Calgary Tower lit up Monday
Posted Apr 9, 2012 10:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Calgary Tower’s flame was lit to commemorate the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Western Canada grade 11 student Jocelyn Davis spearheaded the effort to get the tower lit by emailing the mayor’s office who immediately got on board.
She says she came up with the idea after hearing a story about how Oh! Canada was played by candlelight as the soldiers marched through the french town of Mons, the site of the final battle to liberate it.
The First World War battle that helped establish Canadian identity was fought 95 years ago.
It was the first time a combined fighting force of Canadians was used and they managed to take the ridge the British and French had failed to secure despite repeated attempts.
But the battle came at a great cost. Over 3,600 soldiers were killed in the fighting over three days in April of 1917.
Flags are at half mast at city hall and the municipal building in recognition of this important moment in our history.
