Vimy Foundation The Vimy Foundation is charity focused on raising awareness of the role Canada played in World War I and the implications of Canada ’ s success in the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9 , 1917 . The Vimy Foundation was founded in 1996 by John Andrew Powell , with support from Sir Nicholas Bonsor . Its office is located in Montreal , Canada . Mission . The mission of The Vimy Foundation is to preserve and promote Canada ’ s First World War legacy as symbolized by the victory at Vimy Ridge in April 1917 . All activities originated by the Foundation have this aspect in mind and aim to help educate and raise awareness . The Foundation ' s initial step worked to establish a student scholarship program , known as the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize . It is funded by the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation , whereby 15 - 20 students ranging from 15 – 17 years of age compete to win a scholarship to Europe . This summer program allows a student group to travel overseas for a week through London and Oxford in the U . K , and a week through northern France , including towns surrounding Vimy , Dieppe , and Normandy . This is an educational trip staffed by historians and secondary school teachers . Students are mostly Canadian but include one or two from France and England . The purpose of this inter - cultural grouping lies in creating a dynamically well - rounded experience for the students , as all countries were also involved in the Battle of Vimy Ridge as part of the allied forces and as a result have historic ties to Canada . The Canadian scholarship recipients , in the year following their trip , address their student bodies as well as provide interviews with various Canadian press outlets and attend related functions . These activities allow the recipients to share their knowledge and experiences with a number of Canadians , and play a role in spreading awareness of The Vimy Foundation . This initiative was broadened through an alliance with Encounters with Canada ( Encounters ) . Encounters is the country ’ s largest youth forum and is based in Ottawa . Each week a group of approximately 150 Canadian high school students , from all parts of the country , gather in Ottawa in a classroom setting to focus on a particular theme regarding Canada . There are twelve areas of focus ranging from history , arts , politics , and medicine . Encounters was inspired by what The Vimy Foundation was aiming to accomplish and proposed to create a new theme , which is labeled " Vimy : Canada ’ s Coming of Age " . This program proved a success and Encounters now runs it on the basis of two consecutive weeks surrounding the date of Vimy Ridge Day , which is April 9 of each year . Approximately 300 students from all parts of Canada participate in this program annually . Vimy Pin . The Foundation views this program as having the largest potential in terms of raising awareness . A national survey suggested that over 2 / 3rds of Canadians would be prepared to wear a pin recognizing Vimy Ridge Day . The same survey underlined that less than 1 / 3rd of Canadians recognized what Vimy Ridge was or that it was significant , and of these a potentially large portion were not aware of the circumstances or why it was significant . The Foundation aims to have the pin recognized and worn by the majority of Canadians . The National Post newspaper dubbed the pin as " April ' s Poppy " . Among others , hockey commentator Don Cherry endorsed the Vimy Pin . On CBC ’ s Hockey Night in Canada he declared " “ I strongly support the Vimy Pin campaign , and I believe all Canadians should proudly wear the pin every April 9th . ” " In 2012 , the Cadets of Ontario received permission to include the Vimy Pin as part of their uniform , and approximately 20 , 000 of these cadets now wear this pin as part of their attire . Efforts are being made to expand this permission nationally , where approximately 150 , 000 cadets could be expected to include the pin as part of their uniform . For the past four years all Canadian Members of Parliament have worn a Vimy Pin on April 9 , Vimy Ridge Day , in the House of Commons . Last year , several alumni of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize were invited to the Prime Minister ’ s Office to present Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a pin . Chairman . General Rick Hillier , former head of The Canadian Military and Canada ’ s Chief of Defense Staff , became Honorary Chairman of The Vimy Foundation in 2008 . Vimy Ridge Public School . In 2009 , The Vimy Ridge Public School opened in Ajax , Ontario . The Durham District School Board decided to name one of its newest public schools in honour of Canada ’ s victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge . This initiative was supported in part by The Vimy Foundation . The school , 45 km northeast of Toronto , opened its doors September 2009 . The naming committee voted unanimously for Vimy Ridge . The final selection took only one round of voting . Endorsements . At the 90th Anniversary in 2007 35 , 000 Canadians made the trip to Vimy to celebrate this moment . Of these , 5 , 000 were Canadian students , all of whom received a Vimy Pin . Also in attendance were Elizabeth II , Queen of England , The Prime Minister of Canada , The Prime Minister of France , and many number of dignitaries . Several representatives of The Vimy Foundation attended . In 2009 the Royal Canadian