The Royal Canadian Legion will be presented with the 2017 General Sir Arthur Currie Award for its significant contribution to Canadian military history and heritage.

The award is given by Valour Canada, a national not-for-profit organization with the goal of connecting Canadians with their military heritage.

Based in the Military Museums in Calgary, Valour Canada produces the Monumental Canadian series of three-minute documentaries seen online and on television. It conducts in-class and in-museum education programs. It engages youth with social media through Militrivia, a Facebook page devoted to military history with more than 4,000 followers.

The recognition deviates from Valour Canada’s tradition of honouring an individual. Previous recipients have included historian J.L. Granatstein and veterans advocate Jody Mitic.

General Sir Arthur Currie is widely considered to be Canada’s greatest military commander. [Library And Archives PA166584]

“It is Valour Canada’s initiative to properly recognize The Royal Canadian Legion for the long-standing, marvelous work they have undertaken to assist and be the home of Canadians in uniform who have served their country and local communities, big and small, over the last 100 years,” said retired major-general Robert Meating of the organization’s board of directors. “As a grassroots, community-based volunteer organization, Valour Canada could not imagine a more worthy person or organization to honour in the year of the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge than The Royal Canadian Legion.”

The award will be presented to the Legion at a gala dinner to be held in May 2017. Valour Canada will also produce a Monumental Canadian documentary on the Legion.