This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a key battle involving Canadians in First World War.
Here is a list of what is taking place locally to commemorate this event, including one event Friday and an exhibit at Coquitlam city hall:
PORT COQUITLAM
• At the Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd.) on Friday, April 7 at 11 a.m., Hugh Brewster, an award-winning writer and historian, will host a presentation, bringing the war era to life with the letters of soldiers and nurses, period songs and archival images and footage.
• PoCo Legion will be holding a parade and ceremony at the legion cenotaph on Sunday, April 9, beginning with muster at 10:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be served in the legion lounge after the service.
COQUITLAM
• The Vimy Ridge 100 exhibit, hosted at Coquitlam city hall (3000 Guildford Way) highlights the contributions made by Coquitlam soldiers in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and explores how we remember them. It makes a personal connection to the battle by featuring the story of Alexander Windram, a Coquitlam soldier who was killed on April 9, 1917 — the opening day of the Battle. Windram wrote a series of postcards to his family during his training only months before he was killed. Visitors will be able to read the postcards sent from the training camp in Vernon to his family in Maillardville. The postcards, now preserved at the city archives, help to make a personal connection to the wartime experience of a local family.
• The Coquitlam city archives will also be showcasing additional archival records from the Windram family as part of a supplementary online exhibit, entitled “Don’t Forget Your Dadie.” The online exhibit is available here.
PORT MOODY
• Port Moody Station Museum (2734 Murray St., at Rocky Point Park) will host a Vimy Ridge event Saturday, April 8 and Sunday April 9 that would include tours of the replica First World War trench, a replica Sopwith Camel airplane, and a hospital train display. There will also be a historical Vimy lecture and, at 1 p.m. Sunday, a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the battle. As well, there will be can-can dancers and food and drink. For more information, visit www.portmoodymuseum.org.
