Candlelight Ceremony on the Eve of Vimy Ridge Day

Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets participated in the night-long vigil, assuming the role of sentries, the guard of honour, and other ceremonial duties traditionally performed by Canadian Forces members. Cadets stood vigil through the night until the Vimy Ridge commemorative ceremony the following morning.

"More than just a victory on the battlefield, Vimy Ridge was a turning point in our sense of nationhood. It symbolized Canada's growing strength and independence among the nations of the World," said the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief. "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where we now stand, helps us to remember all that we cannot comprehend about the soldier's experience of the First World War."

The Governor General participated in the laying of wreaths before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a special candlelight ceremony on the eve of Vimy Ridge Day, to pay tribute to the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

On the eve of Vimy Ridge Day, more than 125 students from across the country lead the candlelight vigil ceremony as delegates of the Encounters with Canada program, sponsored by the Vimy Foundation.

The Vimy Foundation is dedicated to promoting Canada's First World War legacy as symbolized by the victory at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917--a historic milestone, where Canada came of age and was recognized on the world stage.