The inspiration for this project came from conversations with hundreds of Canadians whose families had been directly affected by losses in WWI. These conversations inspired R.H. Thomson and Martin Conboy to create a vigil to ensure that Canadians across the country would remember the losses that the families of all WWI veterans suffered. Each November 11th, the war dead are collectively remembered, but Conboy and Thomson wanted to acknowledge them as individuals.

With this in mind they approached VAC for funds to create a vigil for each of the 68,000 Canadians killed in WWI. In 2007 Conboy and Thomson had created the Vimy Vigil which projected the names of 3,598 Canadians lost at Vimy Ridge. The public response was so supportive that they decided every Canadian killed in WWI should be similarly honoured.

They joined together with Canada’s National History Society and the web company Ecentricarts, and created the concept of a national vigil on the 90th anniversary of WWI. The team envisioned that this vigil would take place simultaneously in Ottawa, across Canada, and in Europe. Veterans Affairs Canada provided the funds to create and produce the Ottawa vigil. Private fundraising produced the vigil in Trafalgar Sq, UK. Individual Canadian cities were also encouraged to produce it. Canada’s National History Society created a schools initiative to encourage schools and communities across the country to become involved in activities related to the vigil, both onsite and online.

Martin Conboy is a renowned lighting designer with a background that includes direction, producing, scenic and design. He has credits for over 150 productions in Dance, Theatre, special events, light shows and many site specific light art installations. In architectural lighting, he has worked on projects with design firms across Canada, and government projects in Canada and abroad. The latter includes the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa and Vimy Memorial in France.

RH Thomson is one of Canada’s foremost actors/directors has received numerous awards over his 30 year career. In 2001, RH Thomson wrote and performed a highly personal play, The Lost Boys, based on letters written home by his five great-uncles who fought in WWI. Its television version delivered his second Gemini Award.

Ecentricarts Inc. is a web design and development company, which works on many arts, culture and education-based projects. This innovative studio is based in Toronto and has clients across Canada and internationally. Ecentricarts Inc. designed and built the online Vimy Vigil project and is honored to be working on the 1914-1918 Vigil project.

Canada’s National History Society is a Winnipeg-based charitable organization established in 1993 by the Hudson’s Bay Company with the mission to promote greater popular interest in Canadian History, mainly through its publishing programs. The Society publishes Canada’s second oldest magazine, The Beaver: Canada’s History Magazine, which began as a newsletter for HBC in 1920. It also administers the country’s top history honours: The Pierre Berton Award; and the Governor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History.

The organizers wish to thank Veterans Affairs Canada, the private donors for the UK vigil, the Canadian High Commission in London, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the National Capital Commission, the Canadian War Museum, the Globe and Mail, Pauline Couture and Associates, the many, many individuals across Canada who contributed financially or in kind, the staffs of Martin Conboy Lighting Design, Ecentricarts and Canada's National History Society and the wonderful individuals and organizations who took up the vigil idea in their regions. But above all, the organizers wish to thank the families of the veterans of WWI.