Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1540856
e importance TFS places on Remembrance Day awakens our students' awareness and, for some, even sparks a true passion. at's the case for Gregory P., who, in Level II, developed a keen interest in the Bale of Vimy. His fascination led him to win a Vimy Foundation contest and follow in the footsteps of his ancestors on the balefields of France and Belgium. WHEN PASSION IS BORN Where does your passion for the history of the two world wars come from? Gregory: In Level II, while preparing for the National Brevet Diploma, our first unit focused on the First World War. I found it really captivating, especially the Battle of Vimy and how the four Canadian divisions came together to fight the enemy. To me, Vimy—and history in general—is an essential tool, not only for understanding the past, but also for improving the future. And that passion led you on a remembrance trip to Europe? Gregory: Yes, I saw on the Vimy Foundation website that there was a contest to join a trip visiting key First and Second World War sites in France and Belgium—Vimy, Juno Beach, Ypres and many more. I applied right away. It was my first time in Europe, which was especially meaningful because my great-grandfather was a Second World War veteran and my great- great-grandfather served in the First World War. What stood out to you the most? Gregory: Definitely the people I met. I was surrounded by recipients from every province in Canada, as well as from France and the United Kingdom. We all shared the same interest in this history. One project really moved me: we were asked to present a soldier. Since I'm interested in medicine, I chose to focus on a doctor, thinking that medical personnel probably went to war with little to no preparation. In telling his story, I truly grasped the magnitude of the sacrifices made by these men. His name was Thomas Fleck Graham, and he was a graduate of the University of Toronto. You can watch the rest of Gregory's story on video: Gregory P., representing the Vimy Foundation, at the Vimy Ridge Day ceremony at Toronto's Old City Hall cenotaph on April 13, 2025, alongside Mayor Olivia Chow and Lieutenant- Governor of Ontario Edith Dumont. 31 TFS