Vimy Ridge Visitor Education Centre

The Vimy Ridge Visitor Education Centre is a war memorial museum located in Neuville-Saint-Vaast that focuses on Canadian military involvement in the First World War. The building houses exhibits with photographs, artifacts, and interactive displays that help visitors understand the experiences and stories of those who fought here.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place in April 1917 and became a defining moment for Canadian forces during the First World War. The educational centre opened in 2017 to mark the centennial and preserve the memory of this significant military engagement and its lasting impact on Canadian identity.

The site is named after the ridge that became central to Canadian national memory after the battle. Walking through the grounds, visitors encounter spaces designed to reflect on sacrifice and the bonds forged between soldiers from different backgrounds.

Visitors can join guided tours through the tunnels and trenches to experience the conditions soldiers faced during the war. It is helpful to plan ahead, as group visits require advance notice and tours may have limited availability depending on the season and staffing.

The centre features an exhibition called 'Windows on Vimy' that traces Canada's military involvement from the First World War battlefields through to modern peacekeeping operations around the globe. This perspective connects the historical events of 1917 to Canada's ongoing international commitments and how the nation's military identity evolved over time.