Alex Black
@alexfitzblack.bsky.social
Husband | Father | Executive Director | Historian | Author
With a slight respite in the Canada Post strike, I finally got my contributor's copy of @mike-bechthold.bsky.social's Airpower and the Normandy Campaign!
Looking forward to reading the contributions of @boneyabroad.com, @heatheratacts.bsky.social, @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social and many others!
Looking forward to reading the contributions of @boneyabroad.com, @heatheratacts.bsky.social, @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social and many others!
October 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
With a slight respite in the Canada Post strike, I finally got my contributor's copy of @mike-bechthold.bsky.social's Airpower and the Normandy Campaign!
Looking forward to reading the contributions of @boneyabroad.com, @heatheratacts.bsky.social, @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social and many others!
Looking forward to reading the contributions of @boneyabroad.com, @heatheratacts.bsky.social, @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social and many others!
My current read. The 80th anniversary of the end of the Asia-Pacific War nears. It ended in a cacophony of violence. And how it ended may not perfectly link to why it ended.
July 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
My current read. The 80th anniversary of the end of the Asia-Pacific War nears. It ended in a cacophony of violence. And how it ended may not perfectly link to why it ended.
I watched The Last Rifleman last night. It was heartfelt, straightforward, personal, and handled some difficult moments well (12th SS veteran encounter).
Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?
Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?
July 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I watched The Last Rifleman last night. It was heartfelt, straightforward, personal, and handled some difficult moments well (12th SS veteran encounter).
Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?
Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?
Quick stop last week in Whitby, ON at the former site of Camp X, a #WW2 training facility for Allied agents and a comms relay station that lasted into the 1960's. There is also a bust of Sir William Stephenson and a stone commemorating the local historian who helped unearth and keep the story alive.
July 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Quick stop last week in Whitby, ON at the former site of Camp X, a #WW2 training facility for Allied agents and a comms relay station that lasted into the 1960's. There is also a bust of Sir William Stephenson and a stone commemorating the local historian who helped unearth and keep the story alive.
I'm not much of a collector, but this one caught my eye. Front and back of my new Mark II helmet, named to a Pte. Sovereign (ID disc attached to the chin strap), who served with a Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps unit at 2nd Canadian Corps.
July 2, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I'm not much of a collector, but this one caught my eye. Front and back of my new Mark II helmet, named to a Pte. Sovereign (ID disc attached to the chin strap), who served with a Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps unit at 2nd Canadian Corps.
Big day in Hamilton at HMCS Haida meeting up with a good friend, who happens to be a modern RCN Veteran, and his family. This destroyer is the only one remaining in the world of its class (27 built) and is known as "Canada's fightingest ship."
May 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Big day in Hamilton at HMCS Haida meeting up with a good friend, who happens to be a modern RCN Veteran, and his family. This destroyer is the only one remaining in the world of its class (27 built) and is known as "Canada's fightingest ship."
Reflecting on an incredible week commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the Liberation of the Netherlands. Honoured to have represented the #JunoBeachCentre at these events with some incredible #WW2 and modern Veterans. Plenty of laughs + tears wrapped around feelings of intense gratitude.
May 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Reflecting on an incredible week commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the Liberation of the Netherlands. Honoured to have represented the #JunoBeachCentre at these events with some incredible #WW2 and modern Veterans. Plenty of laughs + tears wrapped around feelings of intense gratitude.
The Juno Beach Centre's He Lived Where You Live postcard campaign is back for a third time.
Find out why we sent 1,945 postcards to Canadian homes across Canada.
www.junobeach.org/he-lived-whe...
#VEDay80 #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget
Find out why we sent 1,945 postcards to Canadian homes across Canada.
www.junobeach.org/he-lived-whe...
#VEDay80 #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget
April 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The Juno Beach Centre's He Lived Where You Live postcard campaign is back for a third time.
Find out why we sent 1,945 postcards to Canadian homes across Canada.
www.junobeach.org/he-lived-whe...
#VEDay80 #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget
Find out why we sent 1,945 postcards to Canadian homes across Canada.
www.junobeach.org/he-lived-whe...
#VEDay80 #CanadaRemembers #LestWeForget
"I've been called a socialist, also a conservative. I've always thought private industry could do anything better than public or government enterprise. But some things need to be done by the nation as a whole, and we did them the best we could."
- C.D. Howe, Canada's "Minister of Everything"
- C.D. Howe, Canada's "Minister of Everything"
April 6, 2025 at 12:26 PM
"I've been called a socialist, also a conservative. I've always thought private industry could do anything better than public or government enterprise. But some things need to be done by the nation as a whole, and we did them the best we could."
- C.D. Howe, Canada's "Minister of Everything"
- C.D. Howe, Canada's "Minister of Everything"
Arsehole.
While we're at it with trolley problems, how about one with Putin? Or another with Putin having started the tram in the first place?!
While we're at it with trolley problems, how about one with Putin? Or another with Putin having started the tram in the first place?!
March 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Arsehole.
While we're at it with trolley problems, how about one with Putin? Or another with Putin having started the tram in the first place?!
While we're at it with trolley problems, how about one with Putin? Or another with Putin having started the tram in the first place?!
A special moment for Canada!
February 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
A special moment for Canada!
Proud of this statement and proud of our country on this, the 60th anniversary of our flag.
The 🍁 has represented Canada on battlefields for over 100 years. It could never be replaced with the Stars and Stripes!
www.junobeach.org/dispatch-on-...
The 🍁 has represented Canada on battlefields for over 100 years. It could never be replaced with the Stars and Stripes!
www.junobeach.org/dispatch-on-...
February 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Proud of this statement and proud of our country on this, the 60th anniversary of our flag.
