It is often cited as Canada’s “coming of age”.
On the eve of one of the most important battles in Canadian history, a new poll shows that most Canadians agree with that assessment.
In the early hours of a cold and slightly snowing April 9, 1917, tens of thousands of Canadian emerged from trenches and stormed the well-fortified German positions on Vimy Ridge near Arras in France.
The Germans had taken the strategic high ground early in the war and had spent years building fortifications. Previous French and British attempts to re-take the ridge had resulted in horrific losses and failure.
The Canadians were then given the task in 1917, and fighting for the first time as a unified Canadian force, under a Canadian general, they succeeded.
Up until that point, the war had not been going well for the Allies, and although it was not a major strategic victory, it was an enormous morale booster
Next year will be Canada’s 150th birthday, and the 100th anniversary of Vimy.
A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Vimy Foundation has revealed that three quarters (74%) of Canadians ‘agree’ that ‘the 100th anniversary of Vimy, should be one of the most important celebrations for Canada that year’.
The significance of the battle is underlined by the inclusion of the image of the Vimy memorial on the $20 bill. The poll found that most Canadians (51%) support the idea of officially calling the bill a “Vimy”.
Development adds hast to recovering the dead
“It is encouraging that a clear majority of the country recognizes the important place the victory holds in our history,” said Jeremy Diamond, Executive Director of the Vimy Foundation. “As we countdown to 2017, we look forward to further engaging and educating Canadians about this seminal moment in our nation’s history.”
Another aspect of the survey found that a large percentage (40%) said that the cenotaph or memorial in their community needs repair or restoration.
Other findings of the Vimy Foundation survey include:
- Three quarters (75%) ‘agree’ a visit to Canadian battlefields, cemeteries and historic sites in Europe has or would increase my knowledge and appreciation for Canada’s military history,
- Three quarters (72%) ‘agree’ that all Canadians should participate in a local activity to celebrate Canada’s 150 birthday in 2017
- A majority of Quebeckers (54%) support the renaming of the $20 bill to a ‘Vimy’ in time for the centennial in 2017
- Half of Albertans (50%) ‘agree’ that the cenotaph/memorial in their community is in need of repair/restoration
The Vimy Foundation, working with the Government of Canada, is spearheading the building of an Education Centre at the Vimy Memorial site in France, so that students and visitors can better understand this pivotal moment in Canadian history. The Centre will open on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9, 2017.
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