I realized that I haven’t posted much on this blog this year so here comes a big update.
In February I travelled to Jarama Spain to film the annual Jarama March. Each year at the Jarama march, hundreds pay tribute to the International Brigades and Spanish Republican fighters who fought fascism in the Jarama valley. The march ended on top of a hill where there is a beautiful monument to the International Brigades. This was my third visit to the monument but on this day, on the top of that hill, I got emotional.
As one minute of silence was called, I was looking out on the road between Morata de Tajuña and Chinchón. I realized that from this vantage point, I could see the entire road between these two towns - somewhere on this road in this beautiful valley, my great uncle was killed by an aerial bomb. It was a pretty surreal and touching moment.
I was also able to revisit the cemetery where my great uncle is buried. On this visit, I was able to spend more time at the cemetery and really take in my surroundings. In the area where the International Brigades volunteers were buried, the are many new grave stones. So it is quite likely that the bones have been relocated. More investigation is needed.
In August, I interviewed Kaarina Mikalaon, project manager of the Canada and the Spanish Civil War project and Michael Petrou, author of the book Renegades about the Canadian volunteers. I also ilmed at the Ottawa monument for the volunteers from Canada who fought fascism in Spain. My great uncle’s name is there along with the 1500 plus volunteers.
Since my last posting, , I have also received generous donations from CUPE Metro, and CUPE Vancouver Island District Council Labour Orientated Cultural Bursary as well as ongoing support from my incredible Patreon monthly contributors
And finally here is an article about the documentary project which was published in the December Vancouver Island Catholic News. It's through articles like this that I hope to raise awareness about the Canadian volunteers of the International Brigades and connect with family members to interview for the project.
Ottawa Monument to the volunteers from Canada who were part of the International Brigades