Design Chosen as the Official Logo for the Liberation of the Netherlands Commemorative Trip

Related Photos

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  Ajax HS student Allison Kivi and Teacher Jackie Callis are travelling to Europe this spring for the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.
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  Here’s an up-close look at the logo Allison created using the Procreate app on her iPad.

Allison Kivi’s logo design was chosen from nation-wide submissions

“I hope people see the connection between everyone. We may be separated by land and water, but we’re all human. We’re all connected,” notes Allison Kivi, a Grade 10 student at Ajax High School.

Kivi recently won a logo design contest through Explorica, a tour company that works with teachers to organize educational tours for students.

Allison, along with 35 of her Ajax HS peers, will be travelling to Europe in the spring for the Liberation of the Netherlands 75^th Anniversary tour. Hundreds of students from all across Canada will also be participating in the tour (although departing and returning at varying times), and they will eventually meet for two days of celebration in the Netherlands.

“In the Fall, Explorica put out a contest to have students design a logo they will use for the sweatshirts on the tour. They gave students about three weeks to create and submit their designs,” says Jackie Callis, Teacher at Ajax HS and organizer of the Ajax HS tour group.

Kivi says as soon as she heard about the contest, she went home that same day and created her design. She laughs, “I was just a little bit excited about it.” She says she used an app on her iPad called Procreate, and hand-drew her design using her Apple Pen.

The Meaning Behind the Image

The winning logo features two soldiers, one holding the Netherlands flag, and the other holding the Canadian flag. The number 75 stands between the soldiers, with the words “VE Day” written at the bottom of the seven, and the word “Netherlands” underneath the numbers. A small bundle of tulips is located at the very bottom of the image.

“I didn’t know that much about the Netherlands before this opportunity. I did a lot of research. I thought about having the two countries standing strong individually, but for the same purpose. The little tulip bundle is there because when tulips are planted in the winter, they persevere through harsh weather, only to bloom into a beautiful flower. Just like the Netherlands had to go through the long and harsh war, but now they’re free,” explains Kivi.

The Trip of a Lifetime

The Ajax HS group will leave for Amsterdam on April 30^th and return home on May 11^th.

Highlights of their upcoming trip include: visiting a small town outside of Amsterdam called Bergen-op-Zoom, each student will do research on a soldier from the Bergen-op-Zoom war cemetery, a silent march from the cemetery to the town square while students carry signs dedicated to soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the war, visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp, and many more meaningful experiences.

“As a teacher, I’ve done a few of these trips. It’s really gratifying when you notice their [the students] perspectives change after seeing life outside of Ajax, and understanding that there’s more to life than just their own personal experiences,” explains Callis. “It’s very moving to see them gain a love for travel, and a whole new appreciation for what was done so that we could live free.”

Allison adds, “We can’t forget the people who fought for our freedom. They’re the reason we’re all here today.”