AHA Media

On the 5th of May 1945 the allied Canadian Forces liberated the Netherlands and the Dutch people from 5 years of Nazi occupation. This event is celebrated annually in the Netherlands and by people of Dutch descent around the world.

Today is the 64th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian Allied Forces Annual Ceremony held at Victory Square, Vancouver ( May 4th , 2009)

In the following  video, AHA MEDIA’s Producer (April Smith) and Director (Hendrik Beune) were on another assignment today at “The Flack Block”, kitty-corner from Victory Square, at the intersection of Cambie and Hastings Streets in Vancouver, where the Canadian WWII war memorial is located where they noticed “Bevrijdingsdag”: 5th of May annual Dutch Liberation Day Celebrations in Vancouver’s Victory Square happening.

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter.

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AHA MEDIA’s Director Hendrik Beune was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands and is still fluent in the Dutch language, which they call ‘Nederlands’. This was the predominant language spoken at this celebration of Victory by allied Western Forces over a fascist regime.

Speeches were made by the Dutch Consulate-General and various other dignitaries. Dutch and Canadian flagsflew side by side as tulips and ceremonial wreaths were placed at the monument by various groups, including from “JeMaintiendrai”, the dutch patriot organization, which carries the same name as the dutch motto and which means “I will maintain” with the implied connotation of “We will survive resiliently”.

Other notables were Mr. and Mrs. Oostindie (parents of Irwin Oostindie, who is the Director of W2, the new DTES Centre forCommunity Media Arts).

In this video, Hendrik Beune, Director of AHA MEDIA, meets Mr. and Mrs. Oostindie (parents of Irwin Oostindie, who is the Director of W2, the new DTES  Community Media Arts Centre). Mr. Oostindie Sr. was active in the resistance movement during WWII and this also shows in the past and present work of his son Irwin.

NEW addition 🙂

Irwin Oostindie wrote to AHA MEDIA: ” My mother was also influential in working for social justice. I remember coming down to this corner, Cambie and Hastings, in the 1970s to visit my mom at her volunteer job. She worked for the Consumer’s Association of Canada, an advocacy group located upstairs at the Flack Block! ”

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on aNokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media productionthrough the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter.

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A surprise at this years ceremonies in Vancouver was the presence of a regiment of the Dutch army, who are presently on training in mountainous terrain near Vernon, BC and came to Vancouver to pay  their “homage” to the Canadian veterans who gave their lives and contributed greatly to the liberation of The Netherlands.

In the following photos and video, Hendrik Beune, Director of AHA MEDIA, (after an introduction with Mr and Mrs Oostidie), shakes hands with an honored Dutch Veteran.

Herman van Wervenskercke (AHA MEDIA hopes we spelled his name correctly) has been active with theorganization of this annual event  Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian Allied Forces Annual Ceremony held at Victory Square, Vancouver for many years and on the 30th of April this year  2009-“Koninginnedag”, which is the day the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their  Queen –

Herman van Wervenskercke who is 81 years old received official royal recognition from the Dutch Queen for his efforts in the form of a decoration (affectionately referred to as “Een Lintje”)

In the following photo and video, Hendrik Beune, Director of AHA MEDIA gives a tribute of Dutch Tobacco (which is a Westcoast Aboriginal/Native tradition of honor) for the Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian Allied Forces Annual Ceremony held at Victory Square, Vancouver ( May 4th , 2009)

This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N95 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith @AprilFilms on Twitter.

Much Thanks to all the Canadian Soldiers, Past and Present for helping to keep peace wherever they may be!  Happy Dutch Liberation Day!