105th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

<div class="media-caption"><p>Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser attended the commemorative ceremony for the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-038</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>Organized by Veterans Affairs Canada, the ceremony honoured the legacy of the Canadians who served and sacrificed so much for their country.</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-043</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>The ceremony opened with a prayer and smudging of the National War Memorial.</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-054</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>During the ceremony, Her Excellency delivered remarks.</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-074</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>“This is sacred ground. I would like to acknowledge that some incidents that happened here at the Memorial recently should never happen again. We must always, all of us, treat this place with the greatest respect.”</p> <p>-&nbsp;Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-081</div>

<div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-093</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>“I acknowledge that we are gathering on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.”</p> <p>-&nbsp;Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-111</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>“Today, we are paying tribute to the brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces who served and sacrificed for our country.”</p> <p>-&nbsp;Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-114</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>“In the end, Vimy Ridge was ours. Canadian forces won the battle. In Inuktitut, we say ajuinnata. It means to never give up. They never did. They persevered. But it came at a heavy price.”</p> <p>-&nbsp;Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-115</div>

<div class="media-caption"><p>“Heartbreaking conflicts still rage around the world, and it’s our responsibility to turn towards dialogue, towards understanding and respect. We owe that much to those who stormed Vimy Ridge more than a century ago.”</p> <p>-&nbsp;Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</p> </div><div class="media-credit"><strong>Credit:</strong> MCpl Anis Assari, Rideau Hall</div><div class="media-reference"><strong>Reference Number:</strong> GG08-2022-0066-123</div>