Students at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

PHOTO: THE VIMY FOUNDATION

A new education centre of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site in France will be one of the federal government’s highlights in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The creation of the new centre, to open in April 2017, was announced in the 2013 federal budget which set aside $5 million for the project. Fronting the campaign to raise an additional $10 million is the Toronto-based Vimy Foundation.

Fundraising efforts started with the Give A Vimy For Vimy campaign. The foundation is calling the new polymer $20 bill a Vimy since it features an image of the monument on the back. Dominion Command of The Royal Canadian Legion was one of the first supporters committing $5,000 to the project.

Education First (EF) Tours, which is involved in bringing school groups to Vimy Ridge, donated $100,000.

“We don’t celebrate victories in Canada, but the Battle of Vimy Ridge is really where the country came of age,” said Vimy100 Campaign director Jeremy Diamond.

While architects have yet to be chosen, Diamond says the new centre should complement the monument which was unveiled in 1936 by King Edward VIII.

“The centre will be within 100 metres of the front where the actual fighting happened,” said Diamond. “It will add to the experience.”

The Vimy Foundation was created in 2006 to preserve and promote Canada’s First World War legacy, as best symbolized by the victory at Vimy Ridge. The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in a battle lasting four days in April 1917 at a cost of 10,602 casualties.

More information can be obtained from The Vimy Foundation, 1000-200 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5H 3C6 or www.vimyfoundation.ca.