Legion endorsed The Vimy Foundation and the Vimy Pin . In 2009 representatives from The Vimy Foundation began to take part in the annual Vimy Ridge Day commemorative ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa . Four Vimy Prize winners were invited by Veterans Affairs Canada to lay a wreath during the ceremony , representing the youth of Canada . A strong connection exists between the Foundation and Veterans Affairs Canada . In 2010 , French Ambassador to Canada François Delattre was so impressed with what the Foundation was trying to accomplish , he offered the French Embassy to The Vimy Foundation for a fund raising event in 2011 - to coincide with April 9 , Vimy Ridge Day . The French Embassy funded the entire occasion allowing for all contributions made to be dedicated to The Vimy Foundation programs . This event has become an annual affair . François Delattre became Ambassador to the United States based in Washington DC in 2011 . In 2010 , the Ontario Legislature proclaimed Vimy Ridge Day . The Ontario Provincial Legislature passed a new Bill proclaiming April 9 Vimy Ridge Day throughout the province . The Bill requires all Canadian flags on provincial buildings and grounds to be flown at half - mast . In 2011 , the Royal Canadian Legion Pilgrimage Medal was donated to the Canadian War Museum . This medal was worn by King Edward VIII in the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial on July 26 , 1936 . It had stayed in various private collections since that time but was put up for auction at Sotheby ' s , along with 20 other items given by the former King to Wallis Simpson , the woman for whom he abdicated the throne only a few months after the Vimy unveiling , which he personally attended and ordained . Andrew Powell , Founder and President Emeritus of The Vimy Foundation , partnered with fellow Canadian John McCall MacBain in co - purchasing this medal . Working closely with the Canadian War Museum , Mr . Powell and Mr . MacBain arranged to have the newly purchased medal sent to Canada where it will remain in the Museum ’ s permanent collection . In the summer of 2011 , two Vimy Prize Alumni met with Prince William and his wife Catherine , the Duchess of Cambridge . The Foundation was contacted by the Governor General ’ s office to have two Beaverbrook Vimy Prize winners participate in a small reception in honour of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while they toured Canada that summer . The event was to celebrate the exceptional service of Canadian youth towards a smart and caring nation and created an intimate setting for The Prince and his wife with the selected young Canadians . The reception was hosted by David Johnston , Governor General of Canada , his wife Sharon Johnston , Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper , and his wife Laureen Harper . Each group represented , including The Vimy Foundation , had an allocated time period to meet directly with Prince William and Kate and their hosts . In October 2011 two Vimy Foundation Board members were awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation by the Canadian federal government . The awards were granted by the Steven Blaney , Minister of Veterans Affairs . In November 2012 the Bank of Canada began to circulate a new $ 20 Canadian Bill . The back side of the bill is dedicated to Vimy and pictures the Memorial . This is in part the result of the efforts of The Vimy Foundation . The Vimy Foundation believes this underlines the importance of what it is aiming to accomplish in raising awareness . Such major developments underline that the most credible groups are recognizing the importance of Vimy . Mark Carney , Governor of The Bank of Canada , as well as Jim Flaherty , Canada ’ s Finance Minister , unveiled the new $ 20 note to a group of students affiliated with The Vimy Foundation . Minister Flaherty at the time reiterated that Vimy was Canada ’ s ‘ coming of age ’ . The Vimy Foundation was represented by former Beaverbrook Vimy Prize Winners , from 2012 , 2010 and 2009 . Approximately 50 , 000 Canadians have become aware of The Vimy Foundation , and its purpose , due to direct efforts of the Foundation . Approximately 250 , 000 Canadians have become aware indirectly ( newspaper ads , articles , etc . ) . The foundation aims to have these numbers grow exponentially to the lead up of the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge in 2017 . Funding . The Vimy Foundation has achieved its milestones with primarily one off donations , no endowment fund , and a permanent staff of only two persons . Most involved donate their time . Resources have been donated as well . Each project has thus far been independently funded . Donors include : The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation , Toronto Dominion Securities , Shaw Communications , Royal Bank of Canada , the Southam Foundation , the Weston Foundation , the Hudson ' s Bay Company , True Patriot Love Foundation , and the MacDonald Stewart Foundation . Those which have donated resources include : the National Post and National Public Relations . More recently some donations have become program specific and span periods of several years ( i . e . The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation is uniquely funding the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize and TD Securities is funding the Encounters With Canada program ) . An additional source of funding is derived from sales of The Vimy Pin .