Skip to content

Barrie student who's a 'kind, helpful soul' wins Vimy Pilgrimage Award

Hudson Bosch, a Grade 10 student at Innisdale, was chosen from hundreds of applicants
VPA2020_Bosch
Hudson Bosch, winner of the 2020 prestigious national Vimy Pilgrimage Award. Photo provided by the Vimy Foundation

NEWS RELEASE
THE VIMY FOUNDATION
*************************
Barrie high school student Hudson Bosch has won the prestigious national Vimy Pilgrimage Award. Out of hundreds of applicants from across the country, Bosch, 15, was selected to participate in this Vimy Foundation program, which recognizes the actions of 20 young people aged 14-17 who demonstrate outstanding service, positive contributions, and leadership in their communities. Students can now apply for the 2021 Award.

The fully funded educational program takes place in Belgium and France in the week leading up to Vimy Ridge Day (April 9).

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Vimy Foundation has decided to suspend its educational programs involving student travel to Europe for the immediate future. The 2020 Vimy Pilgrimage Award is, at present, postponed to a later date to be confirmed.

Hudson Bosch is described by teachers as a positive role model, and a kind, helpful soul. The Grade 10 Innisdale Secondary School student is a member of both student council and the ultimate frisbee team. Bosch teaches French and reads with children at the Barrie Public Library. At school, this Vimy Pilgrimage Award recipient is a part of the Ontario Education Leadership Club and helps out with assemblies, events, and fundraisers.

To commemorate Vimy Ridge Day this year, The Vimy Foundation will be sharing tributes to Canadian military personnel created by the 2020 Vimy Pilgrimage Award recipients. These will be available on the Pilgrimage Blog, and on the Foundation’s social media (@vimyfoundation). Publishing these tributes allows students, who will attend the program at a postponed date, to share individual stories of the Great War generation and to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

On April 9, 1917, at Vimy Ridge, 100,000 Canadian soldiers gathered for the first time as a unified force. Today, we remember all who served during the First World War, and we celebrate our Canadian unity and resilience. Read more about the significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge here.

Thank you to our lead sponsor Scotiabank for their generous support of the Vimy Pilgrimage Award. Scotiabank aims to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. This program is also sponsored by Air Canada: The First World War is an important, strategic moment in Canadian history and Air Canada is proud to support our youth and tomorrow’s leaders by sponsoring the 2020 Vimy Pilgrimage Award, allowing 20 exceptional teenagers from across Canada to learn and remember.

The Vimy Foundation works to preserve and promote Canada’s ongoing legacy of leadership as symbolised by the First World War victory at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, a milestone where Canada came of age and was recognised on the world stage. Find out more at www.vimyfoundation.ca.

*************************