Our Mission

Building the Future, Informed by the Past

The Vimy Foundation is a leading voice on the First World War in Canada and the home of the collections of the Canadian Centre for the Great War.

The Foundation works to preserve and promote Canada's ongoing legacy of leadership

The First World War victory at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, a milestone where Canada came of age and was recognized on the world stage, acts as a symbol of this rich legacy. Our actions here at the Vimy Foundation are informed by our commitment to three strategic pillars:
Leadership - shaping informed and engaged leaders of tomorrow
Legacy - evolving our connection to our First World War heritage
Longevity - delivering on a commitment to maintaining operational excellence

A brick wall with The Vimy Foundation logo and Centennial Park mounted on it.
A group of students at the Vimy memorial

The Foundation carries out its mission by:

  1. Spreading awareness through educational programs, both domestic and overseas;
  2. Spreading awareness through innovative projects and unique initiatives;
  3. Spreading awareness through promoting recognition of April 9th as Vimy Day.

The Vimy Foundation's Top Ten Accomplishments:

1. In partnership with the Government of Canada, developed a public commemoration for the last surviving First World War soldier on Vimy Day 2011;

2. Having The Vimy Memorial placed on the new $20 bill;

3. Creation of Vimy Place in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Park in Montreal;

4. Influencing the provincial and municipal governments across the country to lower flags on Vimy Ridge Day;

5. Hosting gala events across the country celebrating Vimy Ridge Day;

6. Staging commemorative events for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle in 2017;

7. Vision and development of the Vimy Visitor Education Centre on the site of the Vimy Memorial;

8. Creation of a mobile application and a digital experience focusing on the Vimy Memorial site and Canada's military history to bring “Vimy to the World”;

9. Developed informative and creative educational programs helping Canada's youth learn about First World War and military history; and

10. Vision and development of the Vimy Foundation Centennial Park at Vimy, France.

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Brief Overview

Inspired by the heroic victory of the Canadian Forces at Vimy Ridge, the Vimy Foundation believes that the key to a successful future lies in knowing one's past, and that the remarkable story of Vimy should be shared with young people from across the country.
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To help spread awareness, the Foundation works with different partners on many projects and commemorative initiatives, while also creating forward-looking educational programs  that use history as a tool for building a better future.

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On sale
Pick up our Vimy Foundation Hoodie and Tartan Socks together in this limited-time offer! A cold weather essential and an excellent gift! Our Tartan Socks were made in partnership with Friday Sock Co, a Calgary-based business, to create custom socks using the Vimy divisional stripes while our cotton blend hoodie is the same one used by our participants in their journeys across Belgium and France!

Hoodie and Sock Bundle!

$ 50.00 

$ 50.00 

On sale
Dogs have been used in war for centuries worldwide. Their duties have ranged from pulling carts, sentries, scouts, messengers, as mascots, rat catchers in the trenches, search and rescue, bomb detectors and first aid dogs. Countless stories of incredible heroic acts performed by these animals have been told throughout the First World War and beyond. Dogs continue to be put to work in military service to this day as their role expands to include service animals for veterans. The Vimy Foundation partnered with Dog Hair INCluded (Montreal) to design these quality and durable bandanas featuring our Vimy Plaid. Honor those four-legged friends who also helped shape our history with this rugged and stylish pet bandana.

Vimy Foundation Pet Bandana

$ 22.00 

$ 22.00 

On sale
Walter S. Allward: Life & Work chronicles the artist’s life from his formative years in Toronto working for the architectural firm Gibson and Simpson to his success as a leading sculptor. The book explores Allward’s early works, including the South African War Memorial in Toronto (1904–11), the Baldwin-Lafontaine Monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa (1908–14), the Bell Memorial, commemorating Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in Brantford (1909–17), and the Stratford War Memorial (1919–22), before discussing how the artist turned his talents toward the Vimy Memorial, an icon of Canadian sacrifice and a legacy for future generations. About the author Philip Dombowsky is an Archivist at the National Gallery of Canada. He holds an MA (Art History, Concordia) and a Master of Library and Information Studies (McGill). Dombowsky has curated numerous exhibitions for the NGC Library and Archives, most notably in the area of book design and illustration. He is the author of Index to the National Gallery of Canada’s Exhibition Catalogues and Checklists 1880–1930, which won the Melva J. Dwyer Award in 2008.

*NEW* Walter S. Allward Life & Work

$ 30.00 

$ 30.00 

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