On Wednesday, February 4, the Glengarry Historical Society is presenting another talk in its Speaker’s Series.
Caitlin Bailey is the Executive Director of The Canadian Centre of the Great War & The Vimy Foundation in Montréal. Her focus is on the ways in which the events of The Great War shaped our Canadian society then and now. She describes herself as a public history professional and a heritage organization administrator. Her passion for history began as a child and today it continues as she describes history as a fascinating portrait of humanity.
Bailey will be sharing insights into the 100-day Offensive that ended the Great War, with a focus on the role that Canadian soldiers played in this monumental achievement. These last 100 days showcased what Canadian Soldiers did best during the battle of Vimy Ridge, a year earlier in 1917, and introduced new structures, notably the concept of the mobile army, which became part of the battles of WWII. During the 100 Days Offensive, the Canadians fought battles similar to those of the Vimy Ridge battle every three weeks. Which shows just how incredibly determined and courageous our soldiers were. She will also tackle a few of the controversies that surrounded the 100 Days Offensive, notably the first ever addition of conscripted soldiers and the reasons why Currie decided to continue fighting on the front lines until the final dissolution of the war. At the heart of her presentation is to share what made the Canadian Corp a success and the cadence of the day-to-day life of being a part of this Offensive. If the battle at Vimy Ridge was the beginning of the Canadians strong reputation, then the 100 Days Offensive was what solidified it.
This presentation will be on Wednesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. at the Michel Depratto Hall of the Glengarry Sports Palace, Alexandria. For non-members, tickets are $10 and for members, $5. Light refreshments, tea/coffee and snacks will be available.
The next speaker in the series will be Warren MacIntosh. He will be presenting on, “Glengarry Holstein History”. This will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m., also at the Michel Depratto Hall of the Glengarry Sports Palace in Alexandria.
To learn more, please use the following links:
The Canadian Centre For The Great War: https://greatwarcentre.com/
The Vimy Foundation: https://vimyfoundation.ca/
