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Upper Grand students attend Vimy Ridge ceremony in France

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2012

CDDHS and NDSS students attended ceremonies in northern France to mark the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

GUELPH, Ontario – Students from two UGDSB secondary schools were among an estimated 5,000 from across Canada who attended ceremonies in northern France on Monday (April 9) to mark the 95th anniversary of the Battle for Vimy Ridge.

Students from Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) in Shelburne and Norwell District Secondary School (NDSS) in Palmerston stood in the pouring rain on the battlefield at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, along with Governor General David Johnston and Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney.

“We stand on hallowed ground — a place of agonized conflict, a site of appalling loss of life, a vessel of sorrow, a crucible of courage, a hallmark of ingenuity, collaboration and resolve undertaken by men at arms in the cause of peace,” Johnston said in his speech.

CDDHS and NDSS students were up at 5:30 a.m., and participated in a 2.7 kilometre silent march up the hill to one of the Canadian cemeteries at Vimy.

“The march was very moving as many locals came out to watch and most houses had doors and windows decorated with Canadian flags,” said CDDHS teacher Christina Murray.

“We got to see the trenches, the Vimy Memorial and participate in the televised ceremony,” said Murray. “The kids were great despite steady and sometimes heavy rain.”

“It’s wonderful to see that history relived through their eyes,” Gov. Gen. Johnston told the CBC’s Heather Hiscox, speaking of the 5,000 students at the ceremonies. “We lost our last living survivor of World War I several years ago, so it’s the responsibility of these young people to carry that story along, and they certainly are doing so.”

The Upper Grand students began their trip to Europe in Holland. Their trip itinerary includes visits to other battlefield sites, such as Passchendaele and Juno Beach, and cultural landmarks including the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the city of Bruges.

Updates from the trip are being posted on CDDHS’s website:

For more information:

Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
[email protected]

Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext. 544
[email protected]
 

Categories: Media Releases