Vimy Ridge goes digital

New online initiatives explore the stories and significance of the iconic First World War battle.

More than a century has passed since the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The once shell-blasted landscape in northern France has been transformed by time into grassy mounds mowed by flocks of sheep, while a forest grown after the end of the First World War stands in silent remembrance of the fallen combatants. Amid the gardens and fields, the majestic Vimy memorial, designed by Walter Allward and unveiled in July 1936, stands as a testament to peace.

In a time of pandemic uncertainty, technology and immersive experiences can help visitors to grasp the significance of historic sites such as Vimy Ridge that they cannot visit in person. Multimedia experiences can reconstitute the history of spaces transformed by weather, time, and human activity.

In a new digital storytelling project called Vimy – A Living

Memorial, the Vimy Foundation, Veterans Affairs Canada, and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) present two immersive experiences that bring Vimy to Canadians and to the international public. “Both of these online platforms offer a brand-new way to engage in commemoration by putting forward the historical side of the Vimy site, but also its more symbolic significance and the individual connection we all have to war,” said Pamela Plamondon, special projects coordinator at the Vimy Foundation.

The Digital Pilgrimage, created by the NFB, offers a multimedia experience that immerses users in a personal reflection through various testimonies, helping them to better understand the importance of the Vimy memorial as a testament for peace. The Expedition, a geolocational mobile app, brings the rich historical context of the site to life through forty site-specific stories with artifacts, images, and sound. Vimy — A Living Memorial will debut in April 2022 in time for the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.