On June 6, 1944, Canadian troops landed on Juno Beach in Bernières-sur-Mer, France, during the D-Day operations. They aimed to seize an essential coastal villa mistakenly believed to be a railway station, later known as "Canada House." Despite facing intense machine gun and mortar fire, the Canadians captured the villa by 7:15 a.m., marking it as one of the first liberated houses during Operation Overlord. Approximately 100 Canadian soldiers died in the initial moments of the assault.
Fast forward to 1975, Nicole and Herve Hoffer discovered the historical significance of their Bernières-sur-Mer vacation home, constructed in 1928, which had been commandeered by Germans and then returned in 1947. Over time, they opened their doors to Canadian veterans, transforming their home into an informal museum filled with souvenirs and personal accounts from soldiers who landed at Juno Beach.
In honor of the anniversary and their late husband, Nicole Hoffer continues to host ceremonies, including a lantern-lighting event. This year, the 80th anniversary observance will see the west side of the house opened to the public, displaying testimonies from French residents who experienced D-Day as children.