The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about ten kilometres north of Arras, France. (Joel Morin)
Members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony, which is being co-hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada, the Toronto Police Service mounted unit, the Vimy Foundation and the National Theatre production of "War Horse."
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Events are also being held in Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. David Johnston is in France to participate in ceremonies marking the anniversary.
Johnston said he is looking forward to meeting some of the 5,000 young Canadians expected to attend the ceremonies.
Many historians view the First World War battle as a significant turning point in Canada's transformation from a colony to an independent country.
It was on Easter Monday in 1917 that the four divisions of the Canadian Corps, fighting side-by-side for the first time, captured Vimy Ridge.
By the fourth day, April 12, Canadians controlled the entire ridge at a cost of almost 3,600 lives.
No veterans of the battle are alive today to attend the ceremonies.
Canada's last veteran of the First World War, John Babcock, died at the age of 109 in February 2010.
With files from The Canadian Press
No comments:
Post a Comment