The Vimy Foundation Welcomes Nicholas Alexandris as Executive Director

MONTREAL, Jan. 26, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Vimy Foundation is very pleased to welcome Nicholas Alexandris as its new Executive Director.

Nicholas Alexandris was born in Montreal and holds a Civil and a Common Law degree from the University of Ottawa.  He is returning to Montreal after spending five years working for the European People's Party (EPP) and its foundation the "Centre for European Studies" (CES) in Brussels.  While working for EPP and CES, he was responsible for legal operations and was in charge of promotional and fundraising activities.   Additionally, he was the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the European View, the academic journal of the EPP.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Vimy Foundation and I'm confident that my work and life experience will lead The Vimy Foundation into broader endeavors and help spread the message of Canadians' role in modern history.  As a Canadian, I firmly believe in the Foundation's mission to preserve and promote Canada's legacy from 1917, as symbolized by the victory at Vimy Ridge" said Mr. Alexandris. This is an important building block of Canadian Heritage, particularly for many younger people who may not fully understand that Vimy was a milestone where Canada came of age and was recognized on the world stage.  "As someone who has lived on both continents, I look forward to sharing my knowledge of Europe with the youth of Canada."

About the Foundation
The Vimy Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2006 to make young people more aware of the vital role Canadian soldiers played at Vimy Ridge, a landmark engagement of the First World War. Inspired by those events, the Foundation created the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, bringing together youth from Canada, the United Kingdom and France so that they can better appreciate their intertwined history and the lessons that can be learned from it. The Foundation also sponsors Vimy: Canada's Coming of Age, a unique educational experience for youth at Encounters with Canada in Ottawa every April.

To mark Vimy Ridge Day (April 9) the Foundation encourages Canadians to wear a Vimy Pin - "April's poppy", available from the Foundation - and to attend commemorative events. To learn more, visit www.vimyfoundation.ca.

David Houghton, President, The Vimy Foundation
Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]
or
Nicholas Alexandris, Executive Director, The Vimy Foundation
Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]