Woodstock Legion event to mark the 75th anniversary of Canada joining NATO
As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 in Woodstock will mark Canada’s entry with a special event on Tuesday, April 30.
The celebration, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Legion Hall on Carleton Street in downtown Woodstock, will include a small lunch and contributions from Jacksonville military history Aaron Bouma, founder and operator of the Carleton County Military Museum.
Bouma will deliver a presentation, showcase small displays and answer questions about NATO’s history.
France and the United Kingdom planted the seeds of NATO shortly after the end of the Second World War with the signing of the Treaty of Dunkirk in 1947 before expanding it to include Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg the following year.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s official creation, which saw Canada and the U.S. join the alliance, occurred on April 4, 1949, with Canada officially becoming a member on April 30.
NATO’s membership spread across Europe, and following the fall of the Soviet Union, former Soviet satellites joined the organization. Finland, in 2023, and Sweden, in 2024, became the newest members following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Woodstock Legion encourages the public to attend the celebration and offers a special invitation to veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
