They’ve studied the wars in textbooks – now they’ll stand where the battles happened. Two local students are heading to France and Belgium as part of a prestigious international program on remembrance.
Victoria's George Crowther and Paris Ford of Sidney are among just 16 students selected from around the world for the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize – a 10-day educational journey through historic First and Second World War sites Aug. 1 to 11.
Run by the Vimy Foundation, the program immerses youth in Canada’s wartime legacy while fostering international dialogue among students from Canada, the U.K., and France. This year, the program will focus on the environmental impact of the war.
Ford and Crowther are two of just 16 students taking part in the program this year. Since its inception in 2006, more than 300 youth have participated.
Ford, who lives along a small inlet off the Haro Strait, first connected with the program through a history class. But it wasn’t the travel that caught her attention – it was the essays.
“What caught my eye were the essay topics,” said Ford, who is going into Grade 12 at Stelly's Secondary. “Because I wanted to write them, I looked into the program and found it very much aligns with the question I’ve been asking for years: how can looking to the past shape our future?”
Her application included an analysis of For What? by war artist Frederick Varley, which she described as a raw portrayal of trauma and moral collapse.
Another essay explored the erosion of her local salt marsh, drawing a connection between environmental degradation and the long-term consequences of human conflict.
Ford is especially looking forward to visiting the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, where she plans to honour Pte. Maurice Connor – a fireman from Victoria who went missing in action during the First World War.
"He was presumed to have died on or before May 5, 1917, and as no body was ever found, he has no grave," Ford said. "His name is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial, and I am looking forward to paying my respects."
Crowther, a student at Reynolds Secondary, learned about the program from his mother – a history teacher – and was drawn to the opportunity to blend his interests in history, politics, and climate science.
He’s been deeply involved in environmental restoration efforts at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, supported by Reynolds’ Flexible Studies Program, which allows him to spend extensive time in the field.
His art essay examined the devastating environmental aftermath of the Battle of Passchendaele. “Even 100 years later, the ecosystems have not fully recovered from the damage,” said the soon-to-be grade 12 student.
Crowther emphasized his excitement not only for exploring history firsthand, but also for connecting with peers who share his passion.
“I absolutely loved the idea of connecting with youth from different places through our love of history,” said Crowther, who previously served as premier in his school’s Model Parliament. “It’s a way to put Canada’s history of global relations on full display.”
Both students say they plan to share what they’ve learned when they return – through classroom presentations, community engagement, and their future studies.
“I may not know my role in history,” Ford said, “but I know my role in our future: to look into the past to aid the present as a world affairs diplomat.”
