One ridge, one victory, one nation: 11 young Canadians to discover significance of Vimy Ridge Day

Vimy Foundation Announces Winners of Beaverbrook Vimy Prize

MONTREAL, April 9, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - On this the 95^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Vimy Foundation is proud to announce the 2012 winners of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, a prestigious scholarship that aims to educate and inspire students through the historic Battle of Vimy Ridge, where Canada came of age and was then recognized on the world stage.

Now in its sixth annual edition, the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize is the Foundation's flagship program providing students aged 15 to 17 with the unique opportunity to take part in an intensive and rewarding scholarship program in Europe. From August 7 to August 21, 2012, students will participate in educational seminars, visit museums and historic battlefields, gravesites and monuments such as the iconic Vimy War Memorial, while building new relationships with other participants from Canada, the United Kingdom and France, as they learn about history.

"The Vimy Foundation received an overwhelming number of entries from young Canadians eager to learn more about their past and to embark on an adventure that will help shape their future," said David Houghton, President of the Vimy Foundation. "We are confident that the selected students will help pursue the Vimy Foundation's mission to preserve and promote Canada's First World War legacy as symbolized with the victory at Vimy Ridge."

The winners of the 2012 Beaverbrook Vimy Prize are:

• Justine Cowitz, Calgary, AB
  
• Riam Kim-McLeod, Vancouver, BC
  
• Seshu Iyengar, Fredericton, NB
  
• Alexander Cohen, Ottawa, ON
  
• Kyra Simone, Niagara on the Lake, ON
  
• Angie Tang, Richmond Hill, ON
  
• Jean-Michel Athot, Grande-Rivière, QC
  
• Philippe Brock, Montreal, QC
  
• Djavan Habel-Thurton, Montreal, QC
  
• Pierre Kochel, Whitehorse, Yukon
  
• Greg Huvenaars, Yellowknife, NWT
  
  

To help cover the cost of the expenses to travel to Europe, the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize awardees will participate in a Vimy Pin drive in their schools and communities. In addition, many of the awardees will become Vimy Foundation ambassadors in its mission to preserve Canada's brilliant history and engage the next youth generation in its activities.

About the Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought during the First World War and took place from April 9 to 12, 1917. Historians attribute Canada's success to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, extensive training and remarkable bravery.

The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian symbol of achievement and sacrifice. A 100-hectare (250-acre) portion of the former battleground serves as a preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

About the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize
The Beaverbrook Vimy Prize is awarded on the basis of essay submissions and interviews. Participants must be 15-17 years old with a 70% grade average at school and proven leadership skills. Winners take part in an intensive scholarship program in Europe, participating in educational seminars and museum events in England, Belgium and France.

About The Vimy Foundation
The Vimy Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2006. The mission of The Vimy Foundation is to preserve and promote Canada's First World War legacy as symbolized with the victory at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, a milestone where Canada came of age and was then recognized on the world stage. To learn more, visit www.vimyfoundation.ca.

Nicholas Alexandris
The Vimy Foundation
Office: 514-904-1007
Mobile: [phone]
[email protected]

Dominique Quirion
NATIONAL Public Relations
Office: 514-843-2302
Mobile: [phone]
[email protected]