The 🍁 has represented Canada on battlefields for over 100 years. It could never be replaced with the Stars and Stripes!
www.junobeach.org/dispatch-on-...
The 🍁 has represented Canada on battlefields for over 100 years. It could never be replaced with the Stars and Stripes!
www.junobeach.org/dispatch-on-...
The start of my history reading list for 2025.
Looking forward to rumoured titles by @okeefehistorian.bsky.social and @alanallport.bsky.social as well.
Looking forward to rumoured titles by @okeefehistorian.bsky.social and @alanallport.bsky.social as well.
January 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The start of my history reading list for 2025.
Looking forward to rumoured titles by @okeefehistorian.bsky.social and @alanallport.bsky.social as well.
Looking forward to rumoured titles by @okeefehistorian.bsky.social and @alanallport.bsky.social as well.
My loot for Christmas 2024.
A decent summary of my interests.
A decent summary of my interests.
December 25, 2024 at 6:24 PM
My loot for Christmas 2024.
A decent summary of my interests.
A decent summary of my interests.
I would like to offer Ginette Petitpas Taylor my sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for the outgoing Minister's steadfast and timely support of the #JunoBeachCentre these past two years. From the beginning she displayed genuine warmth and a profound understanding of our mission.
December 20, 2024 at 10:15 PM
I would like to offer Ginette Petitpas Taylor my sincere appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for the outgoing Minister's steadfast and timely support of the #JunoBeachCentre these past two years. From the beginning she displayed genuine warmth and a profound understanding of our mission.
Back on June 6th, I never got the chance to meet Bill Seifried, a #WW2 veteran from my town of Guelph, ON. He served in the Regina Rifle Regiment from September 1944 to war's end.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and his family, with greetings from the Juno Beach Centre.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and his family, with greetings from the Juno Beach Centre.
December 19, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Back on June 6th, I never got the chance to meet Bill Seifried, a #WW2 veteran from my town of Guelph, ON. He served in the Regina Rifle Regiment from September 1944 to war's end.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and his family, with greetings from the Juno Beach Centre.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and his family, with greetings from the Juno Beach Centre.
December 14, 2024 at 12:49 AM
The memorial at Abbaye d’Ardenne, where 20 Canadian soldiers were murdered by the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitler Youth) in June 1944.
A moving pilgrimage site for Canada in Normandy.
A moving pilgrimage site for Canada in Normandy.
December 6, 2024 at 5:50 PM
The memorial at Abbaye d’Ardenne, where 20 Canadian soldiers were murdered by the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitler Youth) in June 1944.
A moving pilgrimage site for Canada in Normandy.
A moving pilgrimage site for Canada in Normandy.
The Typhoon pilots Battle of Normandy memorial in Noyers-Bocage, France.
Among the names listed on the wall behind this centrepiece are nearly 40 Canadians. #RCAF
Among the names listed on the wall behind this centrepiece are nearly 40 Canadians. #RCAF
December 6, 2024 at 1:15 AM
The Typhoon pilots Battle of Normandy memorial in Noyers-Bocage, France.
Among the names listed on the wall behind this centrepiece are nearly 40 Canadians. #RCAF
Among the names listed on the wall behind this centrepiece are nearly 40 Canadians. #RCAF
The main subject of my talk at the RCMI symposium on #RCAF100 tomorrow.
Rising to the Challenge: The RCAF in the Second World War, the Juno Beach Centre's temporary exhibition, 2024-2025.
Rising to the Challenge: The RCAF in the Second World War, the Juno Beach Centre's temporary exhibition, 2024-2025.
November 29, 2024 at 1:03 PM
The main subject of my talk at the RCMI symposium on #RCAF100 tomorrow.
Rising to the Challenge: The RCAF in the Second World War, the Juno Beach Centre's temporary exhibition, 2024-2025.
Rising to the Challenge: The RCAF in the Second World War, the Juno Beach Centre's temporary exhibition, 2024-2025.
I just put the finishing touches on this presentation.
Looking forward to the event on Saturday! See the RCMI website if you want to join us.
Looking forward to the event on Saturday! See the RCMI website if you want to join us.
November 28, 2024 at 10:28 PM
I just put the finishing touches on this presentation.
Looking forward to the event on Saturday! See the RCMI website if you want to join us.
Looking forward to the event on Saturday! See the RCMI website if you want to join us.
Sadly, the American side of D-Day came out in this request.
When I asked it to create an image of "Canadians storming Juno Beach" it did manage to change the flag... 😂
Ah well, it needs to learn... As do I when it comes to this powerful tool.
When I asked it to create an image of "Canadians storming Juno Beach" it did manage to change the flag... 😂
Ah well, it needs to learn... As do I when it comes to this powerful tool.
November 23, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Sadly, the American side of D-Day came out in this request.
When I asked it to create an image of "Canadians storming Juno Beach" it did manage to change the flag... 😂
Ah well, it needs to learn... As do I when it comes to this powerful tool.
When I asked it to create an image of "Canadians storming Juno Beach" it did manage to change the flag... 😂
Ah well, it needs to learn... As do I when it comes to this powerful tool.
Not bad. You can definitely see it pulling elements from photographs of the place... Especially featuring the grassy dunes and fencing near the Juno Beach Centre.
Next I asked it to create an image of Juno as it looked on D-Day.
Next I asked it to create an image of Juno as it looked on D-Day.
November 23, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Not bad. You can definitely see it pulling elements from photographs of the place... Especially featuring the grassy dunes and fencing near the Juno Beach Centre.
Next I asked it to create an image of Juno as it looked on D-Day.
Next I asked it to create an image of Juno as it looked on D-Day.