**Update,,Vimy Ridge, 100th Anniversary, April 09, 2017**

Thanks for the info. We fly to France on Friday and I've been pestering DVA for details of the actual ceremony. Watch the weather for Arras and/or Lille. To this point it looks pretty fair. From the long wait times I might be wussy and look for a couple of chairs in the veterans section.:redface:
 
emtjakster said:
If your are attending the rule and regulations have been released
Also it's not posted yet but there will be a shuttle available from the following locations. Exact address have not been released
Vimy, Givenchy and Lens

Schedule of events
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remem...niversary/vimy-event-guide/schedule-of-events

Site Map
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remem...dge/100-anniversary/vimy-event-guide/eventmap

General Information

Registration

Pre-registration was required by February 17, 2017 for the commemorative event on April 9 at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

Please note: Attendees will need to provide a printed copy of their official e-ticket and government-issued photo identification, such as a passport, national photo I.D. card or driver’s license, on the day of the event. If you are not registered, you will be denied access to the ceremony.

Site access

From April 1 to 5, 2017, access will be restricted within some areas of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site due to event preparations. The site will be closed to the public from April 6 to 9, 2017. Only those who have pre-registered and have their e-ticket and government-issued identification will be permitted to access the site for the April 9 ceremony.

On April 10, 2017, the new Visitor Education Centre at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, along with access to the tunnels and trenches will open to the public. Please expect long line-ups. To welcome a larger number of visitors during the Vimy centennial period, visitor services at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial will be available from 9:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. on April 10 to April 12. Access to the area surrounding the monument may be restricted to allow for removal of equipment.

Shuttle bus service/parking

There will be no private vehicles permitted on-site April 9. A shuttle bus service will operate. You must park your vehicle in the designated parking areas.

On Sunday, April 9, the shuttle will run to the site from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The shuttle will then move people off the site after the ceremony, beginning at approximately 6:00 p.m. For shuttle pick-up/drop-off locations, and shuttle hours call or visit the Canada Office - VIMY 100. More details on the shuttle bus service/parking will be posted as details are confirmed. Please check the website regularly. Pedestrians are permitted to access the site using authorized routes only. There will be some restrictions.

Seating

There will be limited seating available during the Commemorative Ceremony on April 9. Priority for seating will be reserved for Veterans and those with special needs. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial site is accessible to those with mobility impairments and is wheelchair accessible.

Restrictions at Vimy site

There are many areas of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial that are restricted to the public. These areas are marked by signs and barricades. For your safety, we ask that you respect these restrictions. As well, the following will not be permitted on-site during events: pets, glass bottles or dangerous objects (complete list of restricted items). Restricted items will be confiscated at the entrance.

After 100 years, the battlefields of France continue to give up munitions and other debris from the war. Please be aware that First World War munitions are dangerous and may still be “live” even 100 years later. If you do find something on the ground, please do not pick it up. Such items should only be handled by experts. Please make a note of where you found the item and advise one of the staff of its location.

What to wear/bring

April 9 will be a long, full day and you should plan accordingly. There will be limited sheltered areas. We recommend that you dress appropriately for the weather.

You may want to wear/ bring:
•clothes for cold, wet or windy weather (dress in layers);
•comfortable shoes;
•sunscreen; and
•daily medications.

Note: While concessions will be available, you may also want to bring food or snacks.

Wreaths

Regrettably, wreaths will not be permitted on the site on April 9.

Trenches/tunnels

The tunnels, trenches and Visitor Education Centre will not be accessible to the public on April 9.

Food concessions

There will be a limited variety of food and drinks available for purchase at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site on April 9.

Restricted items/what not to bring

The following items will not be allowed on site April 9. Items will be confiscated at security.
•Plastic bottles (greater than 1 litre);
•Glass bottles
• Metal cans
•Insulated thermos
•Aerosols
•Alcoholic drinks/drugs
•Large bags (greater than 15 litres)
•Helmets
•Laptops
•Cameras (with a zoom greater than 10 cm)
•Video recorders (greater than 10 cm)
•Drones
•Horns/Megaphones
•Flags/Banners/leaflets/Posters
•Drums
•Confetti
•Sharp or pointed objects
•Tools
•Batteries
•Steel toe capped boots
•Pyrotechnics
•Flammable and explosive substances
•Weapons of any kind
•Pets

Cell phones

Please note that cell phones may not work at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site due to limited cell phone reception.

Emergencies/medical services

In case of emergency, medical, fire and police services will be available on-site during all events. Should you require assistance, please advise one of the staff on-site or consult the site map in this guide for the “Medical tents” location. In order to best assist you in the event of an emergency, it is recommended that you keep a list of your medications with you.

For emergency consular assistance, Canadians in France can call the Embassy of Canada in Paris at 01 44 43 29 02 and follow the instructions, contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613 996-8885, or visit Request emergency assistance (travel.gc.ca).

Travel advice

For information about travelling to France, please visit Global Affairs Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories page for France.
Click to expand...

so basically no cameras are allowed???
 
What makes me ill is thinking of that hipster doofus guy filling in the PM job and his bloated entourage flying over and mouthing a speech or two and getting some (more) love from the Liberal Regime Propaganda Arm (formerly the CBC).
 
I think the prohibition on 10cm cameras is on the zoom lens not exceeding 10cm. It doesn't have to make sense, this is France and they're still in a state of national emergency after a series of terrorist attacks.

