The Battle of Vimy Ridge in France on April 9, 1917, marks the day, many believe, when Canada came of age as a nation.
In their first battle as an independent unit, the Canadian Army Corps wrested strategic Vimy Ridge from German hands, something British and French troops had not been able to do. It marked the greatest Allied victory in the war to that point.
This week, in the run up to the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, politicians and students alike are heading to France to commemorate the battle and remember and honour those who died in it.
"This is one of the largest Canadian events taking place overseas, and about 8000 Canadians are expected to attend," said Stephanie Richardson, of Veterans Affairs Canada. "Among those are 5000 students coming from across Canada."
Richardson said the students have their own agenda and activities arranged through several tour companies, but will also play a role at the ceremony. Tens of thousands of people, both in Canada and France, are expected to celebrate the anniversary.
Located in Arras, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial consists of two towering limestone columns, representing Canada and France, surrounded by 20 carved figures. It was designed by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Seymour Allward, and took 11 years to build.
A restoration of the monument, which was first unveiled in 1936, began in 2004, and was finished just in time for the upcoming ceremony on Easter Monday. The attack on Vimy Ridge began on April 9, and by April 12 Canadian troops controlled the ridge. But the cost of victory was high; 3,598 men killed and 7,104 wounded.
Andrew Smith, head of the history department at Westminster Secondary School in London, Ontario, is taking 250 students from the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) to the commemoration.
"The Vimy Ridge Battle is a milestone in Canadian history," said Smith. "This trip will make it a personalized experience to the students through remembering and showing respect for the soldiers."
Some of the students' relatives fought and died during World War I and in the Vimy Ridge battle. The students, most of whom are in grade 10 or 11, will present plaques made by their technology department, exchange pins, play music, and deliver a live news broadcast home on the day of the ceremony.
History is relevant, says Smith. "The soldiers were at the age of around 18 and 19 then, not much older than the students. What happened 90 years ago made what we are today and the whole concept of being Canadians. It would help the students realize Canada's role in the world then and now, and in the future."
Smith and his colleague Stephen Caslick broached the idea of a trip to Vimy Ridge with the TVDSB a year ago, and invited other schools to join in. "We were thrilled by the high level of participation," said Smith. "The students pay for the trip on their own, some with assistance from parents, or through fundraising."
Sandy Jespersen, Director of Marketing of EF Educational tours, which will be transporting 2,000 of the 5,000 students, said that having thousands of students together for the same purpose provides an opportunity to bring "history to life for the students."
The EF tour has planned activities such as a candle light vigil, reading a poem in both English and French at the ceremony, and marching at a neighboring cemetery.
"It is fascinating to see that they have come up with so many ideas to prepare for the tribute at the ceremony," said Jespersen. To help them plan personalized tributes to the soldiers, a list of the soldiers' names was provided to the schools, and the students carried out research through local communities and Legions.
Julian Hall, a teacher at St. Mark's Secondary School in Ottawa, is taking off on Thursday this week with 320 students and other teachers. He says each student from the Ottawa Carlton Catholic School Board will represent a soldier that took part in the battle by wearing a replica of the WWI Canadian army shirt, including the soldier's name tag.
In addition to visiting Vimy Ridge, some of the students will continue on to England. There, they will see where the Canadian soldiers landed and trained, as well as take part in a sightseeing tour of the museums and palaces.
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