Canadian War Museum to commemorate Vimy Ridge DayOttawa, Ontario, March 29, 2006 — Commemorate the battle of Vimy Ridge at the Canadian War Museum on Sunday, April 9 with a wide variety of events suitable for the whole family, organized in collaboration with the Friends of the Canadian War Museum.
As part of a British offensive in April 1917, Canadian soldiers captured the heavily fortified Vimy Ridge in northern France. The cost to Canada was high: 3,598 killed and over 7,000 wounded. Many historians consider this spectacular victory a defining moment for Canada, when it emerged from under the shadow of Britain and demonstrated greatness.
Jerry Holtzhauer, President of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum, says, "The Friends have undertaken to see that one of the most important events in Canadian military history — the battle of Vimy Ridge — is suitably recognized in Canada and particularly at the Canadian War Museum. The Friends, in collaboration with the Canadian War Museum, mark Vimy Ridge Day by providing special exhibits and other activities in order to make it an extra special day for museum visitors."
VIMY RIDGE DAY AT THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM
In addition to its regular exhibitions, the Museum will mark this day with a number of special events and programming.
Highlights include:- Costumed interpreters dressed in First World War uniforms explaining the soldiers' equipment
- Live music from the period of the First World War
- Samples of typical First World War food (Devon loaf, apricot jam, bully beef)
- An historical overview of the battle of Vimy Ridge
- Regular performances of the one-person show, Life in the Trenches, in the Museum's First World War trench
- Official book launch of In the Footsteps of the Canadian Corps
A complete schedule of events is available onsite at the Canadian War Museum, as well as on the CWM website, under the Calendar section.
MUSEUM HOURS AND ADMISSION
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 9. Normal admission fees apply, including half-price Sunday rates. For more information, (819) 776-8600, toll-free 1 800-555-5621 or online at http://www.warmuseum.ca .
About the Friends of the Canadian War Museum
These special Vimy Ridge Day events have been organized in collaboration with the Friends of the Canadian War Museum. The Friends, numbering almost 2,000, assist the Museum through fundraising and the provision of a wide variety of volunteer assistance. The Friends organized the highly successful Passing the Torch campaign which raised over $16 million towards the construction of the new Museum. For more information about the Friends, please visit http://www.friends-amis.org .
Information (media):
Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
|
|
