Top guns in military, politics and business came together under one magnificent roof for the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday at the coolest Art Deco joint in town — the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive.
Jason Kenney, minister of national defence and of multiculturalism, Veteran Affairs Minister Erin O’Toole, the Canadian Forces’ vice chief of defence staff, Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault, VIA Rail CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano and major donor Helen Vari, widow of Canadian developer and philanthropist George Vari, were among the 260 attendees of fifth annual reception for the Vimy Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Canada’s First World War legacy through education and awareness. It sends deserving students from across the country to visit key battlegrounds and memorials.
-
![From left, Ottawa architect Barry Hobin with Vicky Rheaume and chartered accountant Gene Rheaume at the Vimy Reception held at the French Embassy on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
From left, Ottawa architect Barry Hobin with Vicky Rheaume and chartered accountant Gene Rheaume at the Vimy Reception held at the French Embassy on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![Second World War veteran Pierre Gauthier, 90, of Chambly, Quebec, with Vimy Foundation executive director Jeremy Diamond at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at Embassy of France on March 31, 2015.]()
Second World War veteran Pierre Gauthier, 90, of Chambly, Quebec, with Vimy Foundation executive director Jeremy Diamond at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at Embassy of France on March 31, 2015.
-
![Tom Clark, chief political correspondent for Global News, and his wife, Jane, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.]()
Tom Clark, chief political correspondent for Global News, and his wife, Jane, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.
-
![From left, Honorary Colonel Paul Hindo with Jeff Mierins, Star Motors of Ottawa, and his partner, Tara-Leigh Cancino Brouillette, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the French Embassy on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in support of the Vimy Foundation.]()
From left, Honorary Colonel Paul Hindo with Jeff Mierins, Star Motors of Ottawa, and his partner, Tara-Leigh Cancino Brouillette, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the French Embassy on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in support of the Vimy Foundation.
-
![From left, Minister of Veteran Affairs Erin O'Toole with David Houghton, president of The Vimy Foundation, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France.]()
From left, Minister of Veteran Affairs Erin O'Toole with David Houghton, president of The Vimy Foundation, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France.
-
![From left, 2015 Vimy Reception Committee chair Bruce Burrows with Royal Canadian Air Force Honorary Colonel Michael Potter and lawyer Greg Kane (showing off his Vimy pin as a makeshift cufflink) at the Vimy reception held at the Embassy of France .]()
From left, 2015 Vimy Reception Committee chair Bruce Burrows with Royal Canadian Air Force Honorary Colonel Michael Potter and lawyer Greg Kane (showing off his Vimy pin as a makeshift cufflink) at the Vimy reception held at the Embassy of France .
-
![Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault greets Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France.]()
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault greets Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France.
-
![From left, Honorary Colonel Paul Hindo with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and its commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Robert Patchett, at the 2015 Vimy Reception .]()
From left, Honorary Colonel Paul Hindo with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and its commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Robert Patchett, at the 2015 Vimy Reception .
-
![From left, Sean Murray and his wife, Jamilah, of Sakto Corporation, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception with their friends, Dr. Leigh Fraser-Roberts and Duncan Fraser, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France .]()
From left, Sean Murray and his wife, Jamilah, of Sakto Corporation, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception with their friends, Dr. Leigh Fraser-Roberts and Duncan Fraser, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France .
-
![From left, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Lt-Gen. Guy Thibault with Ottawa businessman David Luxton and Michael Martin, CEO of Valley Associates Corporation, at the 2015 Vimy Reception .]()
From left, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Lt-Gen. Guy Thibault with Ottawa businessman David Luxton and Michael Martin, CEO of Valley Associates Corporation, at the 2015 Vimy Reception .
-
![From left, organizing committee chair Bruce Burrows with VIA Rail president and CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano at the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France]()
From left, organizing committee chair Bruce Burrows with VIA Rail president and CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano at the 2015 Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France
-
![French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis greets Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and of Multiculturalism, at a special reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis greets Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and of Multiculturalism, at a special reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![From left, Karen Miller with Carleton University president Roseann O'Reilly Runte and Vimy Foundation donor Helen Vari at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. )]()
From left, Karen Miller with Carleton University president Roseann O'Reilly Runte and Vimy Foundation donor Helen Vari at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. )
-
![From left, Mark O'Neill, president and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History Corporation, with Linda Brunet, director general of Encounters with Canada, and Dan Mackay at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
From left, Mark O'Neill, president and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History Corporation, with Linda Brunet, director general of Encounters with Canada, and Dan Mackay at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![Ottawa businessman Alex Beraskow and his partner Marion Fraser attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
Ottawa businessman Alex Beraskow and his partner Marion Fraser attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![From left, special guest Jason Kenney, Minister of Defence and of Multiculturalism, and the Canadian Force's Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
From left, special guest Jason Kenney, Minister of Defence and of Multiculturalism, and the Canadian Force's Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault, attended the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![From left, French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis with Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and of Multiculturalism, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.]()
From left, French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis with Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and of Multiculturalism, at the 2015 Vimy Reception held at the Embassy of France on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
-
![French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis welcomes guests to special reception held at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in support of the Vimy Foundation.]()
French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis welcomes guests to special reception held at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in support of the Vimy Foundation.
-
![Bruce Burrows, chair of the 2015 Vimy Reception Committee, welcomes guests to this year's special reception, held at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.]()
Bruce Burrows, chair of the 2015 Vimy Reception Committee, welcomes guests to this year's special reception, held at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.
-
![Some 260 guests gathered at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for the 2015 Vimy Reception held in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.]()
Some 260 guests gathered at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for the 2015 Vimy Reception held in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs.
Photos: Around Town at reception in support of the Vimy Foundation
Vimy Reception held Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Embassy of France in support of the Vimy Foundation's education and awareness programs
The crowd gathered for a reception in the spacious main foyer before ascending the handsome staircase to a hallway adorned with a sculpture of the Vimy monument. Then, it was into the Grand Salon for a proper welcome from France’s new ambassador to Canada, Nicolas Chapuis.
“Six hundred thousand Canadians crossed the Atlantic to save Europe,” said Chapuis, speaking against the impressive backdrop of the Triumph of Constantine tapestry. “We will always remember.”
Guests heard how the Vimy Foundation is gearing up for the centenary of the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge, considered by many to be a defining moment for Canada. The troops, commanded in part by Canadian officers, took one of the most heavily defended German positions of the entire Western front. “The DNA of our iconic Canadian character traits can be traced right back to April 1917,” Bruce Burrows, chair of the Vimy Reception committee, told the room. “It was a frozen morning near Arras, France with sleet, snow and a bitterly cold wind (just like absolutely every day this winter) that our ability to do our best in the outdoors came through.
“As did other traits and Canadian values, such as: courage, bravery, readiness to face adversity, creativity and innovation, and a natural affinity for the officers and enlisted troops to actually talk to each other and practise relentlessly as a team before the big day.”
Guests heard how the Vimy Foundation is successfully spearheading the construction of a new Education Centre next to the site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. It’s reached its $5 million fundraising target, and then some, in order to get matched federal government funding.
Kenney spoke about our “duty to remember” and about his great-uncle who died in the war on April 7, 1917. His remains were not found but his name is inscribed, along with 11,000 others, at the Vimy memorial. The “war to end all wars” claimed the lives of more than 60,000 Canadians.
“It’s essential that we have efforts such as this led not by government but by civil society to revive and renew our collective memory and to transmit it to young Canadians, to future generations of Canadians and to new Canadians,” said Kenney.
carolyn001@sympatico.ca
