News

Experience Vimy: A Living Memorial now!

Date published:

April 9, 2022

April 9th, 2022 – Vimy, France - The Vimy Foundation


In a statement made yesterday at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, The Vimy Foundation announced that Vimy: A Living Memorial is now available on desktop and mobile. Canadians and people from all around the World can download The Expedition: A Journey Into Commemoration and experience The Digital Pilgrimage through the project landing page, for free.


The Vimy Foundation, Veterans Affairs Canada, the National Film Board, the Canadian War Museum, the Carswell Family and their partners announced the launch of Vimy: A Living Memorial on the occasion of an official public screening at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France on April 8th, the night before the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Through digital storytelling, this new project brings Vimy to Canadians as well as the international public, while transforming the experience of commemoration.


The Digital Pilgrimage is a multimedia experience created by the National Film Board (NFB) in partnership with La Boîte Interactive, mirari and The Vimy Foundation. This virtual space of remembrance explores the common links that unite us in our relationship with war and conflict.


The Expedition: A Journey Into Commemoration is an onsite geolocational app created by The Vimy Foundation, in collaboration with Veterans Affairs Canada and other national partners, including the Canadian War Museum, whose expertise, stories and collections were widely used, and Canada Post. “The project aims to bring the rich historical context of the site to life through site-specific stories with artefacts, images and sound”, says Caitlin Bailey, Executive Director of the Vimy Foundation.
Both experiences can be accessed through the Vimy: A Living Memorial landing page. The Expedition can be downloaded on mobile through Google Play Store and Apple App store.


Whether a person is on site, or on their sofa, users will experience, learn about, and share our collective history. Both The Expedition and The Digital Pilgrimage draw upon a common set of stories, characters and events to create a new narrative for the legacy of the First World War that resonates with our realities.

Quotes


“More than 100 years ago, hundreds of thousands of men and women from Canada and Newfoundland came to the defence of Europe, and more than 66,000 never made it back. It is our duty to ensure the sacrifices of those men and women are never forgotten. The Vimy Foundation goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure future generations will have a deeper understanding of the significance of the First World War. And for that, I say ‘Thank you.’”

- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“At the official unveiling of the Vimy National Memorial in 1936, King Edward VIII declared that Vimy was a battle that the “world would long remember and that Canada must never forget”. To help ensure we never forget, the Vimy Foundation is thrilled to launch Vimy: A Living Memorial, which not only commemorates Canada’s role in the First World War, but also adopts a wider approach using testimonies from the 21st Century. The project provides reflection on lessons we can’t afford to ignore and current events remind us all of the ongoing relevance of the Vimy battle and the sacrifices that were made to achieve peace.”
- Christopher Sweeney, Chair, The Vimy Foundation.


“Each testimony selected for this project represents one of the countless facets of the human experience of war. By keeping alive the memory of the conflicts that have shaped us, we are paying a moral debt to future generations, because our present is also their past. In its own way, this project enriches the collective heritage and I hope that visitors will contribute by sharing their own testimonies with us.”
- Denis McCready, producer, The National Film Board.

“As we commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Canadian War Museum is proud to have contributed such rich stories and images from our collections to this digital experience. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial honours the grit and determination of Canadian troops. It is important that these stories are shared with as many people as possible for remembrance and commemoration.”
- Dr. Dean Oliver, Acting Director General, Canadian War Museum

Read the full press release in English here.

Read the full press release in French here.

Boutique

Check out our products in our boutique

On sale
This handcrafted pin dish, created exclusively for the Vimy Foundation, features the image of a poppy—an enduring symbol of remembrance. Designed and hand-thrown by acclaimed Canadian sculptor Christian Corbet, each ceramic piece is a limited edition. Ideal for holding pins, jewelry, or small keepsakes, the dish is both functional and commemorative. A meaningful addition to any collection, it pays tribute to the legacy of those who served. Hand-thrown ceramic Features original poppy design by Christian Corbet Approximately 8.5 cm wide Made in Canada Limited edition

Limited Edition Poppy Pin Dish by Christian Corbet

$ 60.00 

$ 60.00 

On sale

⚠️ Please note: This item is not sold or shipped by the Vimy Foundation and is only available through the Gentleman Rogue website. 👉 Please visit their site to purchase directly from Gentleman Rogue. https://gentlemanrogue.ca/collections/rogue-defender-1/Pocket-Squares This elegant silk scarf from Gentleman Rogue’s Rogue Defender Series pays tribute to the courage and legacy of those who fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Designed with the colours of the four Canadian divisions that served together for the first time during the 1917 offensive, the scarf blends historical symbolism with timeless style. 100% Silk
Part of the Rogue Defender Series
20% of proceeds from this item are donated directly to the Vimy Foundation

Gentleman Rogue Silk Scarf – Rogue Defender Series

$ 0.00 

$ 0.00 

On sale
Dogs have been used in war for centuries worldwide. Their duties have ranged from pulling carts, sentries, scouts, messengers, as mascots, rat catchers in the trenches, search and rescue, bomb detectors and first aid dogs. Countless stories of incredible heroic acts performed by these animals have been told throughout the First World War and beyond. Dogs continue to be put to work in military service to this day as their role expands to include service animals for veterans. The Vimy Foundation partnered with Dog Hair INCluded (Montreal) to design these quality and durable bandanas featuring our Vimy Plaid. Honor those four-legged friends who also helped shape our history with this rugged and stylish pet bandana.

Vimy Foundation Pet Bandana

$ 22.00 

$ 22.00