It was a mix of young and old at the Royal Canada Legion in Ponoka Sunday afternoon to celebrate one of Canada’s most remembered battles.

Social Studies teacher Ron Labrie and students from Ponoka Secondary Campus who travelled to Vimy, France in March, were on hand to honour those who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

17-year-old and Grade 12 student Emily Massing shared her experience.

“When we were there, you walked up and it was like ‘oh my gosh’ you couldn’t breath and even think almost. It’s definitely an act of remembrance and something that needs to be carried on forever.”

Labrie has taken students to Vimy for the last ten years and said the Battle of Vimy Ridge represents what it means to be Canadian.

“The values that are instilled on that monument don’t speak about aggression or conquering. They speak about honesty and truth and sacrifice and remembrance and peace which is the core of our values as Canadians.”

Canada lost 3,600 soldiers in the three-day battle and more than 7,000 were injured.