A defining Canadian victory on French soil
From 15 to 25 August 1917, the Canadian Corps attacked and captured Hill 70, a dominating height north of Lens that had been held by German forces since 1914. Currie’s plan called for seizing the high ground and forcing German troops to counter-attack uphill into prepared Canadian defensive fire.
The result was a costly but decisive victory:
- The Canadian Corps captured and held the ridge, overlooking Lens and the surrounding approaches.
- German forces launched multiple counterattacks and suffered heavy casualties against Canadian positions.
- Canadian casualties ran into the thousands over ten days of fighting, while German losses were significantly higher.
- Six Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadians for actions at Hill 70.
Historians describe Hill 70 as the first major test of Currie’s leadership of the Canadian Corps and an important step in the sequence of Canadian victories that followed in 1918. Many sources now place Hill 70 alongside Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele in the story of Canada’s emergence as an independent military actor on the Western Front. Importantly, Hill 70 was the first Canadian-led operation up to that point in the war and was one that helped turn the tide in WWI.
Why Hill 70 matters now
Today, many countries are again debating how much they are prepared to invest in their own security and in the defence of shared values in an increasingly unstable world. Hill 70 is a reminder that Canada’s reputation abroad was not given to it; it was earned when a middle country chose to assume real responsibility for planning, resourcing and leading a complex operation — and then saw that decision through to victory but at great cost.
The questions that confronted Canada in 1917 — about readiness, resolve and assuming more than a supporting role — still echo today in current discussions about defence, alliances and sovereignty.
Brutinel: a French-born Canadian innovator
Raymond Brutinel was born in France, emigrated to Canada before the war and raised and commanded Canada’s first motorized machine-gun units. Under his leadership, the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade developed mobile firepower and indirect machine-gun methods that were adopted more widely across British forces.
Later promoted to Brigadier-General, Brutinel commanded the Canadian Independent Force and played a key role in the Canadian Corps’ mobile operations during the final stages of the war. His name on the pavilion at Hill 70 underlines the deep France–Canada connection at the heart of this battlefield story.
A permanent place of learning
Opened to the public in 2017 and completed in 2019, Hill 70 Memorial Park is the only memorial site in Europe dedicated specifically to the Battle of Hill 70. The park includes a monument, interpretive trails, the Arthur Currie Amphitheatre and landscaped spaces that invite visitors to understand the battle in the context of the surrounding terrain. The Brutinel Visitor Pavilion will serve as the main welcome and interpretation point for tourists, school groups, and tour groups exploring the site.
“Hill 70 is where Canada took command,” said Mark Hutchings, Chairman of Hill 70 Memorial Park Project. “With the Brutinel Visitor Pavilion, we are paying tribute to that story with a permanent designation on the very ground where it unfolded — and a place to reflect on what that choice to lead still means today.”
The inauguration ceremony on June 10 will bring together Canadian, French and other representatives to unveil the pavilion name, reflect on the battle’s legacy and highlight the Franco-Canadian bond embodied in Brutinel’s life.
Media are invited to attend.
Program highlights for media:
- Official remarks by Canadian and French representatives
- Dedication of the Brutinel Visitor Pavilion
- Short guided tour of the Hill 70 Memorial Park
- Ceremony of remembrance for Canadian casualties of the battle
- Photo and interview opportunities with dignitaries, historians and Hill 70 Memorial Park representatives
Visual opportunities:
Exterior shots of Hill 70 Memorial Park and the Monument
- Unveiling of the Brutinel Visitor Pavilion
- Flags of Canada and France
- Hill 70 landscape around Loos-en-Gohelle and Lens
- Ceremonial laying of wreaths
- Live pipe band performance
- School children placing flags on headstones
About Hill 70 Memorial Project:
Hill 70 Memorial Park honours the Canadian Corps’ victory in the August 1917 Battle of Hill 70, where more than 100,000 Canadians fought under Canadian command to seize and hold the high ground overlooking Lens in northern France. In ten days of intense fighting, Canadian troops repelled repeated counter‑attacks, inflicted heavy losses on German forces, helping to cement Canada’s reputation as an effective, independent fighting force. Completed in 2019, the Memorial Park’s monument, amphitheatre, and interpretive trails provide a dedicated site where visitors can learn about and reflect on this pivotal moment in Canada’s emergence as a nation.
Media accreditation & contacts:
To register for accreditation, receive the media kit, or request advance interviews, please contact:
Sonny Wong
Media
Hill 70 Memorial Park
Email: media@hill70.ca
Phone: +1-604-880-3758
