Frozen sculpture heralds Vimy Ridge battle’s 90th anniversary
Ice sculptures seem to be extremely popular these days. From China to Austria and the US, there are competitions and festivals featuring carvings of mythological creatures, winter scenes and even film stars. But I think I can safely say that no one has yet built an ice memorial.
Today, Veterans Affairs Canada and the National Capital Commission unveiled a 26-tonne, 5.5 metre ice replica of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial as part of this year's Winterlude in Ottawa. The ice sculpture is created from 200 blocks of ice by master carvers from Canada, the US and Japan, and serves to mark the upcoming 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the dedication of the restored monument in France, which had been discoloured and eroded by acid rain.
The battle of Vimy Ridge took place in April 1917 and is considered a turning point in Canada’s military history. The Canadians employed detailed communications and planning to take the ridge despite the German army’s geographical advantage. However, this victory in defending nearby Arras left 3,598 Canadian soldiers dead and more than 10,600 injured.
In gratitude, the French gave the lands around Vimy Ridge to the Canadians to build a memorial to the war dead.
