ESTEVAN - The South East Military Museum and the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be commemorating the 107th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge with a number of different activities.
It will begin at 10 a.m. on April 13 with the annual Vimy presentation, which is free to attend. Museum founder Craig Bird said it will be more interactive than what he has held in the past.
"We have kids coming down on the bus from Regina, Moose Jaw and some other places this year as well," said Bird. "We received some feedback that because of the long bus ride for them to come down, they weren't really keen on sitting on a bus for two hours-plus, and then sitting through and listening to my presentation for two hours."
Bird will still deliver a speech and show a brief video during the morning to help the audience learn more about the famed battle during the First World War, but it won't be as long as it was before. He has secured some aids for the event.
"We want to get them a little more involved, and I think it will be a little bit better for their knowledge retention because they'll be able to participate and ask and answer questions about certain things. We have it broken down into a few little groups and segments, and we'll make it more of an interactive class scenario," said Bird.
Each of the presentations has been a little bit different each year, but this year is a dramatic shift.
People will be able to view displays before and after the presentation.
Lunch will be served, and then a brief ceremony and wreath-laying will take place at the city's cenotaph.
The legion will hold its annual Vimy Awards Night, when it will recognize members for years of service in five-year increments. Other recognitions are also presented.
"It's the 107th anniversary this year of Vimy, and we have to keep those memories alive. The whole point of the museum and the legion is to educate our youth, and to keep all of that in our memory," said Bird.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge occurred from April 9-12, 1917. Members of the Canadian Corps succeeded in dislodging German troops from the ridge, a key strategic point in France, after British and French troops had failed. It is widely regarded as Canada's greatest military victory.
