On a crisp morning at CFB Borden, military personnel, dignitaries, and community members gathered at the historic World War I training trenches to mark the 107th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 9 April 2025—followed by the annual breakfast at the Waterloo Officers Mess, which blended solemn remembrance with gratitude for the freedoms forged by sacrifice.
A Living Legacy
The event began with an open tour of the reconstructed trenches, where Canadian soldiers trained for the horrors of trench warfare. Base Commander Colonel Melissa Ramessar underscored their significance.
“These trenches prepared troops for battles like Vimy Ridge,” she said. “Explosions and smoke simulated combat, but nothing could truly ready them for the reality of war.”
Attendees, including Honorary Colonel Jennifer Armstrong and Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Peters, stood where soldiers once drilled before deploying to Europe.
Vimy Ridge: A Defining Moment
On 9 April 1917, all four Canadian divisions fought united under Canadian command for the first time, securing Vimy Ridge which was a pivotal Allied victory.
Colonel Ramasar quoted General Sir Arthur Currie who once said, “Thorough preparation must lead to success. Neglect nothing.”
The triumph came at a staggering cost of 10,000 Canadian casualties, a stark reminder of the price of freedom.
Reflection and Renewed Commitment
Base Chaplain, Captain Nicole McKay led a poignant interfaith reflection, invoking a Greek proverb.
“A society grows great when elders plant trees whose shade they’ll never sit in,” Capt McKay said. “We sit in the shade of peace—a gift from those who fought.”
The ceremony included the Last Post, two minutes of silence, and the Reveille, with military members saluting in unison. National President of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP), Fern Taillefer recited the Ode of Remembrance:
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Looking Forward
As buses departed from the trenches and headed for breakfast at the Waterloo Officers Mess, members and guests were greeted by a spread of all potential breakfast fixings.
Col Ramessar shared her own reflections on The Battle of Vimy Ridge, highlighting three key factors implemented by General Sir Julian Byng that helped propel Canada towards victory: readiness, cooperation and mobilization.
“[Gen Byng]’s vision for the CAF required merit and capability over seniority or politic and this philosophy not only applied to the top leadership, but also to the junior officers,” Col Ramessar said.
According to Col Ramessar, Gen Byng also encouraged soldiers to link their identities not solely to their divisions, units, brigades and battalions, but to the greater corps—leading to a more powerful identity in consistency and uniformity.
A Legacy Preserved
The restored trenches stand not only as a memorial but as an educational tool, ensuring new generations grasp the cost of conflict and what it means to band together within a greater CAF identity.
Attendees left with a renewed vow: to remember the courage of Vimy’s soldiers and uphold the peace they secured.
“Lest we forget” is not a passive phrase—it is a promise.
