Meeting #: 2
Date: May 6, 2026
Duration: 3 h 0 m 31 s
Location: Virtual meeting (videoconference)
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| John Desrosiers | Committee Co-Chair, Senior Director, International Operations, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) |
| Danica Arseneault | Committee Co-Chair, Senior Director, International Operations, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) – Assigned |
| Julian Smith | Committee Co-Chair, Senior Conservation Architect (Canada) |
| Ocel Dauphinais-Matheson | Program Manager, International Operations, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) |
| Daniel Lefevre | Honorary Chief Architect of Historical Monuments (France) |
| Christina Cameron | Author and expert on Canadian architecture and world heritage |
| Sean Graham | Historian, Department of National Defence (DND) – Department of History and Heritage |
| Marc Monette | Expert Member, Senior Project Manager – Consultant (Canada) |
| Phil White | Former sculptor of the Dominion of Canada |
| Paul Amaral | Conservation Technician, Heritage Conservation Services – Public Services and Procurement Canada (HCS – PSPC) |
| Bob Kirkhope, P.Eng | Conservation Engineer, Heritage Conservation Services – Public Services and Procurement Canada (HCS – PSPC) |
| Cristina Ureche-Trifu | Conservation Architect, Heritage Conservation Services – Public Services and Procurement Canada (HCS – PSPC) |
| Caroline Guay | Senior Conservation Technician, Heritage Conservation Services – Public Services and Procurement Canada (HCS – PSPC) |
1. Opening remarks
John Desrosiers, Senior Director (International Operations, Veterans Affairs Canada [VAC]) and Co-Chair, delivered the opening remarks.
- Thanks were extended to the participants for their attendance and for the quality of the discussions during the first meeting held two months earlier.
- The discussions generated a wealth of ideas and insights, which proved particularly valuable for engagement with senior management and for guiding the committee’s next steps.
- This marked the final meeting for the senior director of International Operations, who would be leaving his position at the end of the month. Danica Arseneault was introduced as the incoming senior director.
Danica Arseneault thanked participants and expressed her enthusiasm about joining the team as the committee’s new co-chair.
2. Summary of the minutes
Caroline Guay (Secretary) presented a summary of the minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Heritage Conservation Services (HCS) projects 2026–2027
HCS presented the projects currently under way for the year:
- Ongoing efforts to develop options for a feasibility study addressing pylon conservation and platform repairs.
- Ongoing environmental monitoring of the pylons, including consideration of additional sensors.
- Support to VAC for their annual summary inspections conducted by site staff.
- Planning for an upcoming inspection of the Vimy stonework.
- Support to VAC for research related to climate risk assessments.
4. VAC projects 2026–2027
- Preparations for the 110th anniversary commemorations (Beaumont-Hamel, Vimy).
- Unveiling of the UNESCO plaque at Beaumont-Hamel.
- The “Tree of Danger” project at Beaumont-Hamel, carried out in collaboration with Memorial University.
- Redesign of the Vimy parking area to improve traffic flow and reduce the visual impact on the landscape.
- New permanent exhibition for the museum in Beaumont-Hamel, scheduled for 2028.
5. Visitor safety
John Desrosiers (Co-Chair) raised the issue of reported falls on the monument’s steps, exacerbated by glare from the white stone in sunny conditions.
- Discussions focused on signage and temporary solutions.
6. Conservation and intervention philosophy
Julian Smith (Co-Chair) led an in-depth discussion on the conservation approach and condition of the monument:
- The UNESCO framework and philosophical approach.
- Conservation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, emphasizing its symbolic importance for commemorative activities.
- Evolution of meaning and consistency of principles: the significance of the monument changes over time, requiring adaptive management approaches while respecting artistic intent and visitor expectations.
7. Presentation of options for the feasibility study
HCS members presented three options for the preservation of the pylons and platform at the Vimy Memorial: ongoing maintenance, an integrated project, or a hybrid approach involving pilot projects to test solutions and inform future decisions.
It was agreed that all three options would be drafted and submitted to the Committee prior to the next meeting, to enable thorough discussion and the formulation of well-informed recommendations.
8. Lessons learned from the 2003–2007 restoration work
Daniel Lefevre shared his experience with the mortar and highlighted lessons learned:
- The mortar used during the restoration is mineral-based, dense and deliberately low in elasticity; it was developed based on aging tests conducted at the time.
- Observations show that joints remained generally in good condition at the base of the pylons, while localized deterioration was evident in areas exposed to runoff, particularly at higher elevations, with varying behaviour depending on the specific section.
- It was suggested to use the period leading up to the next major works to carry out accelerated aging tests on different mortars and to further examine measurements, notably dimensional variations, to better understand the underlying phenomena.
9. Closing remarks
The next meeting was scheduled for early fall 2026.
Participants were thanked for their contributions.