April 8, 2012
Ottawa — On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Orléans, tonight joined hundreds of Royal Canadian Army Cadets at a special candlelight tribute at the National War Memorial to mark the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“I applaud the cadets attending this evening’s ceremony for taking such an active interest in those who served and sacrificed to make the world a better place,” said Minister Blaney, who is in France leading an official delegation to mark the anniversary. “I am very pleased to see young Canadians embracing remembrance. Through their knowledge and commitment, the legacy of the brave men and women who served in the First World War will live on for generations to come.”
“This week we remember an incredible generation of Canadians who, 95 years ago, captured Vimy Ridge and helped define Canada as a nation,” said MP Galipeau. “We also remember all those who served in the First World War, including the more than 66,000 Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice in securing our peace, freedom and democracy.”
The cadets placed candles in memory of those who gave their lives during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. They will also maintain a vigil throughout the night until the commemorative wreath-laying ceremony takes place tomorrow morning, 95 years to the day that the Battle of Vimy Ridge began.
It was on Easter Monday, April 9, 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. The victory at Vimy was not without a price. There were more than 10,600 casualties. Of those, approximately 3,600 gave their lives.
For more information on Canada’s contribution to the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at veterans.gc.ca.
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