Princes William and Harry will each lay a pair of wooden feet at the memorial, representing the Canadians who died in the battle.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Francois Hollande arrived at the Cabaret Rouge cemetery, near Vimy Ridge, where they walked the rows of gravestones.
Britain's Prince Charles attended the commemoration with his sons, Princes William and Harry, who dropped boots symbolizing the dead soldiers and ceramic poppies at the grand war memorial that marks the site of the battle.
The Queen was not present at the ceremony, but sent a message reminding that "it is our duty to remember and honour those who served so valiantly and who gave so much throughout the First World War".
Canadian troops prepared carefully, learning from the mistakes of previous attempts to reclaim the ridge.
Others have only sepia-toned photographs or letters and diaries to remember great uncles and distant cousins who were among the 10,500 Canadians killed or wounded during the four-day battle for the ridge.
While Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau said: "The burden, they bore".
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Vimy Ridge was an engagement during the Battle Of Arras itself, which lasted from 9 April to 16 May 1917 and claimed 18,000 Scottish lives - the highest concentration of Scots involved in any WW1 campaign. Previous attempts by British and French troops had failed.
The Canadian Armed Forces had carried out a private ceremony the night before the official commemorations in memory of the four battalions that fought in the battle. "As we commemorate the 100 anniversary of this historic battle, we honour our courageous soldiers' sacrifices, and are reminded that our women and men in uniform today carry on their legacy and dedication".
There was also a clear effort to include Canada's indigenous people, who played a significant role in the First World War.
Millions of Canadians will pause and bow their heads today as they mark the 100th anniversary of one of the most transformative events in their country's history - the Battle of Vimy Ridge. "They have not only contributed greatly to the peace and security of our country but indeed to the peace and security of Nations near and far beyond our borders", says Serré.
"The importance given to the Battle of Vimy is a post-war mythological construction", he said, an "invention" dating back only to 1967, the year of Canada's centennial and the battle's 50th anniversary.
"The victory at Vimy Ridge earned a young Canada a place on the global stage. And they remind us that one can not exist without the other".
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