Vimy Ridge Remembered

This Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Guy Bailey, co-organizer of an event this weekend, says 125 solders from Vernon were among the 3,600 Canadians killed.

“Perspective wise, that was a huge chunk of Vernon lost. Those 125 souls would be a big deal back in 1917, so it just means even more,” Bailey tells Kiss FM.

Photo: Vimy Ridge Memorial Tribute on 29th Street in Vernon

Bailey says the Canadian mission in France during World War One was historic for our country.

“It was the turning point for Canada. It was the only war that all four divisions of Canadians, by themselves, took Vimy Ridge, and it turned the tide of the war.”

A commemorative ceremony involving the BC Dragoons, which is open to the public, will be held Sunday morning at 10 am at the Cenotaph on 31st Avenue, followed by a walk to a memorial established by resident Andy Wylie on 29th Street, just north of the Civic Arena site.

Two search lights have been rented by Wylie and will be shining from the Allan Brooks Nature Centre Saturday and Sunday nights in the shape of a ” V ” for Vimy.

“We’re trying to get the word out that it’s more than just a ceremony and tributes. We want people to look up by the nature Centre Saturday and Sunday night (from dusk to midnight). We’re not sure how it’s going to look because there might be cloud cover.

Bailey says he and Wylie would like to establish a permanent memorial to the battle in Vernon.

“There’s no memorial in Canada, and we think it would be a wonderful idea to have a permanent monument up at the Army grounds with lights inside the monument that could be turned on for special days like Canada Day and Victoria Day,” says Bailey, who had a great uncle involved in the Battle at Vimy Ridge.