Rotary Learning Institute:  Annie Mueller attended last weekend.

 

Upcoming events:  April 26 - Food Bank; May 2 - deliver frozen dinners to families that have children in the Stollery Childrens Hospital from Simply Suppers - 2 more drivers needed;

 

Rotaract Club of Edmonton:  Ben Turner advised the club has a fund raiser scheduled at Yuk Yuks Comedy Club on May 4.  Support of Rotary Club of Edmonton West would be appreciated.  Proceeds go to eradicate Multiple Sclerosis.

 

Fine Master:  Art Lachance asked for voluntary fines.

 

50/50:  Ben Turner and Art Lachance did not match cards so $249 carried over.

 

Guest Speaker:  Rob Dunseith who is now on a 3 month sabbatical from his law practice described his 5 week trip to Europe, specifically his visit to the Vimy Ridge Memorial and the 100th anniversary commemoration.  This was held on April 9 and Rob his spouse Provincial Court Judge Elizabeth Johnson attended to the area again on April 10.  There were many people at the services.  Rob had a specific interest as his great uncle had died in the battles prior to Vimy Ridge on March 17, 1917.  The city of Arras with a population of 150,000 was at the centre of the many battles in this area of north east France.  There were lots of displays to support the commemoration services including Canadian art and details of specific people that participated in the battles.

 

At the Vimy battlefield, Rob toured the tunnels built by the Allies under the battle field.  These enabled the Canadian soldiers to move up to the line of battle unseen and then appear and engage the enemy in the offensive proceedings.  He was able to view the trenches used to support the Canadian's efforts (rocks have replace sand bags to prevent erosion).  The Canadians also dug under the German lines where they set explosives that blew up many German personnel.    Sheep are used to maintain the battlefield as they do not set unexploded munitions off.  In addition to 3500 Canadian casualties, there are cemmetaries for 44,000 German soldiers and 40,000 French soldiers.  A separate panel lists 580,000 names  of casualties.  The Canadian Memorial "Lest We Forget" commemorate the battle which was the first time 4 Canadian divisions joined ranked to fight a a corp.  The French people living in the area were very welcoming to the visitors. 

 

Rob was thanked by Darrel Ripley.