Remembering Vimy Ridge

It's been 92 years since Canadian troops knocked the Germans off of France's Vimy Ridge, at a terrible cost in blood, limbs, and lives to both sides. I disagree with those in the PMO who say it was a “decisive battle” that help define the course of the First World War. But I, and many historians agree with the PMO's statement (not online yet) that, for a young Canada, the battle, which began on Easter Sunday 1917, was a monumental coming-of-age moment: The first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together as a single unit — and won a major objective.

One of the best and most emotionally enriching assignments I've ever had in 25 years in this biz was covering the 90th annniversary of this battle. At a ceremony attended by tens of thousands in France, Prime Minister Harper was joined by Queen Elizabeth II, who spoke French on French soil in tribute to Canada, and French Prime Minister Dominique deVillepin, who spoke English (!) on French soil tribute to Canada.

The ceremony was special but so, for me, was Easter Sunday morning. Journalists had been taken up to the Ridge before dawn. There, with only a handful of people around, we watched a magnificent sunrise and reflected on the awful battle and tremendous sacrifices that had happened on that cold, snowy, muddy, deadly morning 90 years ago. Then later, we attended a church service at nearby St.-Martin-de-Vimy and, finally, a celebration of Canada's troops in the town of Arras. Here's a couple of photos I took from that day and more can be found here.