Vimy Ridge Day Act, 2010 Sterling, Norman W. Prue, Michael Zimmer, David — Bill 19 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session)

Bill 19, 39-2

Ontario — Bills

role="main" class="main-container container js-quickedit-main-content" id="main-content">

Bill 19, Vimy Ridge Day Act, 2010

Sterling, Norman W.

Prue, Michael

Zimmer, David

Please select

View bill

Status

Debates

Original

Royal Assent

[39] Bill 19 Royal Assent (PDF)

Bill 19 2010

An Act to

proclaim Vimy Ridge Day

Preamble

Vimy Ridge is a 14 kilometre long escarpment in France at which one of the most dramatic battles of the First World War (1914-1918)

occurred on April 9, 1917. German forces took control of the ridge in October

1914. British and French forces repeatedly tried and failed to retake the

ridge. It was Canadian forces that succeeded in doing so during the Battle of

Vimy Ridge. Four divisions or 100,000 Canadian men followed a creeping

artillery barrage, an innovative tactic that was used by both sides of the war

in later battles. Victory was secured but at the price of 3,598 Canadians

killed and nearly 10,600 injured. It remains Canada's bloodiest day.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge is widely regarded as a watershed

moment in the evolution of Canada as an independent nation. The Battle marked the first time that Canadian Divisions fought together on the same

battlefield under Canadian leadership to carry out a Canadian strategy.

In gratitude in 1922, France granted Canada perpetual use of a

section of land at Vimy Ridge for the purpose of a battlefield

park and memorial. A memorial consisting of two majestic towers of white

limestone, 30 metres high, was erected in 1936. It commemorates all the Canadian

soldiers killed during the First World War, known as the Great War.

It is important to remember the importance of the

Battle of Vimy Ridge to Canada's identity. In 2003, the Parliament of Canada

passed the Vimy Ridge Day

Act (Canada). It proclaims April 9 in each year as Vimy Ridge Day

and requires that, on that day, the Canadian flag on the Peace Tower of the Parliament be lowered to half-mast. To ensure that Canadians continue to remember

what we accomplished at Vimy Ridge, the Vimy Foundation has created a Vimy pin

which shows the iconic towers of the memorial in front of a maple leaf and

vertical colour bands representing the four Canadian divisions that fought in

the Battle. The Vimy Foundation urges all Canadians to wear the pin on Vimy

Ridge Day and the days leading up to it.

It is appropriate that

the Province of Ontario recognize Vimy Ridge Day in a way similar to what the

Parliament of Canada has done and encourage the efforts of the Vimy Foundation

to make all Canadians aware of the importance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Therefore,

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Vimy Ridge Day

1. April

9 in each year is proclaimed as Vimy Ridge Day.

Canadian flags at Assembly

2. All

Canadian flags flown on the exterior of the Legislative Building and its

adjoining premises shall be flown at half-mast on April 9 in each year.

Commencement

3. This Act comes into force on the day it

receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4. The

short title of this Act is the Vimy Ridge Day Act, 2010 .

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a

reader's aid to Bill 19 and does not form part of the law. Bill 19 has been

enacted as

Chapter 3 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2010.

The

Bill proclaims April 9 in each year as Vimy Ridge Day in commemoration of the

battle during the First World War on that day in 1917.

[39] Bill 19 Original (PDF)