ST. PAUL - On April 2, the 2395 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in St. Paul took part in a Vimy Ridge Parade, honouring Vimy Ridge Day a week early.
Vimy Ridge Day takes place on April 9, every year, but falls on Easter Sunday this year, so the local cadets opted to honour the day ahead of time.
"The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought during the First World War from 9 to 12 April 1917. It is Canada’s most celebrated military victory," according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
"The battle took place on the Western Front, in northern France. The four divisions of the Canadian Corps fighting together for the first time, attacked the ridge from 9 to 12 April 1917 and captured it from the German army... More than 10,600 Canadians were killed and wounded in the assault."
A memorial sits on the ridge, honouring the "11,285 Canadians killed in France throughout the war who have no known graves," reads the Canadian Encyclopedia.
As per the Vimy Ridge Day Act, the Canadian flag on the Peace Tower is lowered at half-mast on April 9.
The 2395 Royal Canadian Army Cadets is made up 13 cadets. This year's Vimy Ridge Parade was the first to take place since the COVID-19 pandemic.