The Battle for Vimy Ridge, arguably an event that helped define Canada as a nation, was fought 101 years ago from April 9th to 12th, 1917. It is commemorated with all the ceremony of any event that causes so much death and destruction (10,600 casualties plus for Canadians) and also is the first indication of Canada being regarded as a nation and not just a junior member of the Commonwealth. That was until 2018.
In the past years there has been a large remembrance ceremony held at the National War Memorial on the 9th of April. Last year, the 100th anniversary of the Battle, there was a vigil in the evening before and a remembrance ceremony the following morning both attend by 100s to 1000s of people. For the vigil there are speeches and ceremony and cadets were paraded out to stand vigil over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There were veterans from every organization present, politicians galore, childrens’ choirs and there was the ceremony of the Passing of the Torch from the oldest veterans up the line to the cadets and youth of Canada. In the morning, the cadets were relieved of duty and replaced by soldiers and a proper remembrance ceremony was held, again complete with veterans contingents, Armed Forces contingents, RCMP, politicians, and official delegations from many foreign governments. In all, it is second only to the November 11th National Remembrance Day. Until 2018.
This year, there was no vigil at all. Nothing. In the morning there was a small ceremony that consisted of one member of government, MP Andrew Leslie, who laid a wreath for the Government, as well as two youth from the Encounters with Canada organization, and delegations from the Vimy Foundation, and another representing Portuguese Veterans of Ontario. No veterans were invited, there were no chairs, no speakers, no choirs, not even a microphone for someone to say a few words. The only soldiers on parade were four marched in to stand post at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If not for the 120 youth bused in from Encounters With Canada, it’s doubtful that anyone would have been there at all. At least there was a bugler and piper so that the Last Post, Lament, and Rouse could be played. All in all, it was a quick ceremony.
So, now that the 100th anniversary is past, and there are no living WWI veterans, it seems that the government and Veterans Affairs is happy to sweep this event under the carpet. It makes one wonder what will happen to the remainder of the WWI remembrances once this year is over and the 100th anniversary of the Great War passes into history, along with those who fought to make Canada a nation.
to see all the pictures, CLICK HERE
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