Day 15-16 Vimy Ridge, Rehearsal day and Street Parade

Day 15 was an amazing journey through some of the important Canadian memorials of WWI.  We started with a 3 hour bus ride taking us to France and Belgium and to Vimy Ridge, the pivotal Canadian battle of the war.  The students had an opportunity to tour the tunnels, that were still preserved and restored, and visit the awe-inspiring Vimy Ridge Memorial, dedicated to the memory of all the Canadian soldiers lost in France during the war.

Next the busses stopped by Paschendale, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of WWI.  Next, we made our way to Tyncott Cemetary, the largest burial site in the world for Commonwealth nations.  Both of these sites are part of Flanders Fields.  

Ypres was our final stop in Belgium, where the students loaded up on chocolate and toured the Flanders Field Museum.  All in all, and awe-inspiring, sobering and emotionally challenging day, but one that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Day 16 was back to business - our morning rehearsal was a lot of clean up work, we then went to do the WAMSB street parade, a judged event, and it was awesome.  Great crowds, a parade through yet another amazing European city, and the students played and marched really well.  Plus, we finally got a chance to meet up, although briefly with Stampede Band and Red Deer.

Afternoon found us rehearsing some last minute musical details.  A quick stop at the grocery store to stock up, and we rehearsed more in the evening culminating with their best run through of the year!

It was an amazing couple of days, the students have been holding up considerably well as we stormed into our 3rd week of tour - tomorrow is the big day...prelims at 4:20 in the afternoon.  So send us all your good vibes at 8:20 tomorrow morning!