News

Veterans Affairs Canada announces funding for Vimy Foundation’s commemorative and educational initiatives

Date published:

March 30, 2023

Veterans Affairs Canada announces funding for Vimy Foundation’s commemorative and educational initiatives

30 March 2023 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada

Veterans Affairs Canada honours those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace, and helps keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced funding of up to $241,000 for the Vimy Foundation over the next year, to support their project The Spirit of Vimy: Highlighting Youth Leadership and Digital Transformation.  

The Spirit of Vimy is a series of commemorative and educational initiatives, including community-based youth leadership programs, the digitization of the original Canadian National Vimy Memorial maquettes and the creation of a fully bilingual digital museum focused on the Canadian experience of the First World War.  

These initiatives will engage young Canadians in remembrance and will make our country’s First World War history and the legacy of those who served, accessible to more Canadians.

Funding for the project will be provided through the Commemorative Partnership Program.

Quotations

“We can pay no greater tribute to anyone who has served than to share the stories of their sacrifice. And to draw inspiration from their service to better ourselves and the generations that follow. I’m happy to announce that we will be supporting the great work that the Vimy Foundation has planned. The Spirit of Vimy project will ensure that the memories of our fallen and the Canadian experience in the First and Second World Wars live on much longer than we do.”

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“The Vimy Foundation is well positioned to be at the forefront of transforming commemoration in Canada into a more participatory activity. As time finds us further from the First World War, we are incredibly grateful for this funding that will bring us closer to delivering ground-breaking initiatives to generations of youth. The past is worthy of our present as we discover common links that unite us in our relationship with history.”

Carolyn Patton, Vimy Foundation Chair

Quick Facts

• Through the Commemorative Partnership Program, Veterans Affairs Canada supports projects that are designed to honour the achievements and sacrifice of those who have served.

• The Vimy Foundation works to preserve and promote Canada’s ongoing legacy of leadership, as symbolized by the victory at Vimy Ridge during the First World War.

• Veterans Affairs Canada has supported previous projects undertaken by the Vimy Foundation, such as Vimy: A Living Memorial, Beyond the Ridge: Vimy Today, and Vimy: Canada’s Coming of Age.

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