Edmonton plans major tribute for 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge victory

It was hazy, grey and coldwith wind blowingas Canadian soldiersseized Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917.

The Canadians arrived in December to prepare for what is now known as the battle that 'forged a nation' as our soldiers helped changethe course of the First World War.

To observe the100thanniversary, Edmonton has a series ofevents planned on and aroundApril 9, including a commemoration parade, a vigil and a reconstructionof CampVimyin Churchill Square.

The parade will march through downtown Sunday the largest military parade in Edmonton since the Second World War.

Around 300 participants will march in the parade, including members of the military and the EdmontonPolice Service. It leaves from the legislature at 11 a.m. and travels down108thStreet to Jasper Avenue, and on to100thAvenue to city hall.

There's also a vigil planned at the Edmonton Cenotaph.

But a highlight for many may be the construction of Camp Vimy, which organizers say will provide a sense of the size treacherous nature of the battlefield and the ridge.

Interpreters in period dress willshare stories and letters from Vimy, and history buffs cancollect commemorative Vimy soldier cards. Lord Strathcona soldiers will be on hand withtheir horses in the Vimy corral.

In his book, Victory of Vimy, Canada Comes of Age, former Edmonton author Ted Barris describes how the Canadians were instrumental in taking the ridge and how the successfostered a new sense of a nation.

"Their task was to take the ridge," viewed as a key strategic location,Barris told CBC Edmonton AM's Mark Connolly Thursday.

The British and French called Canadians troops 'bums' because they didn't consider them career soldiers, having been recruited from vocations such as fishing and farming.

For three months, the Canadian troops went through drills on how to seize the strategic stronghold from the Germans, who had held it for two years.

The British and the French had tried in vain to seize it over a two-year period, losing 140,000 troops in the process, beforethe Canadians arrived.

The Canadian troops suffered more than 10,000 casualties, including nearly 3,600killed and just over 7,000 injured.

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Barriswill have photos and stories with him when hetalks at the visitors centre at the Alberta legislature Thursday evening.

He'll also deliver a presentationat Festival Place in Sherwood ParkFriday evening. He'll "try to give people a real sense of why it was Canada's moment," Barrissaid.