Nova Scotia

Cape Breton cadets march for Vimy Ridge trip

Northside air and army cadets marched from the war memorial in Florence to the war memorial at the Sydney Mines yesterday to honour Canadians killed at Vimy Ridge in 1917.

Cadets take 3,598 steps to represent Canadian dead

Northside air and army cadets marched Sunday to raise money for their Vimy Ridge trip. (George Mortimer/CBC)

Northside air and army cadets marched from the war memorial in Florence to the one in Sydney Mines Sunday to honour Canadians killed at Vimy Ridge in 1917.

It took cadets about an hour and half to march 3,598 steps, which represents the number of Canadians killed in the First World War battle.

Members of the 602 McCurdy Air Cadets and 1917 Vimy Ridge Army Cadets marched to raise money for a trip to Vimy Ridge in April 2017 to mark the battle's 100th anniversary. Cadets from around the world will attend the anniversary.

Lt. Brian Nunn, a training officer with the 1917 Vimy Ridge Army Cadets, says the trip will be a great opportunity for the cadets to learn about Canada's role at Vimy. 

"I think it's a great honour for these cadets to represent Canada along with hundreds of other students and cadets from all across Canada ... I'm sure it will be something that they'll never forget," he says.

Nunn says 40 cadets, along with their parents and officers, will be making the trip to Vimy in 2017.