In 1922, France made a powerful gesture by granting Canada the perpetual use of a small but deeply significant piece of land: one square kilometre at Vimy Ridge. This solemn site stands as a memorial to one of Canada’s most important moments in history—the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. More than just a military success, Vimy became a symbol of unity and the emergence of a distinctly Canadian identity on the world stage.

During four brutal days in April 1917, all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together for the first time. Their target, Vimy Ridge, had resisted repeated assaults by Allied forces. Through months of preparation, careful reconnaissance, and innovative battlefield tactics like the creeping artillery barrage, Canadian troops achieved what others could not: they captured the ridge. But the cost was staggering—over 10,600 casualties, including 3,598 killed in action.

France’s gift of land for the memorial was not only a tribute to the fallen but a statement of lasting gratitude. The land is exempt from taxes and owned by Canada in perpetuity. Visitors today find not only a towering monument but a landscape still scarred by shell craters and trench lines. The area exudes reverence, and Canadians are met with heartfelt respect by locals who see them as liberators and allies. Canadian flags wave proudly at the site, and Canadian students often serve as guides, reinforcing the living bond between the two nations.

Nearby cemeteries like Canadian Cemetery No. 2 and Givenchy Road contain the graves of approximately 3,600 Canadian soldiers who died in the surrounding battles. The names of over 11,000 more with no known graves are etched into the white limestone of the Vimy Memorial itself.

The site draws over 700,000 visitors annually, a number that swells dramatically on Remembrance Day and during milestone anniversaries. The centennial in 2017 attracted more than 25,000 people, underlining how deeply this place resonates with both Canadians and the international community.

Citations:

Government of Canada. (n.d.). Canada and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Veterans Affairs Canada. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/france/vimy

Canadian War Museum. (n.d.). The Battle of Vimy Ridge. https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/battles-and-fighting/land-battles/vimy-ridge

Legion Magazine. (2017, April 9). Why Vimy Ridge is so important to Canada. https://legionmagazine.com/en/2017/04/why-vimy-ridge-is-so-important-to-canada/

Vimy Foundation. (n.d.). The Vimy Memorial. https://www.vimyfoundation.ca/vimy-memorial/

CBC News. (2017, April 9). Vimy Ridge memorial draws thousands on 100th anniversary. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vimy-ridge-ceremony-100th-anniversary-1.4062462

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