For Edmonton cadets headed to France for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, it's hard to fathom the fact that they're the same age as many of the soldiers who lost their lives. "That had a huge effect on the morale, and the overall ability, that we were able to accomplish such a tremendous goal of taking Vimy Ridge," Haakenson said. Nonetheless, those still fighting looked down on the Canadian soldiers, recruited from vocations such as farming and fishing, when they arrived to help in December of 1916. Canadian soldiers man the trenches at Vimy Ridge in 1917 during the First World War. Members of the 504 Blatchford Field Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron depart from the Edmonton International Airport Saturday morning for Vimy Ridge.

Source: CBC News April 02, 2017 19:30 UTC