Canadians campaign to stop condo development at D-Day landing site
A group of Canadians is petitioning the federal government to stop a proposed condo development on Juno Beach in France, where hundreds of Canadians died during the D-Day landings of the Second World War.
Cindy Clegg of the Save Juno Beach campaign spoke to CTV News Channel on Saturday about the efforts she and others are making to raise awareness about the controversial development.
French property developer Foncim plans to build a 70-unit condominium on the beach, one of five in Normandy, France, that was stormed by the Allies on D-Day, June 6, 1944, to free Nazi-occupied Europe.
Of the 45,000 Canadians who died during the Second World War, 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day.
The condo development, meanwhile, could get underway as early as September.
"This is a centre of memory to the Canadians who sacrificed their lives to liberate France and to go on and liberate Europe," Clegg said.
"It's hallowed ground, it's sacred ground and there's no reason at all to be discussing anything but the fact that there should be no condos there."
'EXISTENTIAL THREAT'
The cause been championed by the Juno Beach Centre (JBC), a Canadian museum and cultural centre located in Normandy, which has described the development as "its greatest threat in nearly 20 years of existence."
In a statement released earlier this month, officials with the centre said while it is generally not opposed to these sorts of projects on former battlegrounds, adding the French "deserve to enjoy the freedoms our veterans' sacrifice brought them," the project was done without input from the community or the Juno Beach Centre.
"Today, despite local opposition, the project has advanced to the point where the developer is demanding use of the JBC's private road for access to the building site by construction vehicles and workers. We have great concern for the impact that this will have on the Juno Beach Centre," the statement reads.
It said the centre has defended itself from legal actions filed by the developer over the last two years, with one decision allowing construction vehicles to travel over the centre's road "at will."
With the project expected to last nearly 22 months, the centre is concerned about the impact the work will have on its day-to-day business.
"We are rapidly approaching a point of no return," the centre's statement says.
"This is an existential threat to the Juno Beach Centre and the Canadian memorial presence in Normandy. Without your support, the legacy that our veterans built for future generations on Juno Beach may disappear entirely."
LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN
Clegg says that while her efforts come a "little late to the game," her hope is that Canadians will become more aware of what is happening and create enough pressure to get the French government to stop the development.
The Juno Beach Centre says it has kept Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly informed of the issue and called on them to appeal to their French counterparts.
"Just as we've heard previously about the issue of COVID's impact on tourism, the Juno Beach Centre has been really hit hard in the last two years by COVID, so their numbers are really down," she said.
"And then to restrict movement of tourists into the area would be just devastating."
The goal of the campaign now is to encourage members of the public to send letters to their members of Parliament.
The campaign also is soliciting donations to help the Juno Beach Centre in its legal fight against the developer.
"Ultimately, having a memorial park on the site for everybody and to set that land aside in perpetuity would be the perfect solution," Clegg said.
IN DEPTH

As it happened: Zelenskyy visits Canada, addresses Parliament as PM pledges $650M in Ukraine aid
During his historic visit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered repeated thanks to Canada for its continued support for his country as it continues to defend itself from Russia's invasion. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada will be making a $650 million 'multi-year commitment' for further Ukraine aid. Recap CTVNews.ca's minute-by-minute updates.
ANALYSIS What do the policies Poilievre's party passed say about the Conservatives' future?
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spent the summer speaking about housing affordability, a core focus that attendees at the party's Quebec City convention were quick to praise him for. But by the end of the weekend, delegates opted to instead pass policies on contentious social issues. What does that say about the Conservatives' future?
Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau separating, after 18 years of marriage
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife are separating after 18 years of marriage, and while they plan to co-parent their children, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau will no longer be considered the prime minister's spouse in any official capacity.
'A very retro, family-oriented message': New ads aim to reframe Poilievre
With a steady lead in the polls and a healthy war chest of political donations, the Conservative Party is rolling out a trio of new advertisements that are being viewed as aiming to redefine and soften Pierre Poilievre's image and messaging.
Seven rookies promoted, most ministers reassigned in major Trudeau cabinet shuffle
In a major cabinet shuffle on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promoted seven rookies to his front bench, dropped seven ministers, and reassigned the majority of cabinet roles. In a ceremony at Rideau Hall, Trudeau orchestrated one of, if not the most consequential reconfigurations to his cabinet since 2015.
Opinion

OPINION Don Martin: Canada is back on the world stage. And mostly alone.
Justin Trudeau got one promise right: Canada is back on the world stage. Sadly, it’s for all the wrong reasons, writes Don Martin in an exclusive opinion column for CTVNews.ca.
opinion Don Martin: Nice try, Prime Minister Trudeau. But it's too little, too late
Nice try, prime minister. But likely too little, too late and too transparently desperate to serve as a realistic government-salvage strategy, writes Don Martin in an exclusive opinion column for CTVNews.ca.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre doesn't feel your pain, but he's sure good at communicating it
Probably no other leader, including Justin Trudeau, has landed in a party leadership with less real-world work experience than Pierre Poilievre, says Don Martin in a column for CTVNews.ca. But Poilievre's an able communicator, and this weekend's Conservative convention is a golden opportunity for him to sell himself as PM-in-waiting.
opinion Don Martin: Who will step up to have 'The Talk' with Trudeau?
Ego and vanity are a potent combination in leadership politics, and in his exclusive column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin writes this condition is infecting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mindset as he seems deadly serious about seeking re-election in 2025.
opinion Don Martin: I've never seen anything quite like the control-everything regime of Trudeau's government
Voters in four byelections delivered status quo results on Monday that show, if you squint hard enough, that the severely tainted Liberal brand has staying power while the Conservatives aren’t resurging enough to threaten as a majority-government-in-waiting, writes Don Martin in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

U.S. judge rules Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers while building real estate empire
A U.S. judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House, and he ordered some of the former president's companies removed from his control and dissolved.
Anthony Rota resigns as House Speaker amid condemnation for inviting Nazi veteran to Parliament
Anthony Rota has resigned from his prestigious position as Speaker of the House of Commons over his invitation to, and the House's subsequent recognition of, a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War. Now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing calls to apologize, and investigate.
Details leading up to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death revealed
A long-time, close friend of Hardeep Singh Nijjar says the Sikh activist found a tracking device underneath his car before he was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in June.
Hollywood writers strike declared over after boards vote to approve contract with studios
Hollywood's writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production.
Five workers picketing in UAW strike hit by vehicle outside Flint-area plant
About five people picketing in the United Auto Workers strike outside a Flint-area General Motors plant suffered minor injuries Tuesday when a vehicle leaving the plant struck them, police said.
ER doctor challenging 'toxic environment' in Ontario hospital after secret investigation based on unfounded murder allegation
After more than 30 years of caring for critically ill patients in emergency and intensive care, Dr. Scott Anderson is preparing to face off against the hospital where he works in London, Ont., in a case described as "unusual" by lawyers and potentially costly for Ontario taxpayers.
Canadian women's soccer team earns Olympic berth with win over Jamaica
The Canadian women's national soccer team has clinched a spot in the 2024 Paris Games after defeating Jamaica 4-1 on aggregate in Olympic qualifying.
Health Canada is recalling these smart plugs over an electric shock risk
Health Canada has issued a recall notice for certain smart plugs due to the risk of electric shock.
Is broadband essential, like water or electricity? New net neutrality effort makes the case
Landmark net neutrality rules rescinded under former President Donald Trump could return under a new push by U.S. Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenworcel. The rules would reclassify broadband access as an essential service on par with other utilities like water or power.