A moving ceremony at the 100th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge during World War 1 today at the Vimy Memorial in France.
Among those in attendance at today’s ceremonies was the Chairman of Acadia Broadcasting, John Irving, an honorary Colonel in the CAF Artillery and lives in New Brunswick.
By chance, Mr. Irving met three members of the Brisson family from Dryden who were attending the ceremonies as well. Bill, Becky and Luella Brisson were apparently surprised to meet CKDR’s owner so far from home.
Over 15,000 Canadian infantry men were in the battle, the first time all four divisions of Canadian troops fought together, under Canadian command.
The battle claimed the lives of 3,600 and more than 7,000 were wounded. With a casualty rate of almost 70 per cent, the Canadians took the Ridge marking a landmark in Canadian history.
(Photo: L-R Captain Andre St-Laurent, Bill, Becky and Luella Brisson from Dryden, ON and Hon. Colonel John Irving)
