Thanks to Brent St. Denis, April 9 is now Vimy Ridge Day

April 9 of each year will now be Vimy Ridge Day, after a private members bill introduced by Algoma-Manitoulin MP Brent St. Denis was approved by the Senate on Thursday and also received royal assent.

Vimy Ridge Day won't be a holiday, but it will be a national heritage day commemorating one of the most significant battles in Canadian military history, St. Denis said.

The Algoma-Manitoulin MP issued the following release:

***************************************************************** Vimy Ridge Day Bill passed by Senate and receives royal assent

April 3, 2003 - Brent St. Denis’ Private Members Bill, C-227, (formerly Bill C-409) The Vimy Ridge Day Act, has been approved at 3rd reading by the Senate and given Royal Assent.

The passage of this Bill came to conclusion late in the day on Thursday April 3, 2003 after several years of effort.

"I wish to thank Parliamentarians in both the House of Commons and the Senate for their support of this Bill.

"In particular I wish to express my appreciation to Senator Marie Poulin who sponsored C-227 in the Senate and to Robert Manuel, a constituent from Elliot Lake, who initially inspired this idea and provided many letters and petitions of support throughout the process.

"With the passage of this Bill the Parliament of Canada is honouring our veterans, those who lost their lives or were wounded in past wars or peacekeeping missions, and those who now so faithfully and capably serve, or have served, in Canada's military throughout the decades. We thank and honour them all," stated Mr. St. Denis.

Bill C-227 declares April 9th of each year as Vimy Ridge Day.

The day is not a holiday but instead a heritage day to recognize an important part of our national history.

Also with the passage of this Bill the flag on Parliament Hill’s Peace Tower will be flown at half-mast every April 9th in commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

The World War I, Battle of Vimy Ridge is considered to be one of the most significant points in Canadian military history.

On April 9, 1917, four divisions of the Canadian corps, for the first time under a unified Canadian command, attacked German defences at Vimy Ridge.

More than 100,000 Canadian troops from coast to coast, with brigades from every region of the country, fought that day at Vimy Ridge.

The victory at Vimy Ridge was a turning point in World War I for the Allies and an important moment in the building of the Canadian nation.

Bill C-227 was originally introduced in November 2001 (in the 1st Session of the 37th Parliament) as Bill C-409.

It was re-introduced in the 2nd Session of Parliament as Bill C-227 in October of 2002 and was passed by unanimously by the House of Commons in February of 2003 and now has passed the Senate as of this day.

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