Lest We Forget: Outstanding Canadian War Memorials

	Canadian Parliament with the Peace Tower at its Centre1

There are over 6,000 war memorials spread across Canada. Many are simple plaques while others command attention, attracting visitors year round to pay their respects and to honour the legacy of freedom that Canada owes to the great men and women who died for their country. And insomuch as these memorials honour some 116,000 soldiers who died in battle, they also serve as a reminder of the tragedy of war in the hope that history does not repeat itself and that future conflicts may be ended peacefully.

NATIONAL WAR MEMORIALS IN OTTAWA

Peace Tower & Memorial Chamber
Canada's capital is home to the nation's most impressive war memorials, the most recognized being the Peace Tower, which is the central clock tower amongst the Parliament Buildings, its image pictured on the Canadian 50 dollar bill. It stands at 92.2 m (302 ft) and its 53-bell carillon rings out on Remembrance Day. The tower houses the Memorial Chamber, which features an alter on steps that are made from stone quarried from Flanders Fields, as well as ornate, stained-glass windows through which light is shed onto Canada's seven books of Remembrance containing the names of all the nation's fallen soldiers. A page is turned in each book at 11am as part of a ceremony that has occurred daily since 1942. Based on a perpetual calendar system, each name is displayed at least once annually.

National War Memorial
With the Parliament Buildings in sight, Ottawa's Remembrance Day ceremony occurs at the National War Memorial in Confederation Square. The monument was unveiled in 1939 to commemorate the First World War, but today it also serves to remember the Second World War and the Korean War. It depicts 22 Canadian soldiers in a detailed sculpture under a triumphal arch meant to symbolize the Canadian response to war as one of service devoid of glorification.

The National War Memorial2

Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
In 2000, the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added at the foot of the National War Memorial. Featuring a dark, four-metre-long (12 ft) granite sarcophagus that holds the remains of an unidentified soldier taken from the cemetery at Vimy Ridge—the site of a famous First World War battle—the tomb represents the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have died for their country. An unofficial tradition, people have been leaving their poppies here since the first Remembrance Day after its installation.

National Aboriginal Veterans Monument
Also located in Confederation Park, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument remembers an estimated 12,000 Inuit, Métis and First Nations people who served in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. A proud eagle spans its wings at the top of the sculpture, lifting up the figures of four people representing Aboriginal groups in Canada. Two hold weapons to defend Canada, while the others hold peaceful items representing Aboriginal challenges and contributions to restore world peace.

Peacekeeping Monument
Recognizing Canada's major peacekeeping role, the Peacekeeping Monument represents the more than 110,000 Canadian peacekeepers who have served in conflicts around the world through the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces. Entitled The Reconciliation, it features three peacekeeping soldiers who cut through the debris of war to emerge at an apex representing resolution in accordance to the quote at the base by Lester Pearson (1956): "We need action not only to end the fighting but to make the peace..." Constructed in 1992, its modern design makes the Peacekeeping Monument on Sussex Drive a work of art situated just south of the National Gallery of Canada.

Canadian War Museum
Not strictly a war memorial, the Canadian War Museum documents Canada's history and involvement with military conflicts, and studies the effect of war on the Canadian identity as well as the effects on Canadians individually. Its current structure was opened in 2005, revealing a contemporary building with strong design elements reminiscent of a bunker. Inside, visitors can engage with lively exhibitions that explore the triumphs and the atrocities of Canada's military history. In the foyer, Memorial Hall is free to visit and houses the headstone of the Unknown Soldier. On November 11 at 11am, a single beam of light shines through the only window to illuminate the headstone.

WAR MEMORIALS ACROSS CANADA

Ontario Veterans Memorial
The Ontario Veterans Memorial found on the south of the front lawn of Queen's Park in Toronto is a 30-m (100-ft) granite wall. Its arresting design includes images that have been etched by laser along with inscriptions, creating an engaging display that memorializes Canada's military role since 1867.

Brampton Korean War Memorial
Also in Ontario, the Korean War Memorial in Brampton was unveiled in 1996 in remembrance of this often forgotten war and those who gave their lives in it. The impressive curved, polished-granite wall spans 61 m (200 ft) and contains 516 bronze plaques with the name of each volunteer Canadian solider who died in Korea.

	The Montreal Clock Tower3

Montreal Clock Tower
Situated in the Quai de l'Horloge (originally the Victoria Pier) is the Montreal Clock Tower. It stands starkly in Montreal's Old Port landscape as a memorial initially to the Canadian sailors who died in the First World War. Unveiled in 1919, it stands an impressive 45 m (148 ft) tall and has since been dedicated to the Canadian sailors of the Second World War as well. Visitors can climb 192 steps to the top for a view that has surely changed dramatically since the clock was erected. An exhibit inside outlines the city's history.

Newfoundland National War Memorial
Newfoundland, not a part of Canada until 1949, has a proud military history having served in both World Wars as a British colony. The Newfoundland National War Memorial, unveiled in 1924, today also honours Newfoundlanders who died in the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan. Steps constructed in a semi-circle lead up from Water Street in downtown St. John's setting the stage for a grand monument in front of the old harbour. On a pedestal above it all is a bronze statue of a woman who holds the torch of freedom in one hand and a sword in the other symbolizing her willingness to defend it. To the west of the pedestal is a sailor holding a spyglass, representing the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve, and on the east is a soldier in full battle regalia, representing the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Out of a population of less than 250,000 during the First World War, Newfoundland sent 8,500 soldiers and sailors, 1,500 losing their lives.

Vancouver Victory Square
Victory Square is centrally located in downtown Vancouver, bordered by West Hastings Street near Gastown. The 0.36-ha (0.9-acres) park offers space for quiet contemplation amongst the hustle and bustle of the big city. Its central cenotaph was erected in 1924 to commemorate the First World War. Standing 10 m (30 ft) tall, its long, pyramidal shape is adorned with engravings and national flags. It continues to be the site of Vancouver's annual Remembrance Day observances.

Saskatoon's Next of Kin Memorial Avenue
A national historic site, the Next of Kin Memorial Avenue is located at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After the First World War, several memorial avenues were created across Canada and this is the only one that remains intact. It was modelled after the tree-lined avenues of France, and each tree here has been adorned with a plaque as a living memorial for each individual fallen soldier of the First World War. The avenue was consecrated in 1923 with 265 trees. Over the years, trees have been added, each one dedicated to Saskatoon soldiers who gave their lives in the Second World War and the Korean War. Today, the number of trees amounts to more than 1,200, this living memorial signifying the victory of life over death.

1. George Popadynec; Canadian Parliament with the Peace Tower; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2. George Popadynec; The National War Memorial with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3. The Montreal Clock Tower; Montreal, Quebec, Canada