A Nation Remembered, A Promise Renewed: 80 Years of Freedom Exhibition Opens Today in Mississauga

Invite-only Grand Opening Reception Tonight | Public Days May 13 & 14

TORONTO, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto, together with the 80 Years of Freedom Committee, is proud to announce the opening of 80 Years of Freedom: A Dutch Tribute to Canada— a powerful public exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

The Grand Opening Tribute & Liberation Reception takes place tonight, Monday, May 12, 2025, from 5:00–8:00 PM at the Small Arms Inspection Building in Mississauga, Ontario. The event is invite-only, but accredited members of the media are warmly welcome to attend. Please see RSVP details below.

Exhibition Highlights

This deeply moving, permanent outdoor exhibition blends public art, testimony, and immersive history to honour the 7,600 Canadians who died liberating the Netherlands during the Second World War. At its heart is a trail of sculpted WWII tank barriers — known as hedgehogs — each transformed into a photo monument pairing a Dutch civilian who was a child during the war with the Canadian liberator of their town or village.

The exhibition was conceived by Dutch-Canadian photographer and filmmaker Jason van Bruggen, whose multi-year portrait and interview project 80 Faces, 80 Stories captures the legacy of liberation through human faces and lived experience. His work is featured both outdoors and inside the Small Arms Inspection Building gallery.

The hedgehogs were brought to life through the creative direction of Job Rutgers, a Dutch-born designer known for his powerful commemorative spaces, and sculptural design by Canadian visual artist Brett Belcher, whose work focuses on memory and public space.

This commemorative installation is accessible, and designed to invite reflection — with QR codes at each sculpture inviting visitors to reflect on personal stories and answer the enduring question: What does freedom mean to you?

Premiering at Hot Docs

A selection of these portraits and liberation stories will also be featured in the upcoming documentary 80 Stories of Freedom, directed and produced by Jason van Bruggen, premiering at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival on May 18, 2025.

RSVP: Media Attendance for Grand Opening Reception

Members of the press interested in attending tonight's Grand Opening are asked to RSVP by contacting [email protected] with name, outlet, and role.

Public Days – Free Admission

The exhibition is open to the public at the Small Arms Inspection Building:

• Tuesday, May 13 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Wednesday, May 14 | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

No registration is required. Families, educators, veterans, and all members of the public are welcome.

Distinguished Patrons and Sponsors

This national tribute was made possible through the generous support of outstanding patrons and sponsors, including:

Strategic & Patron Sponsors

• Annette Verschuren, O.C., former CEO of Michaels Canada & President of NRStor Inc.
• Elizabeth Witmer, former Deputy Premier of Ontario
• Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer, Founder of Little Canada
• Canadian Postcode Lottery Foundation, supporting Ontario-based charities
• Heersink Family Foundation

In-Kind Sponsors

• Arcadis, global design and engineering firm
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the world's oldest airline

Corporate Patron

• FRAM + Slokker Canada, real estate developer with Dutch roots
• Paul Michel, CFO, Executive Chair of the 80 Years of Freedom Project

"We created this exhibition not just to look back — but to reflect on what unites us still: freedom, gratitude, and courage," said Paul Michel, Executive Chair of the 80 Years of Freedom Committee. "This is the story of ordinary people who showed extraordinary humanity. We are honoured to tell it."

About the Artists

Jason van Bruggen is a Dutch-Canadian photographer and filmmaker whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Outside, and The Explorers Journal. Known for his immersive storytelling and work in over 100 countries, van Bruggen captures subjects at the intersection of landscape, history, and human resilience.
More: www.jasonvanbruggen.com

Job Rutgers is a Dutch-born designer whose commemorative installations are known for transforming historical memory into contemporary public art. His work brings together narrative, space, and emotional connection.

Brett Belcher is a Canadian sculptor whose work explores themes of memory and identity in public space. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has contributed to national and international exhibitions that invite reflection and community dialogue.

SOURCE Consulate General of The Netherlands in Toronto

Media Contacts: For exhibition inquiries and images: Zoëlle Tavener van Tengnagell, Sponsorship & Communications Lead, 80 Years of Freedom Committee, [email protected], 905-230-9307; For inquiries on behalf of the Consulate General: Kristen Ahmad-Gawel, Communications Officer, Kingdom of the Netherlands, [email protected], 647-768-2988