Statement from Premier Pillai on Vimy Ridge Day

Premier Pillai has issued the following statement:

“Early on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, Canadian troops commenced their operation to take Vimy Ridge in the Battle of Arras during World War I. The battle for control of Vimy Ridge would rage on over four days, lasting until the evening of April 12, 1917.

“The meticulously planned assault brought victory for the allied forces, but as the smoke cleared and mud settled, the cost of the victory became apparent. 3,598 Canadians died in the battle and thousands more were marked as missing and presumed to be deceased, those 11,285 names are engraved on the Vimy Ridge Memorial, standing on the very ground they fought so hard to take back.

“The Canadian Corps success at Vimy Ridge lead to a series of battlefield victories in 1918 that was a critical part of the final years of the Great War. The World War touched every community in Canada, including the Yukoners who took part in the battle. The Yukon Motor Machine Gun Battery and its Dawson volunteers bravely faced enemy fire to support the advances of the Canadian Corps.

“Flags around the country, including the Jim Smith Building, will be lowered to half-mast to honour the Canadians that marched on Vimy Ridge on that fateful day in France. Today we take a moment to reflect on the selfless actions taken by thousands of Canadians fighting far from home. Now it is our turn to take action and keep the memories of the day alive. I encourage everyone to learn more about our fellow Yukoners who served, as well as the actions of the entirety of the Canadian Corps.

“We will remember them.”