Vimy Memorial in Vernon?
Photo: Contributed
A passionated local group is wanting a Vimy Ridge memorial in Vernon to be erected at the DND fields.
A passionate group in Vernon is seeking to erect a permanent Vimy Ridge memorial on Department of National Defence (DND) grounds, a project that now has the backing of local government.
At the council meeting on Monday, April 27, Vernon council approved sending a letter of support for the construction of the memorial to the Minister of National Defence, David J. McGuinty.
This follows a separate letter of support sent to McGuinty in late January by Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee MP Scott Anderson.
“The memorial would serve as a lasting space for reflection and remembrance for Canadians, Veterans, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and their families,” said Anderson. “The memorial would also reflect our nation’s commitment to recognizing the service and sacrifice of its military personnel.”
The proposed site is envisioned as an interpretive, commemorative, and educational space. It will be inspired by themes of Vimy Ridge, rather than replicating its physical form, according to Martin von Holst, who is spearheading the proposal.
“The Battle of Vimy Ridge is considered a defining moment in Canadian history, yet there is currently no national-scale, interpretive Vimy memorial within Canada,” he said.
The original memorial, located near Vimy, France “is Canada’s most important overseas war memorial,” von Holst said, as 66,000 Canadians died in World War I, and 125 Vernon soldiers fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Funding for the project will be from a non-profit organization, using a transparent financial structure, and plans would include long-term maintenance strategies to ensure the site’s longevity.
DND land is the preferred location to ensure military stewardship, to align with federal commemorative integrity, and avoid commercial or political influence.
“We believe Canada needs this,” van Holst said. “A space where people can come to show respect and honour those people who served and did not come home.”
