NO VICTORY AT VIMY CEREMONY
Ceremonies to mark major events in Canada’s history should be about more than colourful photo ops for political leaders. Apparently, however, they are not. Canadians learned that on Canada Day, when tens of thousands were trapped in and around the parliamentary precinct trying to get onto Parliament Hill to celebrate the sesquicentennial. Instead, they were stuck in long, chaotic lines that led nowhere while the celebrities journeyed unencumbered.
Now we learn the government was equally inept in its planning for the centennial commemoration of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Last April, Veterans Affairs Canada played host to about 25,000 people who had travelled to France to mark one of the most significant episodes of the First World War. The commemorative event was years in the planning. But many travellers were stranded without food or water, or left broiling in the sun for hours, or forbidden to move from the venues they had been jammed into. Toilets were in very short supply.
Meanwhile, the dignitaries moved around, TV cameras in tow, without difficulty.
When Veterans Affairs Canada later surveyed its own staff about the day, reviews weren’t any more positive. The employees cited bad communication, lack of leadership and last-minute decisions. This is not the kind of experience we want anyone to go through when marking an occasion as solemn as the Vimy anniversary.
The federal government, apparently, was oblivious to the problems that occurred last April 9, until Ottawa Citizen reporter Tom Spears followed up.
VAC’s summary report for that day touts it all as a grand success, since the 152 VIPs on hand had a fine time.
There was only minor reference to the problems everyone else faced; the report suggested a “small number” of critical comments.
In fact, the file given to the Citizen contains 400 pages full of complaints. Officials are now saying things could have been done better.
But as with the Canada Day fiasco, the government itself owes all Canadians an apology. We citizens just want to express our patriotism and love of country. The least politicians can do is ensure planners understand the fundamentals of properly handling large, enthusiastic crowds.
It’s not just about photo ops.