In the small village of Moose Creek in Ontario, there is an old general store called Provost Store. Behind the counter, every day you will find Claude Provost, the owner. Mr. Provost is 90 years old and has been working in the store since he was a young boy; back then the store belonged to his parents. When the war came, he left Moose Creek and enrolled with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. He landed at Juno Beach.
Canadian Forces played an important role in liberating the Netherlands. Canadians who landed on D-Day had to fight battles through France, Belgium, the Scheldt and in Germany before being dispatched back to the Netherlands.
Mr. Provost’s name is on a brick at the Juno Beach Center in Normandy, never to be forgotten.
I like to visit the store and have a chat with him. His memory is intact and he remembers all kinds of details about his time in the war. He is a dear, sweet gentleman.
Thank you Mr. Provost!
Here is the story of the battles.
Here is the website for the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.
The Juno Beach Centre is a museum and cultural centre, which opened at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France on June 6, 2003. Click here to visit the website of the Juno Beach Center. If you know a Canadian WW2 veteran, you can purchase a brick in his name.
Here is Mr. Provost’s brick.