The 2018 Vimy Reception
Nearly 200 government officials, business leaders, military personnel, and students attended the eighth annual Vimy Reception at the stunning Embassy of France on May 1. Thank you to our host, Her Excellency Kareen Rispal, Ambassador of France to Canada, and to our guest speakers: Tim Cook, CM, Canadian War Museum; and Damien Pilon, 2018 Vimy Pilgrimage Award winner.
“Thank you to all who joined us for helping to celebrate not only Canada’s legacy of leadership, innovation, and teamwork, but also the cultural heritage of the beautiful monument itself. Let’s continue to share the many stories that make Vimy such an iconic milestone for our country!”
“Today, we are here to remember the Canadians and the French who fought a century ago, and it is our mission to prevent what happened to them from happening again. We will not forget them, and their memory will remind us of our duty to preserve peace.”
Help us fund our Vimy Pilgrimage Award, which sends 20 outstanding young Canadians, like Damien, to walk through the footsteps of history in Canada’s most notable First World War sites each April.
Learn more about our First World War in Colour project and browse additional colourized images on our website.
During the Vimy Reception, we screened this short film produced by the Vimy Foundation in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. Watch ‘Return to Vimy’
The Vimy Foundation Centennial Park is currently being built on a dedicated piece of land adjacent to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. It will feature 100 Centennial Trees, each a descendant of a ‘Vimy Oak’ acorn which fell during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
- Find out more about Centennial Benches and Commemorative Trees in France
- Commemorative Vimy Oaks are now available for private planting in Canada
