16 February 2024
Thanks to the generous contributions of many military engineers from across our country, and the Canadian Military Engineers Association, the Engineer Oak for the Vimy Foundation Centennial Park in France is fully funded. The small team spearheading this effort appreciates your contributions. We encourage you to visit the Vimy Foundation Centennial Park to learn more and to visit the Park if you are near the Vimy Memorial in France.
As noted in our previous communications, over 75,000 members of what is now the CME Family served in France and Flanders including Sappers, Pioneers, Railwaymen, Signallers, Surveyors and Tunnellers. Over 2,000 Canadian Engineers were killed during the war and yet memorials in Europe to their contribution and sacrifice are essentially non-existent. Your contributions have funded a second memorial to engineers, an addition to the memorial in France to Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell, VC, MC, by the City of Escaudoeuvres.
Captain Deborah Wolfe (Ret’d)
15 February 2024
In just over a month, CMEA members have raised over $9000 for this project. We only need another $800 to meet our goal. Please consider contributing to this cause that will help preserve our heritage and history. The details of the project and how you can help are laid out below.
Originally printed 10 January 2024
The contribution of the Canadian Engineers to the success of the Canadian Army during the First World War cannot be underestimated. In all, over 75,000 members of what is now the CME Family served in France and Flanders including Sappers, Pioneers, Railwaymen, Signallers, Surveyors and Tunnellers. Over 2000 Canadian Engineers were killed during the war and yet memorials in Europe to their contribution and sacrifice are essentially non-existent, save for one memorial in France to Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell, VC, MC, by the City of Escaudoeuvres.
Today, in cooperation with the Vimy Foundation, we have a unique opportunity to remedy this situation by dedicating one of a hundred Oak Trees planted at the Vimy Foundation Centennial Park in Vimy, France. Capt Deborah Wolfe (Ret’d) has taken the initiative and has been able to reserve one of the Vimy Oaks for us. This project will memorialize the Pioneers, Signallers, the Canadian Forestry Corps, the Canadian Railway Troops, as well as the Canadian Engineers who supported both Canadian and British forces. Interestingly, these trees are bred from acorns picked up by a Canadian Engineer on Vimy Ridge and sent home to his family in Ontario who planted them on his family’s farm in what is now Scarborough.
Fundraising has already started and CMEA has contributed $1000 to this campaign. We will also support the communications work for the fundraising. So far, almost one-third of the $10K goal has been raised and we are aiming to meet our goal by the CME Birthday in April 2024.
Contributions to the campaign can be made online by clicking here or by sending a cheque payable to The Vimy Foundation to 5524 Saint Patrick Street, Suite 202, Montreal QC H4E 1A8. If you make an online contribution, please add a comment ‘CME TREE’ in the ‘Dedicate this donation’ box on the payment form. If you send a cheque, please note ‘CME TREE’ in the memo note on the cheque. Donations over $20.00 are eligible for a tax receipt.
Thank you for your attention
CMEA Vimy Oak Committee
Chimo!