Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in France Saturday, as Canadians prepare to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
As many as 25,000 Canadians will join Trudeau and other dignitaries as they pause in the shadows of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on Sunday to reflect and remember.
Millions more are expected to watch and listen by radio and TV, or attend local commemorative ceremonies.
Sunday's commemorative ceremony in Vimy is being billed as a chance to mark what has come to be seen as a seminal moment in Canada's history.
The two-hour event will include musical and dramatic performances by well-known Canadians such as Paul Gross and Lorena McKennitt, as well as speeches by French President Francois Hollande and Prince Charles.
The battle is noteworthy for a number of reasons, including it being the first time all four Canadian divisions fought together during the First World War.