Calgarians commemorate 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among the dignitaries commemorating the centenary of the World War I battle of Vimy, in northern France.

The two-hour event will include musical and dramatic performances by well-known Canadians such as Paul Gross and Lorena McKennitt, as well as speeches by French President Francois Hollande and Prince Charles.

The sun peaked its head out of the clouds just in time for the city's ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge Sunday afternoon.

"It was through their sacrifice that Canada became an independent signatory of the Treaty of Versailles", Trudeau said, referring to the most important of the treaties that brought World War I to an end.

The event was staged in the shadow of the towering Canadian National Vimy Memorial built on Hill 145, the highest point of Vimy Ridge captured by Canadian and British troops after four days of fighting.

"In the early morning hours of April 9, 1917, after meticulous planning, Canadian soldiers stormed Vimy Ridge". But the victory came at enormous human cost - by April 12, 3,598 Canadians had been killed and a further 7,000 injured.

Prince Charles commended the "strength of character" of Canada's troops.

Sophie Gregoire; and Trudeau's son Xavier attend a commemoration ceremony at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on Sunday. The World War I battle was a costly victory for Canada, but one that helped shape the former British colony's national identity.

Military boots symbolizing dead soldiers are seen at Canadian National Memorial in Vimy, France on Sunday. On this day, they were more than mere tools of the Empire - they were professionals who, through innovation, daring and dedicated preparation, managed to solve one of the most stubborn riddles of a hellish conflict. "We will never forget".

Martinez shared the story of visiting the Vimy Memorial in France not long ago, on a trip with classmates from Clayton Heights Secondary.

"Those spires stand for peace and for freedom", Johnston said.

As for unity, there are those who say Vimy actually exacerbated divisions between English-Canada, which supported the war, and French-Canada, which opposed it, by pushing the country closer to conscription.