News

The Vimy Foundation Announces the recipients of the 2025 Vimy Pilgrimage Award

Date published:

March 20, 2025

March 20, 2025 – The Vimy Foundation

The Vimy Foundation is proud to announce the youth recipients selected to participate in the 2025 Vimy Pilgrimage Award. This prestigious educational program provides Canadian youth, ages 15 to 17, with the opportunity to explore historic sites and participate in the annual Vimy Pilgrimage, which brings Canadians to France to pay their respects at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

From April 3 to April 10, the selected students will travel across France and Belgium, visiting key First World War sites, museums, cemeteries, and battlefields, including Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial and the In Flanders Fields Museum. Throughout this immersive program, students will engage deeply with history and gain a greater understanding of its lasting impact.

This program not only fosters historical awareness but also equips students with transferable skills and unique perspectives that will serve them in their future endeavors.

The Vimy Foundation extends its gratitude to The Estate of Mildred and Tom Irvine, The Jon and Nancy Love Fund at The Toronto Foundation, The Whitmer Trudel Charitable Foundation, The Jaclyn Rosevear Fund at The Fiera Capital Foundation, The Peter Cundill Foundation, The MacDonald Stewart Foundation, and other generous supporters for making this experience possible. We also thank our travel partners: the Randhawa Group, Ellison Travel & Tours, and Aeroplan.

Meet the 2025 Vimy Pilgrimage Award Recipients

About the Vimy Pilgrimage Award Program

The Vimy Pilgrimage Award is a rigorous and comprehensive initiative designed to educate youth about the pivotal moments of the First World War. Participants are selected through a competitive application process that assesses their academic engagement and community involvement. The selection criteria include:

  • Community Contributions: Demonstrating volunteerism and service to their communities.
  • Essay: Exploring the experiences of those who served for Canada during the First World War.
  • Personal Statement Video: Explaining the importance of learning about the First World War, how they can promote awareness in their communities, what they hope to gain from the program, and what they can contribute.
  • Resume: Highlighting relevant experiences such as volunteer work, projects, community involvement, and awards.
  • Letter of Reference: A recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or community leader.

Boutique

Check out our products in our boutique

On sale
Dogs have been used in war for centuries worldwide. Their duties have ranged from pulling carts, sentries, scouts, messengers, as mascots, rat catchers in the trenches, search and rescue, bomb detectors and first aid dogs. Countless stories of incredible heroic acts performed by these animals have been told throughout the First World War and beyond. Dogs continue to be put to work in military service to this day as their role expands to include service animals for veterans. The Vimy Foundation partnered with Dog Hair INCluded (Montreal) to design these quality and durable bandanas featuring our Vimy Plaid. Honor those four-legged friends who also helped shape our history with this rugged and stylish pet bandana.

Vimy Foundation Pet Bandana

$ 22.00 

$ 22.00 

On sale
Walter S. Allward: Life & Work chronicles the artist’s life from his formative years in Toronto working for the architectural firm Gibson and Simpson to his success as a leading sculptor. The book explores Allward’s early works, including the South African War Memorial in Toronto (1904–11), the Baldwin-Lafontaine Monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa (1908–14), the Bell Memorial, commemorating Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in Brantford (1909–17), and the Stratford War Memorial (1919–22), before discussing how the artist turned his talents toward the Vimy Memorial, an icon of Canadian sacrifice and a legacy for future generations. About the author Philip Dombowsky is an Archivist at the National Gallery of Canada. He holds an MA (Art History, Concordia) and a Master of Library and Information Studies (McGill). Dombowsky has curated numerous exhibitions for the NGC Library and Archives, most notably in the area of book design and illustration. He is the author of Index to the National Gallery of Canada’s Exhibition Catalogues and Checklists 1880–1930, which won the Melva J. Dwyer Award in 2008.

*NEW* Walter S. Allward Life & Work

$ 30.00 

$ 30.00 

On sale
Introducing The Vimy Foundation's NEW Cotton Tartan Socks! We partnered with Friday Sock Co, a Calgary based business, to create custom socks using the Vimy divisional stripes. Proudly Canadian designed and made with love. These socks are perfect for every occasion, from office wear to conquering the great outdoors. Purchase a pair today and continue to support our mission!

Vimy Foundation Cotton Tartan Socks

$ 18.00 

$ 18.00