The ceremony commemorating the Battle of Vimy Ridge will happen this Sunday, but not in its usual location.
The Okotoks Legion Branch 291 is hosting the Vimy Ridge ceremony, but instead of it being at the Okotoks Cenotaph, it will be held at the Okotoks Rec Centre.
According to the Okotoks Legion President, Rick Oncescu, they made the move to the Rec Centre, because there are several events happening there this weekend.
"This year, there is the Trade Fair and a provincial curling bonspiel up at the Rec Centre, and we felt with the number of people attending that event, how many people would be coming down to the Cenotaph for a ceremony for Vimy Ridge? Which in my mind is a very important term in our life," Oncescu explained.
So, they decided to bring the ceremony to the Rec Centre where they could have a good amount of people stop and watch the wreath-laying ceremony.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., and it will take place at the front entrance of the Rec Centre, underneath the flag poles.
At the ceremony, the Legion will bring the cenotaph they use for their Remembrance Day service at the Viking Rentals Centre to the Rec Centre, which will be the focal point of the ceremony.
"And we will be laying wreaths in recognition of First World War Veterans, the Provincial Government, Federal Government, Municipal Government, and our Indigenous members of the Legion."
On top of numerous Legion Members being present, there will also be a significant number of Cadets in attendance who will participate in the ceremony, and there will also be a piper in attendance.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought from April 9 to 12, 1917 and is considered to be a major Canadian Military campaign that saw Canadian forces take the ridge from the Germans.
"Vimy Ridge is historically known as the day Canada became a nation; in light of the fact, we lost so many thousands of men during a battle in the First World War. So, it's recognition of the sacrifices and the freedoms we have today that we can express ourselves," Oncescu said. "If we had not won that event in the First World War, who knows where we would be today."
To learn more about the Battle of Vimy Ridge, click here, and to learn more about the Okotoks Legion, click here.