Legion member Bob Oldford of Portage la Prairie highlights local commemorations for Vimy Ridge Day, including a wreath placed at the downtown cenotaph and flags lowered to half-mast. Vimy Ridge day takes place each year on April 9, and commemorates the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge, which actually placed Canada in a major light on the world scene at the time.
“A pivotal moment in Canadian military history”
Oldford notes the battle marked the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together as a unified force.
“It was a significant step towards Canada’s national identity,” he says.
The seven-kilometer ridge in northern France had been a German stronghold, offering strategic control over critical roadways. Previous Allied attempts to capture it failed, but Canadian forces secured it in four days using innovative tactics.
Innovative tactics and lasting sacrifice
“The Canadians built zigzag trenches instead of straight ones and used a ‘creeping barrage’—artillery moved forward with infantry,” Oldford explains.
The victory came at a steep cost: 3,600 Canadian soldiers died, and over 7,000 were wounded. The battle’s success placed Canada’s global standing, leading to its independent signing of the WWI peace treaty.
Local ties to a national legacy
Oldford emphasizes the battle’s enduring symbolism.
“The trenches and memorial in France still honour Canadian efforts today,” he adds.
Locally, the Portage la Prairie Royal Canadian Artillery reserves trace their roots to units that fought at Vimy. For Oldford, the day underscores both sacrifice and pride:
“It proved Canada wasn’t just under British command—we could lead ourselves.”
The ridge’s capture remains a cornerstone of military strategy studies and a testament to Canada’s emergence as an autonomous nation. Annual observances, like Portage’s cenotaph tribute, ensure new generations understand its weight.
“This isn’t just history,” Oldford says. “It’s who we became.”