Noted Canadian war historian and author visits Kamloops library

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Bestselling Canadian author, Dr Tim Cook spoke to around 50 people at the downtown branch of the Thompson Nicola Regional Library Saturday about his newest book – “Vimy: The battle and the legend.”

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“The 9th of April, 1917 was the worst day in the war for Canadians, in terms of losses,” Dr Cook explained to those gathered. “How do you take that and turn it into the birth of a nation? How do you take a day of death and turn it into the birth of a country?”

It’s wasn’t the most important battle of the First World War. It’s not even considered the Canadian Corps greatest achievement of the Great War – but it is the first time all four Canadian divisions fought as a cohesive unit, which is one reason Vimy Ridge is seen as an important milestone in Canada’s growth as a nation on the international stage.

“It’s not just about the battle. A four-day battle doesn’t make a nation,” Cook told CFJC Today. “I think Vimy in fact… becomes shorthand for the First World War itself, which really was a traumatic event, a change event in our history.”