Canadian officials have reacted with shock and anger after environmental activists desecrated the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France with graffiti..And French police are now conducting a manhunt for the people responsible..“I was appalled to hear of the vandalism that took place at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial," said Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs, in a statement..“As all Canadians know, this is a sacred place commemorating the sacrifice of the 60,000 Canadians who gave their lives in order to protect the freedoms of the citizens of France and Belgium over 100 years ago during the First World War."."The memorial bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave and stands as a tribute to all Canadians who served during the First World War. It should inspire us to work toward lasting peace, for which those commemorated here gave their lives.".Petitpas Taylor said Canadian officials have been in contact with their French counterparts to share all the information..Veterans Affairs Canada officials are currently working with colleagues at Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ensure the graffiti is removed as soon as possible.."I strongly condemn this and all reprehensible acts of vandalism against cenotaphs, war memorials and other landmarks built to remember and honour the sacrifices made by Canadians in the name of peace," Petitpas Taylor said..The group that runs the memorial, the Vimy Ridge Foundation put out a statement on X (formerly Twitter) saying they were “deeply disheartened to learn about the recent act of vandalism..“Such actions disrespect the memory of the 11,285 Canadians missing in France with no known grave, whose names are listed on the monument,” it wrote..In April, 1917, more than 100,000 Canadian attacked German fortifications on Vimy Ridge, a turning point that forged Canadian nationhood.
