Best Space Of Remembrance Ottawa Near Me

4worldlovers: The National War Memorial, also known as “The Response,” is a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served Canada in time of war in the cause of peace and freedom--past, present and future. The memorial is the site of the national Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11.

The National War Memorial was first unveiled in 1939 to commemorate the response of Canadians in the First World War 1914-1918. Over the years, the memorial has come to symbolize the sacrifice of all Canadians who have served Canada in time of war and was rededicated to their honour.

After the First World War, 1914-1918, there was a strong feeling in Canada that a memorial should be built to recognize those who had served their country in that war.

In 1925, a world-wide competition was held to choose a design for a national commemorative war monument to be built in the capital of Canada. It was to be "expressive of the feelings of the Canadian people as a whole, to the memory of those who participated in the Great War and lost their lives in the service of humanity." The competition regulations also stated that the vision which the government wished to keep alive was "the spirit of heroism, the spirit of self-sacrifice, the spirit of all that is noble and great that was exemplified in the lives of those sacrificed in the Great War, and the services rendered by the men and women who went overseas.”

The competition was open to architects, sculptors and artists residing in the British Empire, or who were British subjects by birth but residing elsewhere, or subject of Allied nations. A total of 127 entries were received - 66 from Canada, 24 from England, 21 from France, seven from the United States, five from Belgium, two from Italy, one from Scotland and one from Trinidad. Seven finalists were then chosen to submit scale models of their designs.

In January 1926, the Board of Assessors selected the model submitted by Vernon March of Farnborough, Kent, England. His theme was "the Great Response of Canada," represented by uniformed figures from all services passing through a granite arch. The idea, March wrote, was "to perpetuate in this bronze group the people of Canada who went Overseas to the Great War, and to represent them, as we of today saw them, as a record for future generations..." There was to be no suggestion of glorifying war.

Vernon March was helped by his six brothers and his sister who completed the work after his untimely death in 1930. They molded the full size figures in clay, then cast them in plaster and finally made the bronze figures in their own foundry.

The figures were completed in July 1932, but it was not possible to commence construction of the memorial arch in Ottawa because the site was not yet ready. In 1933, the figures, mounted on a plaster-covered base were displayed in London's Hyde Park for six months. They were then stored in the Marchs’ studio until 1937 when they were shipped to Ottawa.

In December 1937, a contract was awarded to E.G.M. Cape and Company, Montreal contractors, for the construction of the granite pedestal and arch. Work started the following year with Sydney March directing the construction. He was joined later by two of his brothers, Percy and Walter. On Wednesday, October 19, 1938, the memorial was completed, and placed on its permanent site in the Nation's Capital. Two 5.33-metre-high (17.5 ft) allegories of peace and freedom stand at the apex of the arch.

After the completion of the memorial, only the work on the surrounding area was left. Jacques Greber, who had been chosen to make plans for the development of the city of Ottawa, was used as a consultant. A contract was awarded to A.W. Robertson Limited, Toronto contractors, for the terraces, walks and grading of the site for which seven varieties of Canadian granite were used. Everything was finished in time for the Royal visit in the spring of 1939.

4worldlovers: The Valiants Memorial, located in downtown Ottawa, is a collection of nine busts and five statues depicting individuals who have played a role in major conflicts throughout our history. It also includes a bronze wall inscription that reads, "No day will ever erase you from the memory of time", which is from The Aeneid by Virgil.

The monument pays tribute to the people who have served this country in times of war and the contribution they have made in building our nation. These 14 men and women were chosen for their heroism, and because they represent critical moments in Canada’s military history.

The Valiants Memorial was created by Marlene Hilton Moore and John McEwen in 2006.

The following are the fourteen Valiants and the periods they represent.

In the many wars between France and Britain during these years, the courage and tenacity displayed by inhabitants of Acadia and New France ensured the permanency of French-speaking societies in North America.

This ruthless, bloody conflict, fought along an extended frontier, divided the continent into two entities: the United States of America and British North America.

Fought mainly to resolve Anglo-American quarrels, this war marked the successful resistance of British North America to American expansion. It was followed by lasting peace.

Canada made huge human and economic sacrifices to support Britain and France in this terrible war. The achievements of the national army — the Canadian Corps — won Canada representation at the Paris Peace Conference and recognition on the international stage.

4worldlovers: The Ottawa Memorial stands on the north-eastern point of Green Island in the City of Ottawa, overlooking the Rideau Falls.

4worldlovers:
The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (CFFF) first major goal was the construction of the Canadian Firefighters Memorial (CFM) in the nation’s capital, Ottawa. On Sunday September 9, 2012 that goal was reached!


The journey began in 2003 with the proposal to federal government to erect a national monument in the capital to honour all firefighters who have died in the line of duty including wildland, full-time, part-time, volunteer, military, airport and industrial. The National Capital Commission (NCC), which is responsible for major commemorations in the nation’s capital but does not fund them, accepted the proposal in March 2005 and allocated land for the CFM in the LeBreton Flats area of Ottawa close to the new War Museum, just to the west of Parliament Hill.

Three months after NCC allocated the land, on June 10, 2005, the Foundation lobbied successfully to introduce private members Bill Motion 153 to “(a) recognize all firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty in Canada; (b) support the proposed CFFF mandate for the construction of a monument in the parliamentary precinct containing the names of all Canadian firefighters who have died in the line of duty; and (c) send a message to the Senate acquainting the Upper House of the decision of this house.” In October 2005, the project received government endorsement when the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced the site in the House of Commons.

The Foundation continued to fundraise over $1.5 million over the next few years but was still short of the amount needed. In September 2009, years of further fundraising and lobbying came to fruition with the approval of $2.4 million in funding announced by the Minister of Heritage, James Moore.

A national design competition, coordinated by the CFFF in conjunction with the NCC, was launched in January 2010 and on September 9, 2010 the Foundation announced the winning design - “We Were There” by the team of Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland and landscape architect Mary Tremain of PLANT Architects in Toronto.

“I wanted the monument to convey deep emotion and simple dignity,” said artist Douglas Coupland. “I want people to eat their lunch there, read, play with their kids — and each time they do so, a small part of themselves will reflect on firefighters and what they do every day when they go to work.”

Foundation Director Cary Taylor points to his father’s name on the scale model of the CFM name wall as winning architect Mary Tremain looks on. The artists even included all the current names from the CFFF LODD list on the scale model.

Following a 2-stage procurement process, including a Request for Qualifications and then Tender for General Contractor Services, the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation selected Prestige Design and Construction to implement the PLANT/Coupland memorial design.

On May 12, 2011, under a sunny sky, representatives of the Canadian government, National Capital Commission, CFFF, local and distant firefighters, and citizens, gathered at the site to witness the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the new memorial. Immediately after, construction began on our national memorial to the fallen. Concrete foundations and site services were implemented followed by installation of the Picasso granite from Quebec for the memorial name wall and Elite Blue granite from Ontario in other areas. The bases for both the Lone Pine and the firefighter statue and fire pole were completed before winter set in and ready to receive the pine tree and bronze elements the following year.

In photo left to right; CFFF Chaplain Bruce Rushton; Artist Doug Coupland; Architect Mary Tremain; NCC Executive Vice President of Operations Jean-François Trépanier; CFFF President Robert Kirkpatrick; Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, the Honourable John Baird; MP for Nepean Carleton Pierre Poilievre.