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During my first session as a student guide, I became passionate about telling the stories of the First World War. History has always been important to me, I even studied it in university, but getting the chance to work in the field and bring these stories to life every day was the best history lesson of all.

When you see a student’s eyes light up as you guide them through the tunnels at Vimy, or see a mother shed a tear for a son who wasn’t her own, or young men bow their heads as they contemplate having to go to war—you know that these stories must continue to be told and that these sites must continue to be preserved.

I was fortunate enough to go back to Vimy as a Team Lead the year after my first session, this time for eight months. During this extended period of time working as a student guide, I made more connections with visitors and learned more about the Canadians and Newfoundlanders who bravely answered the call.

I participated in two beautiful Remembrance Day ceremonies, and gave tours to political leaders, military officials, journalists and local French visitors who welcomed us Canadians with open arms. I guided school children from various countries and descendants of those who fought in the two world wars. Every day brought new challenges and new opportunities to help people connect to a history that can feel far gone.

“You know that these stories must continue to be told and that these sites must continue being preserved.”

One day, Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Tony Pearson and his son, Robert Pearson, came for a guided tour of the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial. I felt honoured to give these former servicemen a tour of the site that I had grown so connected to myself.

When I met the 98-year-old Veteran of the Second World War, he stood up to shake my hand. He was a kind, pleasant and talkative person, and I could see that he understood the struggles and feelings that these fallen Newfoundland soldiers must have felt, certainly more than I ever could. It was an honour to share their stories and the renowned effort of those brave men and boys who strongly fought on 1 July 1916.

In another encounter with a Canadian visitor in the National Vimy Memorial Visitor Education Centre, a man with his daughter and grandchildren were headed on a tour of the tunnels, but seeing as he couldn’t descend the steep staircase into the souterrain, I opted to give him a virtual tunnel tour on our computers.

As I explained how the tunnels were dug by mining companies, how dark it would have been with the limited electricity, and how they had to be extremely quiet because the sound could travel to the opposing side’s tunnels, the gentleman suddenly recalled, “My dad mentioned that about the tunnels in his diary.”

Realizing this close connection, we ended up having a long conversation about his father’s service file and what he would have experienced. I learned that his father, John Hodgson, was stationed at Maison Blanche in preparation for the assault on Vimy. He fought with the 4th Division during the assault (the division that captured the ridge itself). Hodgson was gassed at the Battle of Hill 70 and fought on the Somme in the Final Hundred Days offensive.

“My time as a student guide has helped shape who I am today. It has connected me to people and places that I may never have known.”

The student guide program offers young people the opportunity to explore history in a setting that is very much alive. As guides, we learn that it is vital to preserve and share history, not only because it repeats itself, but because it also teaches us about our humanity.

I spent a total of 12 months living in Northern France and working at both the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial. My time as a student guide has helped shape who I am today. It has connected me to people and places that I may never have known. It has given me a perspective on life, war, peace, sacrifice, love, history and hope that I think few have the chance to experience. I am a true believer that an experience is only as good as the energy and effort you put into it, and I am proud of the work I was able to do every day on these sites.

Jessica Horton, from St. Catharines, Ontario, completed a double major in English and History, along with a minor in Political Science at the University of Toronto. She worked as a student guide at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial from August to December 2022 and returned as a Team Lead from May to December 2023.