BATTLE BREWING
Navy veterans opened Vimy Brewing to honour Canadians who fought in the First World War,
OTTAWA— Tomorrow, after the howitzers have roared and the bagpipes quieted, the speeches and prayers finished and the wreathes have been laid, hundreds of old and young veterans will drift away from Canada’s National War Memorial. And some of them will be heading to Vimy.
Not Vimy Ridge the famous battlefield in France where many say modern Canada was born — but Vimy Brewing Company, a local brew pub operated by two brothers and Navy veterans who opened their doors last year on the 100th anniversary of that horrendous First World War battle.
Michael and Kevin Sirko, after ending their careers on Canadian warships, launched their brew pub to salute all things Canadian — particularly Canadian beer. At Vimy Brewing Company we celebrate everything about Canada and the many remarkable achievements made by fellow Canadians, states the company logo.
In their travels across Canada the Sirko brothers said they were dismayed to learn the majority of beers served in restaurants, bars and venues in Canadian cities are not produced by Canadian companies.
“We named our company after the Canadian victory in the Battle at Vimy Ridge, a truly Canadian achievement that many see as a defining moment when Canada came of age and demonstrated our independence,” Kevin Sirko said.
Vimy was a heavily-fortified seven-kilometre-long ridge near Arras in Northern France that during the First World War gave German soldiers a commanding view and fire power over the Allied troops spread across the valley below.
France had already suffered 100,000 casualties trying to sweep the enemy off the ridge over a three-year period. Then The Canadian Corp. was ordered to vanquish the Germany Army from the ridge.
The Canadians attacked on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, and the battle raged on for four days. For the first time ever, four separate divisions of Canadian soldiers, representing all areas of Canada, fought as one battle group. The Canadians cleared the ridge and pushed further into enemy territory than had been originally ordered.
It cost Canada 3,598 deaths and 7,003 wounded, but the victory was a major factor in successfully ending the war on Nov. 11, 1918.
France ceded Vimy Ridge and the land surrounding it to Canada in perpetuity and on Hill 145 — the highest peak of the ridge — stands the iconic Vimy Ridge Memorial.
On Loretta Avenue in Ottawa stands the Vimy Brewing Company where many Canadian veterans have been gathering since it opened to hoist a brew or two to fallen comrades. “We’ve hosted several memorial services and end-of-life gatherings in our Great Room for deceased members of the armed forces,” Kevin said. “And we’ve had many joyous events too like weddings, birthdays, graduations and retirements,” he added. “The vets like our name and the atmosphere in here.”
There’ll be many chests decorated with service medals among celebrants in the pub following the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the war memorial and the profits from their toasting lost lives and fond memories will be donated to Camp Aftermath.
Camp Aftermath is a sanctuary in Costa Rica operated by the Ottawa-based Aftermath Association, a registered charity, dedicated to treating PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) among Canadian military personnel, veterans and first responders.
Starting early next year campers will spend15 days at the Costa Rica jungle doing charitable work with the locals, caring for animals in an animal rescue shelter, planting and harvesting crops, doing yoga and fitness and learning meditation techniques.
Kevin Sirko said there have been a variety of activities at the Vimy pub since it opened to raise funds for Camp After- math.
The company’s logo features a large V for victory and Vimy and is topped off with a black bear. Sirko said during W.W.1 black bears lived in each of Canada’s provinces and territories and he considers it our national animal.
Michael is the brewmaster at Vimy’s Brewery and Kevin looks after marketing. At the 2018 Ontario Brewing Awards Vimy Cream Ale won a gold medal in the Lagered Ale category, Vimy Red Ale won silver in the Irish Ale category and Vimy Wheat Beer won bronze in the Hefeweizen category.