The Vimy Foundation Welcomes Our New Executive Director

After six years as the original Executive Director of The Vimy Foundation, Valerie Bince-Stuart has decided to concentrate on expanding projects in France. She has graciously accepted to continue to work with the foundation on a contract basis. We would like to extend our thanks for all her dedicated and inspired work as Executive Director and we wish her well in all her future endeavours.

We would like to introduce our new Executive Director, Nicholas Alexandris.  In September of 2007, Nicholas was named project manager of the newly formed Foundation (CES). In charge of the activities department of CES, he organized over 300 promotional and fundraising conferences and in doing so was responsible for a large budget and staff. He also conducted training sessions aimed at teaching the youth of new EU member states about the European political system. As the first employee of CES, Nicholas was an integral part of its start-up phase of CES and played an important role in its rapid expansion. He was active in the 2009 European Election campaign with regard to fundraising and communications. During his time in Europe, Nicholas was also the assistant-Editor in Chief of the European View, the academic journal of the EPP.  As the son of a Greek diplomat and a Canadian mother, Nicholas in his youth lived in Canada and in numerous countries around Europe (Greece, France, Cyprus, and Turkey).  Nicholas is thrilled to be joining the Vimy Foundation and is confident that his background will help spark The Vimy Foundation as a pan Canadian institution by spreading awareness of Canadians’ role in modern history.

Extension of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize Deadline

The Vimy Foundation will be extending the deadline for applications to the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize to February 15, 2012 at midnight (local time).

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New Prize Category for Beaverbrook Vimy Prize

The Vimy Foundation is now offering 10 runner-up prizes for Canadian students applying to the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize. One more reason to submit your Beaverbrook Vimy Prize application today!

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Prize Alumni Meet Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Foundation was contacted by the Governor General’s office to submit names of alumni of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize program to attend a reception on June 30^th in honour of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to celebrate the exceptional service of Canadian youth towards a smart and caring nation.  The reception was hosted by their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston, and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, and Mrs. Laureen Harper.  This event brought together 120 Canadian youth who are dedicated to service both at home and abroad and who, through their actions, are building a smarter and more caring nation and planet.

Two were selected to represent TVF, Ryan Brun from Westmount, Quebec (2007 alumni) and Arielle Legere from Halifax, Nova Scotia (2010 alumni).  They spoke about their experience learning Canadian history through The Foundation’s Beaverbrook Vimy Prize.  They were selected by the Governor General’s office based on their work in areas of service similar to those identified in the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund:

·         support for service personnel and their families

·         conservation for future generations

·         children fulfilling their potential

·         changing lives through art and sport

·         help and care at home

The participants were gathered in groups with other participants who work in their specific area of service from right across the country.  Their Royal Highnesses, Their Excellencies and the Prime Minister and Mrs. Harper moved from group to group and the participants had a chance to tell them about the work and service they are doing in their communities.  This informal approach gave Their Royal Highnesses a unique overview of the diversity of service and creativity in the youth of this country and also allowed the youth to make connections with potential partner organizations they may not have known before.  Follow this link, <http://gg.ca/gallery.aspx?ID=10543> http://gg.ca/gallery.aspx?ID=10543.  to see official photos of the event. 

Vimy: Leadership Under Fire

The Vimy Foundation had the honour and pleasure of hosting a group of  distinguished Canadian business leaders from the Young Presidents Organization and True Patriot Love during a pilgrimage to Vimy from May 29 - June 3 2011 on the theme of "Vimy: Leadership Under Fire." Led by Honorary Chair General (Ret) Rick Hillier and Advisory Board Chair Dr. Jack Granatstein of The Vimy Foundation, the group visited the beaches of Dieppe and Juno, the Ypres Salient, the Somme, culminating in a special day at and around Vimy.   The trip coincided with a television research story about preserving war-time underground tunnel grafitti.  See coverage at 
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110601/underground-cave-war-memorial-vimy-ridge-110602/

The Inaugural Vimy Reception Was a Sold-out Evening in Ottawa to Celebrate Canada’s Iconic Victory

The glamorous art deco-styled French embassy in Ottawa opened its doors on April 7^th to The Vimy Foundation for a sold-out evening reception to celebrate Canada’s victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917.  The gracious support of the Government of France helped the Foundation to advance its goal of preserving and promoting the legacy of the famous battle -- a milestone allowing Canada to come of age and be recognized on the world stage.

Scattered throughout the party were models dressed in First World War era attire. High school history teacher Gordon Southam, son of the Foundation's former honorary chairman, the late Hamilton Southam, looked dapper in his vintage military uniform which was one of two costumes borrowed from Paul Gross' multiple Genie Award-winning Passchendaele war film (Gross, who was on the organizing committee, couldn't make it but associate producer Sheila O'Gorman was there).

Also present were The Vimy Foundation's honorary chairman, retired Gen. Rick Hillier who spoke about the legendary leadership qualities of the Canadian officers at Vimy and amused the audience of 250 with his Newfoundland wit, founder Andrew Powell from Montreal and board president David Houghton, portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities. Seen were Jeff Boyd, regional president of RBC, former McGuinty cabinet minister Jim Watson who is now mayor of Ottawa, Henrietta Southam (sister of Gordon and a member of the organizing committee), Daniel Goldberg (Telesat CEO), Ottawa businessmen such as entrepreneur (and Hon. Colonel) Sean Murray, car dealer Jeff Mierens and real estate director Stephen Assaly along with Andy Gross (CEO of Giant Tiger, now the largest Canadian-owned chain of stores in the country) and various ambassadors and senior civil servants.

On display was the special gold medal worn at the opening of the memorial in 1936 by King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne some months later to marry Wallis Simpson. The medal was recently purchased at Sotheby’s by the Foundation and donated to the Canadian War Museum. John Newell attended the reception and is the sole surviving student who was at the original memorial opening in France with the King.

The organizing committee was led by Bruce Burrows, V-P of the Railway Association of Canada. Burrows also sits on the board of the Foundation, which strives to help Canada’s youth become more aware of their history, particularly the victory at Vimy Ridge.

The RBC Foundation provided $25,000 of the total $80,000 raised during the evening with the funds going towards programs to educate high school students and new Canadians. Notable Canadians on the committee included Conservative MP Michael Chong, historian Jack Granatstein, Andrew Cohen, founding president of Historica-Dominion Institute, Liberal strategist Michael Robinson and NAC Foundation CEO, Jayne Watson (brother of Jim).

Besides preserving history, the Vimy Foundation is on a mission to cement the battle as a defining icon of Canadian national pride.

Congratulations to Katherine Bekkers, winner of the “Help Us Tell the Story” video contest

Katherine Bekkers, a 17 year old teen from Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been named the winner in the Vimy Foundation’s first online video contest.

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The Vimy Foundation awards youth annual Beaverbrook Vimy Prize

The Vimy Foundation is proud to announce today the 2011 winners of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, a prestigious scholarship awarded to students across Canada.

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Vimy Ridge Day activities across Canada and Europe

There is a full slate of events across Canada, in the United Kingdom and France commemorating Vimy Ridge Day. This list is being updated as new information comes in, so we encourage you to check back frequently for the most up-to-date details.

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Thank you to all 2011 Beaverbrook Vimy Prize applicants

Congratulations to all who participated in this year's Beaverbrook Vimy Prize competition for the quality of their submissions! Winners will be officially announced on Vimy Ridge Day, April 9, 2011.

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