The Greatest Generation Live Podcast

Juno Beach and the Canadian D-Day Story


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On the morning of June 6, 1944—D-Day—14,000 Canadian troops stormed ashore at Juno Beach, a five-mile stretch of the Normandy coastline wedged between British landing zones. Facing a well-fortified German defense and rough surf, the Canadians fought their way inland in one of the most successful yet costly operations of the day. By nightfall, they had advanced further than any other Allied force. Yet, the Canadian contribution to D-Day remains one of the most underappreciated chapters of the Normandy invasion.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club on Thursday, July 24 at 7:00pm ET for a special livestream conversation about the Canadian experience on D-Day. We’ll explore the planning, execution, and aftermath of the Juno Beach assault, and reflect on how Canadian veterans have remembered and interpreted the legacy of that pivotal moment in World War II.

Our guests include:

Mark Zuehlke, award-winning author of the Canadian Battle Series, including Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Victory and Holding Juno. Zuehlke’s vivid narrative history has made him one of Canada’s most widely read military historians. His work brings to life the grit, sacrifice, and valor of Canadian soldiers on the battlefield.

Scott Masters, longtime history teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto and founder of the Crestwood Oral History Project, which has documented hundreds of Canadian veterans’ wartime stories. Masters brings a passion for educating the next generation about Canada’s military heritage through personal testimony and lived experience.

Jim Parks, D-Day Juno Beach veteran with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He recalls his convoy crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Britain, his training in southern England and Scotland, and his experience landing on Juno Beach two minutes before the main assault wave.

Together, our guests will paint a comprehensive portrait of Juno Beach and the Canadian D-Day experience—from the strategic high-level decisions to the individual stories of soldiers in the surf.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

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The Greatest Generation Live PodcastBy Veterans Breakfast Club