Students from the Durham Catholic District School Board are preparing to travel to Europe to visit historic First World War battlefields, carrying a Canadian flag previously flown atop Parliament Hill's Peace Tower.
Oshawa MP Rhonda Kirkland and York-Durham MP Jacob Mantle presented the flag to the students ahead of the trip, which is called the Return to the Western Front Tour and is organized in partnership with World Strides, a tour operator that runs educational travel programs for teachers, parents and students.
The journey will take the students to Belgium and France, and will coincide with the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
"More than a century ago, young Canadians travelled overseas to defend the freedoms we enjoy today, many never returning home," Kirkland said. "As a proud Canadian, I am honoured to have presented this Peace Tower flag to these students, who will now carry it to Vimy Ridge and across Europe as a symbol of respect, remembrance, and our shared commitment to honouring those who served."
"Seeing the students' excitement as they prepare to depart for Europe was truly heartwarming," Mantle said. "The 'Return to the Western Front Tour' offers these young people a meaningful opportunity to connect with Canada's history in a powerful way."
Behind the story
Sources & publication details
- Byline
- Daily Durham News
- Published
- Nov 10, 2026, 10:10 a.m.
- Source
- www.durhamradionews.com
- Original link
- https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/219834
