10 Canadian war memorials to visit this Remembrance Day

As Sunday, Nov. 11, draws near, the left breasts of Canadians grow speckled with deep red poppies. Since the end of the First World War, countries around the world have observed Remembrance Day as a way to commemorate soldiers who’ve fallen in the line of duty. As part of the ceremonies in Canada, wreaths are placed at the bases of war memorials across the country. It’s a solemn and powerful moment that reminds Canadians of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. This year’s commemoration is particularly significant, since it marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. If you are looking to observe this Remembrance Day, here are 10 war memorials across Canada that are worth visiting.

Overlooking the old harbour of St. John’s, N.L., the Newfoundland National Memorial was erected as a testament to Newfoundland’s wartime achievements on land and sea. Placed on a granite wall, the memorial’s bronze figures represent the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Mercantile Marine, and the Forestry Corps. Above them stands a woman, holding aloft a torch, representing freedom. Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, so was not part of Confederation during either of the World Wars. But, during WWI, the colony of 250,000 managed to send 8,500 soldiers overseas to fight, with 1,500 giving their lives to the war effort.

This memorial stands in Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park on the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It was erected in 1967 after the previous memorial had eroded to a point of being deemed unfit. The memorial commemorates 3,267 Canadian and Newfoundland sailors and soldiers who lost their lives at sea during the First and Second World Wars. The memorial features a granite cross and bronze plaques upon which the names of the dead are inscribed.

Located along the St. Lawrence River, near the Old Port of Montreal, Que., the 45-metre-tall clock tower was built between 1919 and 1922 to honour the memory of lost soldiers in the First World War. The granite tower’s clock mechanism was built in England by Gillet and Johnston as a replica of Big Ben. The clock tower is known for its accurate time and its illuminating light that helps guide ships into the port.

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, the Canadian soldier, doctor, and poet who wrote “In Flanders Fields.” McCrae wrote the poem during the 2nd battle of Ypres in 1915 after witnessing the death of a close friend. Sadly, McCrae did not survive the war either, dying of illness in January 1918. The statue commemorates his contributions to Canada and can be found on Green Island in front of Ottawa’s old city hall.

First unveiled in 1939, this memorial, also known as “The Response,” was designed to commemorate Canadians who fought in the First World War. Over time, the memorial’s meaning has changed, symbolizing all Canadian Armed Forces who have served the country during wartime. The memorial depicts 22 bronze figures representing Canadian servicemen and women from all branches of the forces engaged in WWI. Above them stand two winged figures representing peace and liberty. The monument acts as the site of the national Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 and can be found across the street from the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.

Unveiled on June 21, 2001—National Aboriginal Day—by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, this monument commemorates the contributions Aboriginal Canadians have made in war and peacekeeping operations. Approximately 12,000 Indigenous peoples served in the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean War, fighting for the liberty of Canada. This monument can be found in Confederation Park in Ottawa.

In May 2000, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission selected an unidentified Canadian soldier from a cemetery near Vimy Ridge. The Unknown Soldier was then laid to rest in a specially designed sarcophagus in front of the National War Memorial. The tomb has become a focal point for commemorating all memorial events, honouring the sacrifices made for Canada’s freedom. The tomb can be found in Ottawa, across the street from the Parliament Buildings.

This 44-metre-high tower was erected in June of 1924 on the University of Toronto’s campus, next to Hart House, to honour the 1,185 members of the U of T community who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The names and ranks of those who fell during the First World War are inscribed on a memorial wall next to the tower, and those who fell during the Second World War are inscribed on an archway beneath the tower. The tower is accessible to the public and has an artifact collection featuring medals, photographs, flags, and colours.

Located off Glenmore Trail in Calgary, this memorial park stands as a testament to Canada’s strong peacekeeping tradition and to the peacekeepers who lost their lives during times of war. The park was presented to Canada’s peacekeepers and the city of Calgary in August 2004 by the Canada Lands Company. The park features a wall of honour, inscribed with the names of fallen Canadian peacekeepers; a mission wall that lists peacekeeping missions Canada has participated in; and a bronze sculpture that depicts a Canadian soldier offering a doll to a little girl.

This memorial park, located near Vancouver’s Gastown district, received its name in 1922 after the provincial government leased the property to the city of Vancouver for 99 years. Previously, the area had housed the city’s first courthouse, torn down in 1912. Two years after the park’s naming, in 1924, the 30-foot-tall granite cenotaph was built to commemorate Vancouverites who lost their lives during the First World War, and it continues to stand today, acting as a meeting place amid tall, shady trees and a rolling lawn.