Givenchy en Gohelle, a tiny village in France, was liberated from German occupation during the battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917. Now many of the homes in the village are flying the maple leaf in honour of the Canadian contribution. The flags all come from a New Brunswick hardware store and were shipped to France in time for the Vimy commemoration. Our battlefield guides Cindy Brown and Lee Windsor, joining us from The Gregg Center at the University of New Brunswick, have a special relationship with the town and all 200 of our Return To Vimy tour clients will all be visiting the village tomorrow to help them commemorate. Villagers have been taking free lessons in English this year to help them greet the Canadians who visit.
2017 is the Year of Canada: signs greet you at all entrances to the village.
One of 500 Canadian flags bedeck the village - on poles, houses, windows, sheds and fences.
The mairie (town hall) is the location of the free English lessons for villagers.
The Maple is a tiny, charming cafe in Givenchy En Gohelle frequented by both hungry tourists and thirsty cyclists alike. On the fireplace mantel inside is a personal collection of soldier art carvings of brass shell casings.