The Ridge [English]

Lire la version française >

The French equivalent, La Crête, appears not to be used.

The Ridge has become a symbol of remembrance for the community, commemorating the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9–12 April, 1917), which was a defining moment for Canada during the First World War. It was during this battle that Canada made the largest territorial advance of any Allied force to that point in the war.¹ At least 151 soldiers² from Paspébiac and New Carlisle participated in the First World War.³

Vimy Ridge, nicknamed in French “la butte de la Mort”⁴(Hill of Death in English), was a stark reminder of the harsh reality of trench warfare, mustard gas and artillery shells. Digging into the earth to discover that one place name reveals another.

Using the shortened name “The Ridge” is a form of detachment from a specific geographical circumstance and of blending into topography, both man-made and natural. The victory of this battle (and many others) rested upon the impressive mapping made by over 5,000 scouts, who, for months on end, profiled enemy terrain during dangerous raids.

The Ridge, the very spine of those who ventured through this shattered landscape.

DÉCOUVRIR > tous les lieux-dits de cette ville

AUDIO

Interview with Robert Munroe, Lynden Béchervaise and Marc Babin, April 11, 2025.

Post-war.

Battle of Hill 70.

Interview with Sandi Beebe, April 8, 2025.

Rue de Vimy is part of the official toponymy of New Carlisle. Several streets are named after military battles.

NOTES

¹ L’Encyclopédie canadienne en ligne, s. v. “Bataille de la crête de Vimy”, accessed January 26, 2026, thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/bataille-de-la-crete-de-vimy-resume-en-langage-simple?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14812340064&gbraid=0AAAAADqdd-kHv4vSFx7milK9UExQGTaxO&gclid=CjwKCAjwgeLHBhBuEiwAL5gNEcBD4uDsFOy-p0NlowfpJ4W8HOb0Sr6T2ICDPBNCvVf4F0Q6Gk3YvRoCCq4QAvD_BwE.

² It must be mentioned that soldiers were enlisted in New Carlisle but often came from elsewhere.

³ Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, “Mémorial de guerre de New Carlisle – Paspébiac”, Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec, accessed January 26, 2026, patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=238635&type=bien.

³ “Héros de guerre gaspésiens : la bataille de Vimy”, Au cœur du monde sur Radio-Canada Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, radio broadcast aired on November 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM, accessed January 26, 2026, ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/au-coeur-du-monde/segments/chronique/421454/heros-guerre-gaspesie-bataille-vimy-jour-souvenir-canadien.

⁴ “Héros de guerre gaspésiens : la bataille de Vimy”, Au cœur du monde sur Radio-Canada Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, radio broadcast aired on November 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM, 11:00, accessed January 26, 2026,ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/au-coeur-du-monde/segments/chronique/421454/heros-guerre-gaspesie-bataille-vimy-jour-souvenir-canadien.

⁵ Ethan M. Coudenys, “Les cartes de la crête de Vimy (partie 1)”, The Library and Archives Canada blog (October 5, 2023), ledecoublogue.com/2023/10/05/les-cartes-de-la-crete-de-vimy-partie-1/.

IMAGE

1. Marie-Claude De Souza, 2025.