On Connecting with Canada and "La Liberte" (Part Deux)

Where on earth does one find the richest and deepest connections to Canada? As a young country without imperial traditions or aspirations, Canada does not have the international reach or presence that we often ascribe to it. However, in a 200 square kilometers stretch of northern France – in the coastal regions of Normandy and Brittany– two events separated by four centuries have written very significant chapters in Canada’s history. From the magnificent walled port city of St. Malo in eastern Brittany, Jacques Cartier sailed on his voyage of discovery in 1534 to give birth to “New France” on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. This is commemorated by a bold statue of Cartier thrust out into sea on the ramparts of the walled city. A hundred or so kilometers east, just outside the beautiful mediaeval city of Bayeux, many of the descendants of the early settlers of New France returned to liberate France in 1944 in the WWII D-day landings at Juno Beach. The Canadian war museum at Juno Beach has a display featuring 12 Canadian soldiers who participated in the D-Day landings who can trace their roots back to New France settlers in the early 1600’s – families that arrived with Champlain and his successors to settle Quebec. Bayeux, the first French town liberated in WWI, flutters with Canadian flags and commemoratives. The immaculately kept Canadian war cemetery near Colombiers sur Seuelles speaks to the respect paid to Canadians from across our country who gave their lives in the liberation of France. Come to this part of northern France and you will connect immediately to Canada.

On “liberty” Part Deux – I am impressed by how much is left to interpretation in French rules and regulations. We drove on a stretch of highway which posted two speed limits: one at 130 km/hr for normal conditions and one at 110 km/hr if it is raining. I can imagine the court battles ensuing about whether or not it was actually raining to determine the validity of a speeding ticket. However, it is, once again, in the dominion of dogs that we find much to be open to interpretation (By the way, why is France’s symbol an over-achieving chicken and not a small dog – the animal that actually rules the country?) I have seen signs in stores restricting dog presence to “Small dogs only” or “Dogs must be carried”. I’m waiting to see a Frenchman in the full dangling embrace of a Great Dane stumbling through a store under his own interpretation of this rule and in defence of his liberty to make this judgment.