vancouver, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Tuesday.
The Legion of Honour was first created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 for civilians and military personnel who have demonstrated "eminent service" for France.
"Without any consideration of your background, your military ranks … if you show bravery and commitment, you're entitled to be awarded the Legion of Honour," said Baudouin. "The only condition is that that you actually serve the French Republic, and that's what these Canadian veterans did when they landed in France."
In 2014, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the French government launched a campaign to identify and award surviving Canadian veterans who participated in the liberation of France. Similar campaigns also took place for American, British and New Zealand veterans.
So far, 1,154 Canadian veterans have received the honour, although Baudouin said it's unclear how many eligible veterans are remaining. The most recent Canadian recipient was 98-year-old D-Day veteran Joseph Novak of Whitehorse, who received the honour last month.
If you or someone you know who is eligible, Baudouin said you can contact your nearest French consulate, reach out to Veterans Affairs Canada or get in touch with your local Royal Canadian Legion branch.
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly Knight, a Grade 4 student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.