A colleague is booked on a package tour and he closely read the restrictions. Everything he needs will be on his body or carried in cargo pockets.
 
XRCD011 said:
What makes me ill is thinking of that hipster doofus guy filling in the PM job and his bloated entourage flying over and mouthing a speech or two and getting some (more) love from the Liberal Regime Propaganda Arm (formerly the CBC).
Click to expand...

I can't help but think that there will be a media spin to glorify this fellow in some way, but there's nothing in this about him at all. He should do what he's paid to do; represent the people of Canada in paying homage to the service and sacrifice of brave men who did their duty for their country 100 years ago. Make a respectful and humble speech of tribute to them, and them alone, then STFU and go sit down. If I hear any of his present day babbling about diversity and inclusiveness I'm going to puke.:puke:
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
I think the prohibition on 10cm cameras is on the zoom lens not exceeding 10cm. It doesn't have to make sense, this is France and they're still in a state of national emergency after a series of terrorist attacks.

A colleague is booked on a package tour and he closely read the restrictions. Everything he needs will be on his body or carried in cargo pockets.
Click to expand...

That's 3.93 inches long for us traditional folk. I think the average bear should be OK with a conventional digital camera.
 
cigar_man said:
If anyone gets the exact information on shuttles or where you can leave your car to go on the shuttle would really be helpful.

Could you please post it here.

Wading through the Vet Affairs website looking for answers can be troublesome at best.

I will also be posting and live broadcasting on Twitter as we visit the Battlefields of the Somme on up to Ypres, Belgium.

Twitter account;

https://twitter.com/garth_wetherall?lang=en
Click to expand...

I sent an email to DVA to ask about parking locations where we can RV with the shuttle to the Vimy site. I'm surprised they don't have this on their webpage by now. The long range forecast for Arras is showing 17 degrees for 9 April with mixed cloud and sun. That's a welcome change from 100 yrs ago when it was snow and sleet.
 
We spent today in Ypres and surrounding spots incl St Julian, Paschendaele, Tyne Cot Cemetery and some others. There were plenty of Canadians of all ages around and all are going to Vimy tomorrow. VAC has issued approx 20,000 tickets so it will be a very busy spot. I expect a very long day as we will arrive on site at around 1000 and probably won't get away until 1800 hrs. The weather promises to be sunny and warm, quite a contrast from 100 yrs ago when the Canadian attack kicked off in snow and sleet.
 
As expected it was a long day with considerable time spent waiting for shuttle buses to / from the Vimy site.

The ceremony was generally appropriate, but I felt the French content was disproportionate. The native dances were a little prolonged (hula hoops were native?) and there was some wierd interpretive dancing which didn't fit. Speeches from all of the Gov Gen, Prince Charles, Trudeau , and French President Hollande were pretty much on the mark, altho Hollande was a bit rambling. I was surprised and pleased that Trudeau didn't get into his usual contemporary themes about diversity/inclusiveness.

Overall a pleasant day with loads of Cdn patriotism in evidence, a nice thing from what Trudeau calls a post - national state with no real sense of national identity. Here's hoping he'll reflect on what he saw and STFU about the no national identity BS in the future. It was nice to see all the young people there and the flypast by the replica WW1 aircraft was cool.
 
It was a jammed packed weekend. I volunteered to work so Saturday was spent in Arras getting the paperwork and then working on site until the sunset ceremony. Sunday was busy as I was working in the activity tent directing people and the moving water bottles till 2pm. Made my way down to the media section to watch the show. Highlight was accidently being in the wrong place at the end. I knew I was in the wrong place when I was 5 feet from the French nuclear football and lots of people in dark suits. But got the chance to shake Prince Charles and Trudeau hand. The dancing part was a head scratcher, but hearing last post played on Vimy ridge made up for it. Abused my pass and Paramedic license to get on one of the first shuttles which was a plus, sorry for everybody that waited for the shuttles. Left Monday for Dieppe and sent 24 hours there soaking in our history there. Feet are scrap, nose is burnt but happy I went.
 
Shook Turdeau by the hand eh? I would held onto his hand and said a few words. The difficulty would be in choosing them from the many possibilities.
 
I sat behind the 4 Dauphins( Charles, William, Harry and Justin) at the Vimy ceremony and only saw the back of Trudeau's hair. We can all agree that its very beautiful indeed.

Im currently up in the Rhineland spending time with relatives and getting another look at the Cdn battlefields in the area incl Xanten, Emmerich, the Hochwald etc. Had dinner at a nice restaurant beside a ferry site on the Rhine last evening and saw a pic of Churchill and Fd Marshall Allan Brooke waiting to be ferried across the Rhine at this very spot. The twin tower gate of Xanten where Cdn troops passed thru is still there. Its a well known picture.
 
I was helping my mother with some family tree research and we just found out her great uncle (my great, great uncle) was probably at Vimy. He served in the 50th battalion. Poor guy had a rough time over there. His records show he was in and out of hospital with "trench fever". He also had cronic constipation and had his appendix removed. He was admitted to hospital on March 12th 1917 and released March 27th, just in time for the big show. They eventually released him as medically unfit in late 1917. He was 42 years old at that time.

My great grandfather (the brother) was also probably there as he was with the Horse Artillery right from 1914 to 1918.

Auggie D.
 
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