Since 2005, April 9th has been known as Vimy Ridge Day all across Canada, and is celebrated through the Royal Canadian Legion. Yesterday, there was a service in Portage at the legion and at the cenotaph. Daniel Boyse is the service officer for the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Portage la Prairie and explains Vimy Ridge Day.

"April 9th, 1917 was the day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and it lasted 3 days until April 12th. In May 2004, through Royal Assent, April 9th was declared Vimy Day. It's a day to remember what happened at the battle and remember the 3598 soldiers that were killed and the 7000 that were wounded. It's the Royal Canadian Legion's sacred obligation to remind Canadians about Vimy Ridge on this day."

 

He explains why Vimy Ridge was so important for Canada as a nation.

"Vimy Ridge was such an important battle because it basically gave Canada an identity and it's when we sort of crawled out of the shadow of Great Britain and became a nation to ourselves."

Boyse explains who was involved in the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph in Portage.

"From the City of Portage la Prairie we had Councillor Wayne Wall, we had a representative from the Royal Canadian Artillery, we had a representative from the 13 Field Battery, representatives from the 19 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, representatives from the Army Nave Air Force unit #13, and representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."