Today marks Vimy Ridge Day, a day to commemorate the attack on Vimy Ridge Apr. 9, 1917, which lasted four days. Approximately 100,000 Canadians took part in this assault, braving difficult conditions and fierce enemy fire.
President of the Lethbridge United Services Institute Glenn Miller says the Battle for Vimy Ridge was very significant for Canada because Canadian soldiers were able to capture it, “where the allies of the French and British were unable to.”
“Through thorough planning and working with the other allies, we were able to capture the ridge, where many thought we couldn’t. It was supposed to be a diversion to free up some other troops along the front. It’s also the first time Canadians had all fought together as a specific unit,” notes Miller.
According to Miller, the tactics for the capture were also unique. “That all helped to provide a very important victory for the allies.”
Up until the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Miller adds, when the British went to war, so did Canada.
“Ever since then, we’ve fought as Canadians. A sense of a Canadian identity was born and remains a very strong component today. Canada then and today is known for its capability on the battlefield and we’re very respected,” says Miller.
Miller says with education, there’s not a lot of Social Studies taught about Canada. “But it is important. I congratulate the local schools that do send field trips over to Europe for a week over spring break. When the students go there, they come back different. The impact is well understood because they’re walking the trenches and seeing the terrain. You just can’t get that from a book.”
A year ago, there was a class from LCI who was at Vimy Ridge and a ceremony was held at the base of the monument.
Historically, Miller says, wherever the Canadians were in World War l is where the Germans feared a battle was going to take place. “They tracked where the Canadians were. The same with World War II. The Canadians had the reputation that preceded them because of World War I and Afghanistan, we punched well above our weight and continue to do so and contribute on the world stage.”
Locally, Canadians in their own communities can lay a wreath at their Cenotaph, which is a simple gesture of remembrance. “We tend to focus only on Remembrance Day, but the Cenotaph – the meaning of it is every day, because people die throughout the war on different days,” says Miller.
Last June 21, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Miller says he was honoured to participate in the capture of Vimy Ridge in southern Alberta at Waterton Lakes National Park.
“It was given a Blackfoot name in honour of a local Veteran from the Blood Tribe, Joe Crow Chief. Having that again as an act of remembrance because he single-handedly captured a trench within his area and that’s how they honour him today,” says Miller.