Vimy Ridge Essay

The 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge is an important part of Canada 150 and a defining event in the history of our nation. The Canadian success at Vimy has long been recognized as the point at which Canada came of age as a nation. On April 9, 2017 Canadians will commemorate the uncommon service and sacrifice of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who left their families and occupations to serve in WWI generally and at Vimy in particular. This year, for the first time, the Chief Justice of Canada and the Judge Advocate General of Canada will join the official party at the Cenotaph in Ottawa in recognition of the remarkable service and leadership of Canada’s legal profession throughout our military history. Law students and lawyers
After the war he completed his legal studies and was called to the bar in 1921. In 1940 he was elected to Parliament and towards the end of WWII he served as Minister of National Defence. In 1954, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Henry Grattan Nolan graduated from the University of Alberta and deferred a Rhodes Scholarship to serve in WWI. He was wounded at Cambrai and awarded the Military Cross. After the War, he earned a degree at Oxford and was called to both the English and Alberta bars. During WWII, he acted as deputy to the Judge Advocate General of Canada and later, he was the Canadian prosecutor before the International Military Tribunal trying war criminals in the Far East. In 1957 he became the first Albertan to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

There are as many more remarkable accounts as there are law students, lawyers, and judges who joined thousands of others citizens and placed service to Canada above their own interests and personal safety. I hope that in this important centennial year you will attend a cenotaph ceremony near you and feel a little proud of your profession, and maybe a little inspired, while honouring the selfless service and passionate leadership of those who came before