Funded by the Government of Canada Financé par le gouvernement du Canada

Transcription

1 Funded by the Government of Canada Financé par le gouvernement du Canada

2 A trilogy of documentaries, activities and educational initiatives on how aviation changed the course of the First World War and Canada s heroic involvement Drawn to Victory Wings of Courage Flight Path of Heroes

3 Flight Path of Heroes April 2015 to September 2017 Six First World War biplane replicas take to the skies and make a historic flight across Canada touching down in Canadian cities and towns gathering unique and personal stories about extraordinary Canadian soldiers who fought and were victorious at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The three main elements from Drawn to Victory and Wings of Courage the evolution of aviation, the evolution of mapping and the Battle of Vimy Ridge all come together in this symbolic and highly visual pilgrimage. A pilgrimage that pays tribute to two treasured anniversaries of nationhood: the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Canada s 150th Birthday. Activities include: A cross-canada flying roadshow that bridges the past and the present, featuring pilot enthusiasts from Canada s Great War Flying Museum, along with a handful of postgraduate Air Cadets. An accompanying travelling exhibit featuring educational and interpretive experiences tied to understanding Canada s contribution at Vimy from unique perspectives. The production of a one-hour broadcast documentary. Repeated promotion and a feature story in Canadian Geographic and Géographica magazines. Online educator resources inspired by the tour, the film and the magazine articles including a dedicated website. 3

4 Flight Path of Heroes Documentary synopsis The past and present come together during a flying road show that spans one nation and two treasured anniversaries of nationhood. Vimy: Flight Path of Heroes adds to the visceral and visual impact of two significant dates in Canadian history our 150th anniversary of nationhood and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The documentary chronicles a coast-to-coast flying roadshow featuring a squadron of six First World War biplane replicas that perform nostalgic flyovers in communities across Canada. At selected stopovers, memories and stories of Vimy veteran soldiers, as told by their family members, will be presented to bring a greater understanding of how Vimy has reached a mythical status in Canadian history. Serving as a backdrop to the flying roadshow, will be a historical account of the events leading up to The Battle of Vimy Ridge, the battle itself and its successful outcome. Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Vimy the FWW victory that brought global prominence to our young nation and accelerated feelings of nationhood on the battlefield and at home, at the same time that Canada prepares to celebrate its 150th, is a gracious nod to the sacrifices of the past that should never be forgotten during the many celebrations planned for Delivery: April minutes Beginning in British Columbia, the pilots and their crew will be seen overcoming the challenges of logistics, weather and distance as they chart a course from west to east. The documentary blends together their pan-canadian journey with personal Vimy soldier accounts to deliver powerful messages about triumph over insurmountable odds and the determination of the human spirit. 4

5 CONTACT The Royal Canadian Geographical Society 1155 Lola Street, Suite 200 Ottawa, ON K1K 4C1 Tel: (613) rcgs.org John G. Geiger Chief Executive Officer Gilles Gagnier Chief Operating Officer and Publisher Ellen Curtis Director of Education Sound Venture Productions 441 MacLaren Street, Suite 401 Ottawa, ON K2P 2H3 Tel: (613) soundventure.com Tim Joyce President Tel: (613) ext. 248 Cell: (613) Barry Stanton Vice-President, Strategy and Business Development Tel: (613) ext. 243 Cell: (613)