The Vimy Foundation was founded in 2006 with the mission of spreading awareness, particularly among young adults, of the significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a landmark event in the evolution of Canada.
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:51AM The Vimy Foundation will be extending the deadline for applications to the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize to February 15, 2012 at midnight (local time).
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 11:16PM 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!
Friday, July 15, 2011 at 6:51AM 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 30th 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.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 10:00PM 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/
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 9:52PM The glamorous art deco-styled French embassy in Ottawa opened its doors on April 7th 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.
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 9:00AM 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.
Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 5:30AM The Vimy Foundation is proud to announce today the 2011 winners of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, a prestigious scholarship awarded to students across Canada.
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:11AM 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.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 5:30AM 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.
Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 1:11PM Thanks to a generous donation, the medal worn by King Edward VIII at the unveiling the Vimy Memorial in 1936 now resides at the Canadian War Museum in perpetuity.