Canadian War Museum to mark Vimy Ridge DayOttawa, Ontario, March 27, 2007 — Mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge at the Canadian War Museum this Easter weekend, from Saturday, April 7 to Monday, April 9, with a wide variety of events for the whole family. All the activities are 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 more than 7,000 wounded. Many historians consider this spectacular victory a defining moment for Canada, when it demonstrated greatness and emerged from under the shadow of Britain.
Angus Brown, President of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum, explains why marking this day is important. "The Friends wanted to ensure that Canada and the Canadian War Museum suitably recognize one of the most important events in Canadian military history, the Battle of Vimy Ridge," he says. "In collaboration with the Museum, we are marking Vimy Ridge Day by providing special exhibits and a wide range interactive programs that will make the weekend and the day very special for all 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:- Interpreters dressed in First World War uniforms will explain the equipment used by soldiers;
- A chance to see original, recently restored, 3-D maps used to plan the Battle of Vimy;
- Concerts;
- A chance to taste typical First World War soldier's rations and to handle examples of a soldier's kit; and
- A special exhibition, Constructing Memory, which contains 18 photos taken between 1932 and 1936 during the construction of the Vimy Memorial. The prints were selected from collections at the National Gallery of Canada.
A complete schedule of events is available at the Museum's Information Desk and online at http://www.warmuseum.ca , under the What's On section. For more information on the Battle of Vimy Ridge, visit http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/vimy/index_e.html .
MUSEUM HOURS AND ADMISSION
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 7, 8 and 9. Normal admission fees apply. For more information, 819 776-8600, toll free 1 800 555-5621.
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 .
About the Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is the national museum of military history, and the second most visited museum in the Nation's Capital. It attempts to help all Canadians better understand their country's military history in its personal, national and international dimensions. The Museum emphasizes the human experience of war to explain the impact of organized human conflict on Canada and Canadians, and how, through war, conflict, and peace support operations, Canadians have affected, and have been affected by, the world around them. Special exhibitions and programs also explore non-Canadian and general themes related to the human experience of war and the subject of armed conflict, past and present.
Information (media):
Christina Selin
Manager, Communications
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819 776-8607
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
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