![\"Ron\"](\"http:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Ron.jpg\")
Meet Ron Labrie, a history teacher\u00a0in Ponoka, Alberta. With years of\u00a0experience leading commemorative\u00a0tours with Explorica, Ron has gained\u00a0some fascinating insight and stories\u00a0to share about Canadian history, Vimy\u00a0Ridge, and the impact of bringing\u00a0students around the world to witness\u00a0history firsthand.<\/p>\n
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What are your school\u2019s\u00a0connections to WWI?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ponoka Composite High School was\u00a0the Alberta representative at the 90th\u00a0Anniversary of Vimy Ridge Ceremony in\u00a0Ottawa in 2007, where we were happy\u00a0to lead the Pledge of Remembrance\u00a0on behalf of the youth of Canada. Our\u00a0community has four soldiers memorialized\u00a0on the Vimy Ridge monument and\u00a0one soldier buried at Canadian Cemetery\u00a0No. 2. Since 2009, we have had 175\u00a0students visit the Vimy Memorial, Menin\u00a0Gate, St. Julien, Passchendaele, Hill 62\u00a0and 21 other Commonwealth War Graves\u00a0Cemeteries.<\/p>\n Which WWI site is most important\u00a0for Canadian students to see?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n There are many, but without question,\u00a0the Vimy National Memorial has a\u00a0spirit about it that can only be realized\u00a0by a visit. The monument itself is an\u00a0incredible piece of art\u00a0and exemplifies\u00a0the \u201cCanadian way\u201d\u2014with no mention\u00a0of victory, domination, or revenge, it\u00a0is a monument about sacrifice and\u00a0remembrance.<\/p>\n As most historians suggest, the Battle\u00a0of Vimy Ridge was the first time all four\u00a0Canadian divisions fought side-by-side\u00a0in the Great War. We began to recognize\u00a0ourselves less as British subjects, and\u00a0more as self-determined Canadians. To\u00a0honour the Canadian soldiers who fought\u00a0at Vimy Ridge, the French government\u00a0ceded 100 hectares of land to Canada\u00a0in perpetuity, where the monument\u00a0now stands. In the centenary year, it\u00a0is important to visit this iconic WWI\u00a0memorial and remember the horror and\u00a0sacrifice of war. As an educator, I value\u00a0the opportunity to show my students\u00a0Vimy Ridge: my favourite part of Canada.<\/p>\n Why should teachers lead\u00a0educational tours?<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the efforts of the best textbooks,\u00a0it is impossible to replicate the experience\u00a0a student gains from visiting places\u00a0that helped shape our world. Educational\u00a0tours invite stronger relationship-building\u00a0opportunities with students, and give\u00a0them political, social and cultural\u00a0experiences that cannot be measured by\u00a0pencil, pen, nor electronic device.<\/p>\n What is the most memorable\u00a0experience from your past tours?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n We were fortunate to meet a former\u00a0member of the French Resistance, Adrien\u00a0Jobin (93), who at the age of 19 hid the\u00a0surviving crew members of the Lancaster\u00a0bomber that was shot down. His village\u00a0has created a beautiful Canadian\u00a0monument in honour of the two RCAF\u00a0crew members that perished, one of\u00a0whom was from Ponoka. We were deeply\u00a0connected to the emotional presentation\u00a0given by Monsieur Jobin, his brother, and\u00a0his wife. They were overwhelmed with\u00a0gratitude for our visit and our passionate\u00a0biography of our Ponoka soldier. We have\u00a0since had regular correspondence with\u00a0Jobin and his community to enhance the\u00a0legacy of Pilot Officer George Cameron.<\/p>\n After going on an educational tour,\u00a0how do students react?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n My students have a newfound appreciation\u00a0for sacrifice and remembrance from\u00a0the soldier profiles they research and the\u00a0hours of preparation before departure.\u00a0Many of my alumni frequently talk about the impact the journey had on them, and more specifically, how\u00a0Remembrance Day has had a profound\u00a0significance in their life.<\/p>\n Experience a tour with Ron! We recently joined on one of his incredible Canadian history tours so you can see first-hand how deeply the students respond to the experience.<\/p>\n![\"VimyMonument\"](\"http:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/VimyMonument.jpg\")
Why is it important to visit Vimy\u00a0Ridge in 2017?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n