Reference N14187E
November 22, 2014 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada
On behalf of the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, Alberta, today leads an official Government of Canada delegation to Italy to mark the 70th anniversary of the Italian Campaign. The delegation, including 28 Canadian Veterans, will participate in commemorative ceremonies honouring the nearly 6,000 Canadians who died as a result of the Allied assault on Italy during the Second World War. Minister Fantino will also join the delegation in Italy early next week.
Events marking the 70th anniversary of the Italian Campaign include the following Government of Canada public ceremonies:
- November 24 (3:00 p.m. local time): Ceremony of remembrance at the Cassino War Cemetery. More than 4,200 Commonwealth graves are located at the Cassino War Cemetery, including 855 brave Canadians.
- November 26 (4:00 p.m. local time): Candlelight Ceremony at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Ortona. Canadian Veterans and approximately 45 Canadian students from the Canadian College Italy will pay tribute to all who served during the Italian Campaign by placing candles around the Cross of Sacrifice in memory of the 1,375 Canadians buried in the cemetery.
- November 28 (10:00 a.m. local time): Ceremony of remembrance at the Villanova Canadian War Cemetery in Bagnacavallo, Villanova, which is one of 37 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Italy. It is the final resting place for 206 Canadian soldiers.
Barbara Mottram
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
