Delta high school student Ripdaman Malhans has won the prestigious national Vimy Pilgrimage Award.
Out of hundreds of applicants from across the country, Malhans, 17, was selected to participate in this Vimy Foundation program, which recognizes the actions of 20 young people aged 14 to 17 who demonstrate outstanding service, positive contributions and leadership in their communities.
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.
A programmer and robotics enthusiast, Malhans strives to create a more sustainable, egalitalitarian and compassionate community. The Seaquam Secondary student founded its Coding Club, leads its Math Challengers Club and participates in student council.
Malhans is also vice-chair of the Teen Advisory Group at George Mackie Library and a webpage coordinator at Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen.
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 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.
The Vimy Foundation works to preserve and promote Canada’s ongoing legacy of leadership as symbolized by the First World War victory at Vimy Ridge, a milestone where Canada came of age and was recognized on the world stage.
