​​A Squadron of the Manitoba Dragoons attached to the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, came from the coastal Ostend region toward Bruges, where they made contact with the local Bruges resistance, the White Brigade. German troops had already fled the night before and had destroyed quite a number of bridges.

​On 12 September 1944 at 05:00, reconnaissance units of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons entered Bruges via the Scheepsdale Bridge and advanced to the Town Hall. At 7:30 the town triumph bells announced the liberation of Bruges. By 10:00, the bridge over the canal had already been repaired to such an extent that it could be used by Canadian troops. 

​​After the war, a new bridge was built and inaugurated on 12 September 1948, the fourth anniversary of Liberation Day. It was named Canada Bridge. As a tribute to the Manitobans and the Canadian people, and to commemorate the liberation, two bronze bison were erected to the left and right of the bridge. The charging bison is the emblem of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. 

​The bridge artwork was created by artist Octave Rotsaert and was declared a protected monument in 2010. Every year on 12 September, a remembrance ceremony is held here to commemorate the events. The bridge is popularly known as the Buffalo bridge, although it in fact depicts bison.

​The following text can be read upon the bridge: "In grateful memory of the liberation of Bruges by Canadian troops who entered the city across this bridge on 12 September 1944."

​The Town Council of Bruges also inaugurated the so-called Canada Square in honour of the Canadian Nation, the liberators of Bruges.​