ABSTRACT
When the Juno Beach Centre (JBC) opened in June 2003, in Courseullessur-Mer, on the beach where the Canadians landed alongside British troops, one could hear comments in Normandy such as: “Yet another D-Day museum!” There were already approximately 40 museums and sites dedicated to D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in the area. However, the JBC soon demonstrated that it was not just another museum, but quite a unique place on many levels. As desired by its founding veterans, the JBC is a place that enables a better understanding of the Canadian contribution to World War II. It is also a place where visitors from all backgrounds may enrich their knowledge of Canadian culture and values. In this respect, the Centre is not just the only Canadian World War II museum in Europe but it is also a place for education, a legacy by the veterans who participated in its creation. After 12 years of operations, the JBC is still a young institution where much has been achieved, and more remains to do. This chapter presents the specifics and challenges in managing this Canadian museum in Normandy, France (see Figure 10.1).
