Cadets from across Saskatchewan came to Estevan to be a part of a presentation on Vimy Ridge that they got to be a part of.

Craig Bird, commanding officer of the Estevan Army Cadet Corp and President and Curator of the Southeast Military Museum, played the part of Sir Arthur Currie, the commander of the Canadian Corps during the battle.

The presentation was a bit different this year as Bird gave the cadets the opportunity to be a part of the presentation.

"The last six or seven years, it's just a sit-down video presentation where I get up and talk and give facts and we have a slide presentation and some films to watch just to give people an idea about you know what the soldiers went through and a little bit of the history about the battle because it doesn't get taught in schools anymore and there's a lot of people that just don't have any idea about it." 

Bird laid out a map of Vimy Ridge, which covered much of the floor of the Estevan Legion Hall.

"The Canadian Geographical Society did up a school program where for 1917, they were able to do up maps and a learning program for classrooms for kids, mainly from grade 7 to 12. I'd seen this a few years ago, but was able to to secure it for this year because you have to reserve it in advance and I thought we would do something a little bit more interactive with the kids."

"We have the map which is fairly large on the floor and they get to actually see some of the ground and just appreciate, you know the area and learn about how to read a map and. And what the soldiers would have gone through and looked at, you know, at that time as well."

Bird says he hopes that the presentation was informative both from a historical and current perspective.

"When I asked them they said they liked it and it was interesting that they learned stuff. So that's all we can hope for at the end of the day. Hopefully, they take away something from the presentation and remember, it kind of coincides with some of the training that especially the Army Cadets use because they do learn how to read a map and to use a compass. So this kind of dovetails into some of the things that they already know." 

He's hoping that they can do a similar presentation next year, covering some more topics around Vimy Ridge.

"There's 10 modules in the whole program. I only covered the first three here today, so we'll be doing at least two more in the future just to cover everything off," said Bird, "So the plan is to get the map back and remain interactive for the next couple of years and keep teaching and they can learn a little bit more into the process of the battle." 

Following lunch at the legion, the cadets then laid wreaths to remember the fallen and those still serving at the Estevan Cenotaph.