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Today marks the 103rd anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

'He never told us why he enlisted, but all I can think of is, at that time, it was the thing to do'

Editor's note: This story originally ran in 2017. We are re-running it today to recognize the anniversary of Vimy Ridge, and to honour the sacrifice of all those who fought in the battle.

When Gisele Pharand thinks about the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge, there’s a lot going through her mind.

First, as a public relations representative for the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 76, she has been busy helping to organize the events on April 9 to commemorate the centennial milestone.

Second, her grandfather was at Vimy Ridge.

John Therrien was born in 1894 in Mattawa, Ont. At the age of 21, he enlisted Dec. 12, 1915 with the 42nd regiment, 130th battalion. His rank was Private First Class. He went overseas the year after, and his division was incorporated with the 12th Division and sent to France, Pharand said.

“I was a child, and he used to tell us stories of France,” she said. “He was in the area where they first used mustard gas. He was wounded in battle and sent home, and I’m not sure whether he was at Vimy Ridge on April 9, but he did fight there.”

What always impressed Pharand when her grandfather talked about his time overseas was he didn’t mention much about the war itself, but he talked a lot about the people of France who were so kind to them.

“He never told us why he enlisted, but all I can think of is, at that time, it was the thing to do,” she said. “So many Canadian men enlisted, and most of them were accepted.”

Her grandfather is always on her mind on April 9, when the nation as a whole remembers the sacrifices of those thousands of Canadian soldiers who fought at Vimy Ridge.

“I think commemoration is a better word for this event, rather than a celebration,” she said. “It’s difficult to celebrate an event where almost 3,600 men died, and 7,000 were wounded. It all goes back to remembrance. We can’t forget the price these men paid to keep us safe, to fight for our freedom.”

Vimy Ridge is often called the “Birth of a Nation.” It was the battle that won a nation’s identity, Pharand said.

“It was the first time soldiers from the west coast to the east coast fought together,” she said. “A lot of historians say that was the defining moment in Canada’s military history.”

On April 9, 1917, four Canadian army divisions launched their assault. The brutal struggle lasted three days, but in the end, Canada prevailed and reclaimed the territory for the allies.

“The Canadians came in and accomplished what the British couldn’t do in years,” Pharand said.

No parade this year

Normally, the Royal Canadian Legion hosts a parade and ceremony to honour the fallen and the veterans of Vimy Ridge. This year, due to the COVID-19, there will be no parade.


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Arron Pickard

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