Mandatory Registration for Vimy 100 Commemorative Ceremony in France - Canadians must register online no later than February 28, 2017 to attend France ceremony Français
OTTAWA, Jan. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Canadians planning to travel to France to attend the Government of Canada commemorative ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017 at Canadian National Vimy Memorial must register online by February 28, 2017.
Safety and security are paramount to this ceremony, therefore registration is mandatory. If you do not register in advance, you will be denied access to the site. Attendees will need to provide a printed copy of their official e-ticket and government-issued photo identification, such as a passport or driver's license, on the day of the event.
To register, please follow the instructions found at: Canada.ca/vimy-100. If you have questions about the registration process, please email [email protected]. or call 1-866-522-2122.
An official Government of Canada delegation will travel to France to attend ceremonies and events during the week of April 5-12, 2017. Event information will be added to the Veterans Affairs Canada website as details are confirmed.
There will be site restrictions between April 1 and 10, 2017 at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial due to event preparations. Visitors should note that the site will be closed April 6 to April 9. The site will reopen on April 10 at 9:00 am with restricted access.
For more information about the commemorative events, please visit Canada.ca/vimy-100.
For information about travelling to France, please visit Global Affairs Canada's Travel Advice and Advisories page for France.
Quotes
"To mark the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Government of Canada will be hosting commemorative events in both France and Canada. It is our duty to preserve the memory of all the heroes who have made Canada the country it is today and we encourage all interested Canadians at home and abroad to join us."
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Quick Facts
- To raise awareness of the service and sacrifices of Canada's Veterans and the fallen, Veterans Affairs Canada organizes commemorative ceremonies and events, both in Canada and overseas, in collaboration with regional, national and international partners.
- A commemorative ceremony will be held on April 9, 2017 at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. The ceremony will be broadcast in Canada so that all Canadians may join together in remembering the valiant sacrifices of our First World War soldiers.
- Part of the broader Arras offensive, the Battle of Vimy Ridge began on the morning of April 9, 1917. The four-day battle was the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together as one formation. The Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge is considered to be a defining moment for Canada.
- The Canadian National Vimy Memorial commemorates all Canadians who fought in the First World War, and remembers by name 11,285 Canadian soldiers killed in France, whose final resting places were unknown.
Associated Links
- To register, please follow the important instructions found at: Canada.ca/Vimy-100.
- For more information on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, visit Canada.ca/Vimy-100.
- Share your thoughts at facebook.com/CanadaRemembers.
- Global Affairs Canada's Travel Advice and Advisories page for France
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada
Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [email protected]; Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649
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