Overview

The purpose of the Odyssée de la Culture – Canada is to transfer to younger generations on both sides of the Atlantic the memory of the sacrifices endured by previous generations lest they forget what they owe to the Canadian Veterans of the First World War. This truly original and comprehensive Canadian and French citizen grass-root initiative fosters lasting cultural and economic relationships through history, culture, music, conferences, art exhibitions, tourism, local participation including special events involving Canadian and French municipalities and residents, and future school exchanges between Cape Breton, Mainland Nova Scotia, Canada, and France, on the occasion of the Commemoration of Canada’s coming-of-Age in the First World War, the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation, and 300 years of shared history between Canada and France. Achievements to date: 1./ The twinning of District #8 of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality with Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Vimy Ridge). The official proclamation took place in Cape Breton on March 24, 2017 and in Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Vimy Ridge) on April 8, 2017. 2./ In collaboration with Alliance Française in Toronto an exhibition of photographs of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial by Canadian Racheal McCaig was displayed at Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Vimy Ridge) City Hall on April 1, 2017 for two months before moving to Paris and then travelling across Canada. 3./ The inauguration of the Square du 85ème Battalion des Nova Scotia Highlanders in Givenchy-en-Gohelle (Vimy Ridge) took place on April 8, 2017 with Mayor Pierre Senechal officiating. 4./ In partnership with L’Odyssée de la Culture – Canada and Cape Breton historian, Jim MacDonald, a digitized copy of Percival Anderson’s map has been produced by the Nova Scotia Community College. Starting on April 8th, 2017, visitors to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial are able to download a copy of Percival Anderson’s map on their smartphones or tablets.