Hyunjun (Matthew) Lee is embarking on an educational trip of a lifetime as the grade twelve, Cochrane High student has been awarded the prestigious Vimy Pilgrimage Award for 2021.

Lee has been chosen, along with other Canadian students, to attend a one-week educational program, during which recipients will learn about the history of the First and Second World Wars and participate in Remembrance ceremonies while reflecting on the role and legacy of leadership demonstrated by Canada during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

“Inspired by the heroic victory of the Canadian Forces at Vimy Ridge, the Vimy Foundation believes that the key to a successful future lies in knowing one’s past and that the remarkable story of Vimy should be shared with young people from across the country.”

The mission of the Vimy Foundation is to build a future by being informed about the past. The foundation looks to young Canadian’s who show strong leadership, care about legacy and longevity particularly in how it all pertains to the First World War.  

The award is presented to 15–17-year-old exceptional students who are prized with a fully funded week-long educational program. Typically, the trip is to Belgium and France but due to the pandemic that has not been possible since 2019.

However, this year, the recipients will be traveling to Ottawa for a week to continue their education and broaden their understanding of the First and Second World Wars and the important role Canada played during those eras.

Lee is departing today, (Monday, November 8) for Ottawa and is very excited with what the trip entails saying, “We’re trying to view the First World War and learn it and understand the perspective of it. Because the First World War happened such a long time ago, so they are trying to make students, currently, understand it. And I think that’s a really great idea of the Vimy Foundation.”

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Lee will be graduating from Cochrane High this year. He is hoping to continue his education in the Biological Sciences field after graduation. Originally from South Korea, Matthew and his family have lived in Cochrane since he was in grade three.

After some coaxing from a friend, Lee decided to apply for the award he reflects, “I applied for it originally, not having high expectations that I would get in. But after a few months passed I did the interview, and I got the email back that I was accepted, and it was really exciting for me and my family.”

Matthew explains the process that led to him receiving the award. “First, I had to write an essay about the First World War and its relation to COVID. The relations of how individuals in the First World War survived and how COVID as we are facing right now, can kind of relate to that.” As well, Lee was asked to share his experiences of helping in his community and leadership skills. The process was completed with an interview and from there, the rest is history.

The pilgrimage will allow the award recipients the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the First World War and more specifically Canada’s part in that war, Lee says, “So we’re going to go to museums and historical sights, and they also assigned each of us a soldier we will talk about in the First World War. We also did projects about the First World War that we’ll be presenting.” The trip will be the week of Remembrance Day and as Matthew puts it, “It’s going to be a very special moment for all of us.”

It will be a trip and learning experience of a lifetime and Matthew Lee has promised that he will share the details upon his return.