The Government of Canada commemorates the Second Battle of Ypres, the first major engagement for Canadians during the First World War
News Release
November 9, 2017 Saint-Julien, Langemark, Belgium Parks Canada Agency
Canada’s national parks, national historic sites, and marine conservation areas allow Canadians to discover their rich and diverse history in a very special way. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada is inviting Canadians to discover nature and learn more about our history.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Sherry Romanado, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today highlighted the national historic significance of the Second Battle of Ypres. A ceremony was held at the St. Julien Canadian Memorial, in the presence of the Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Olivier Nicoloff, the mayor of Langemark-Poelkapelle, Alain Wyffels, the Secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Joëlle Montminy, and a Canadian delegation made up of veterans, young people, and representatives of Indigenous organizations and regimental associations. A Canadian Armed Forces contingent was also there. The event was held as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele and of Canadians’ contributions during the First World War.
The Government of Canada is committed to educating Canadians about nationally significant people, places, and events that have contributed to our country’s diverse heritage. Between April 22nd and 25th, 1915, during the first major battle they had to fight in the First World War, the men of the 1st Canadian Division fought with courage and determination to halt a German offensive at the Ypres Salient in Belgium. Their tenacity and intrepid spirit in defending the Allied positions amply proved their courage on the battlefield and won them international recognition. At home, the sense of pride was mixed with mourning for the fallen soldiers.
The Canadians had to face some extremely difficult fighting, including the first chlorine gas attacks of the war, and their sacrifice was heavy: more than 6,000 were killed or wounded — one in three of our soldiers. Many of the fallen are buried in nearby cemeteries.
As part of the 100th anniversary of national historic sites, Parks Canada is inviting all Canadians to discover and be inspired by the stories of the people, places, and events that have made Canada what it is today. Learn more about our country’s history and discover the truly Canadian places and stories with Parks Canada.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is proud to commemorate the national historic significance of the Second Battle of Ypres. From April 22nd to 25th, 1915, the 1st Canadian Division courageously resisted the first major chlorine gas attacks of the First World War, and their sacrifice was a heavy one. The determination of these men and the price that they paid to defend the precious jewel of freedom must never be forgotten. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, I encourage all Canadians to take this opportunity to learn more about this event and its important role in the history of our country.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“The men of the 1st Canadian Division fought in the hope that future generations of young people would never have to experience the unspeakable horrors faced during this battle. It is our duty to ensure that their memory lives on by telling the youth of today—the leaders of tomorrow—about what happened during the Second Battle of Ypres. The commemorative plaque unveiled today will also keep this memory alive.”
Sherry Romanado,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Quick Facts
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The 1st Canadian Division was made up of some 18,000 men, most of them civilians who volunteered to serve after war was declared in the summer of 1914.
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After a few months of training, the 1st Canadian Division joined the Ypres Salient, a section on the front line, in early April 1915. In the wake of the Second Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields”, which would continue to resonate long after the war.
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The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque commemorating the Second Battle of Ypres will be erected on the site of the St. Julien Canadian Memorial in Belgium.
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The memorial commemorates the 1st Canadian Division’s participation in the Second Battle of Ypres.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have shaped Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473
marie-pascale.desrosiers@canada.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca