Exhibition
Past Events
Content shared in this virtual exhibit was originally created for two in-person events.
On April 9, 2017, the City of Edmonton commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge with a ceremony and activities in Churchill Square.
Edmontonians were invited to “stand watch” at 4 corners of the cenotaph in Churchill Square, creating an outer ring of support for the military soldiers. This was the first time in Canada that civilians stood side by side with Canadian Forces Honour Guard from sunrise to sunset. A Vimy Camp was also recreated in Churchill Square, and twelve interpreters acted as WW1 Soldiers while telling their personal stories and experiences of leaving home, training, going overseas, and fighting for their country. The Lord Stratchcona Horse Regiment were also in attendance in their their WW1 uniforms and setup the Vimy Corral. A 50’ x 50’ battle map of Vimy Ridge was also installed in Churchill Square. It was activated with historians and WW1 soldier interpreters expressing the history of the battle.
On November 11, 2018, the Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton commemorated the 100th anniversary of Armistice and the end of the First World War with an official ceremony and family activities at the Capital Plaza in the Alberta Legislature grounds.
Overseen by her Honour Lois E. Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the ceremony included the Loyal Edmonton Regiment Honour and Colour Guard “Piling of the Drums” Ceremony, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment band and Drumline, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Mounted Troop and corral, and local musician Rebecca Lappa along with the Bells of Concordia Ensemble.
Guests were encouraged to bring personal stories and mementos of the Great War to add to the WWI Memory Wall.
