Langford pays tribute to heroes of Vimy Ridge

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The flame of remembrance burns brightly on the West Shore for soldiers who fought in Canada’s most celebrated military victory.

On the evening of April 9, the glowing light grew a little stronger as a sizable crowd gathered at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford for its annual Battle of Vimy Ridge Candlelight Tribute, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) Prince Edward Branch #91.

Major (ret’d) Grant Whittla, the event’s Master of Ceremonies and Legion member, is convinced the cause of peace and freedom is not lost on younger members of the community. 

“People are quite reflective of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the youth who were present indicated this inspired them to think about the Canadian soldiers who died in support of Canada’s peace and freedom,” said Whittla.

Whittla is a former Canadian Army Signals Intelligence Specialist and Royal Canadian Air Force Communications and Electronics Engineer. He has been the tribute’s emcee for the past five years and says it is all about ‘passing on to our youth the memory of heroes who sacrificed in order to provide Canada with peace and security’.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge, Apr. 9-12, 1917, was a defining moment in Canadian history but did not come without significant cost. Of the 100,000 members of the Canadian Corps who served there, approximately 3,600 lost their lives, and 7,000 more were wounded.

The tribute holds special personal meaning to Captain (Navy) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander. His Great-Grandfather, Private (Pte) William Otten Whiteside, fought at Vimy Ridge as a member of the 18th Battalion of the Canadian Corps. Wounded twice, Pte Whiteside received the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. 

“The candlelight ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park is a special opportunity to honour a seminal moment where our young country and military came of age and prevailed in the face of shocking and grueling circumstances,” said Capt(N) Whiteside. “As Base Commander, I could not be more thankful to organizers who enable us to remember and reflect on what have become national touchstones of valour and sacrifice.”

Capt(N) Whiteside attended the ceremony with Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Susan Frisby, CFB Esquimalt Base Chief.

The candlelight tribute included the Westshore Community Concert Band and Legion Comrade Ralph Gonyea playing The Last Post. At dusk, veterans, military members, and youth carried candles to memorial markers in the park. Similar candlelight tributes occur across Canada and at the National War Memorial in Ottawa each year.