Canadian war memorials


Canadian war memorials are buildings, monuments, and statues that commemorate the armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping operations, and Canadians who died or were injured in a war. Much of this military history of Canada is commemorated today with memorials across the country and around the world. Canadian memorials commemorate the sacrifices made as early as the Seven Years' War to the modern day War on Terror. As Newfoundland was a British Dominion until joining Confederation in 1949, there are several monuments in Newfoundland and Labrador and abroad which were dedicated to Newfoundland servicemen and women.
There are currently 6,293 war memorials in Canada registered with the National Inventory of Military Memorials, which is under the Canadian Department of Veterans Affairs. There are also war memorials across the world, some of which are operated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which are dedicated to Canada as well as the Commonwealth members. There currently are 17 in France, six in Belgium, four in the United Kingdom, two in Afghanistan and in South Korea and one each in Egypt, Hong Kong, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

War memorials in Canada

Colonial period

North-West Rebellion and the Boer War

Memorial nameImageLocationMapNotes
Boer War MemorialMontreal, QuebecSculpted by George W. Hill
Central Memorial ParkCalgary, AlbertaThe park has a cenotaph, a statue of a First World War soldier and a statue of R.L. Boyle, which is dedicated to all Albertans who served during the Second Boer War.
North-West Rebellion MonumentToronto, OntarioDedicated to those who served with the Canadian army during the North-West Rebellion.
South African War MemorialHalifax, Nova ScotiaCreated by Hamilton MacCarthy
South African War MemorialOttawa, OntarioLocated in Confederation Park it commemorates the Canadian participation in the Boer War.
South African War MemorialToronto, OntarioCommemorates the Canadian participation in the Boer War

First and Second World Wars

The war memorial sculptors at work in Canada in the years following the First World War include: Emanuel Hahn, George W. Hill, Frank Norbury, Walter Allward, Hamilton MacCarthy, Coeur de Lion MacCarthy, Alfred Howell, Sydney March, Elizabeth Wyn Wood, Henri Hebert, J. Massey Rhind, Hubert Garnier, Nicholas Pirotton, Charles Adamson, Frances Loring, and Ivor Lewis.
Memorial nameImageLocationMapNotes
Albert Memorial BridgeRegina, SaskatchewanHonours Saskatchewan soldiers who died in World War I.
Animals in War Memorial / Les animaux en temps de guerreOttawa, OntarioA memorial by David Clendining to animals that have served for Canada in military conflicts since World War I and is located in Confederation Park
Ashburnham Memorial ParkPeterborough, OntarioMemorial to the men of Peterborough who died in the First World War.
Bronze AngelMontreal, Quebec;
Vancouver, British Columbia ;
Winnipeg, Manitoba		"Bronze Angel", by sculptor, Coeur Lion MacCarthy, war memorial depicts the angel of victory raising up a young soldier to heaven at the moment of his death, 1921 commemorates 1,115 Canadian Pacific Railway employees killed during the First World War erected at the Canadian Pacific Railway stations.
Camp X MemorialWhitby OntarioHonours the men and women of Camp X who served during the Second World War.
Coronation Park MemorialToronto, OntarioDedicated to those who served in the Second World War. Erected in 1995 as a part of the 50th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War.
Cremation MemorialOttawa, OntarioA sheltered space in the National Cemetery of Canada that honours the memory of Canadian servicemen who died in Canada and the United States and who were cremated.
Cross of SacrificeQuebec City, QuebecDedicated to those who died in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War,
Great War MemorialNiagara Falls, OntarioMemorial to those who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Halifax MemorialHalifax, Nova ScotiaDedicated to the Canadian servicemen and women who died at sea during both World Wars and includes the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Merchant Navy and the Canadian Army.
Harbord War MemorialsToronto, OntarioLocated on the grounds of Harbord Collegiate Institute, a public secondary school, it includes two sculptures. The first sculpture was erected in 1921 and was dedicated to those who served in the First World War; and a second sculpture dedicated to those who served in the Second World War, completed in 2007.
Law Society of Upper Canada Great War MemorialToronto, OntarioDedicated to the 115 lawyers and law students of the Law Society of Upper Canada during the First World War. Located in the Great Library of Osgoode Hall.
Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion MemorialVictoria, British ColumbiaDedicated to Canadian volunteers of the Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion during the Spanish Civil War.
Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion MemorialOttawa, OntarioDedicated to Canadian volunteers of the Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion during the Spanish Civil War.
Malvern MemorialToronto, OntarioDedicated to the students of Malvern Collegiate Institute that served in the First World War. Malvern Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school.
Memorial Clock TowerWainwright, AlbertaDedicated to the local men who fought and died in both World Wars.
Memorial GatesSaskatoon, SaskatchewanMilitary memorial which is a part of the University of Saskatchewan.
Montreal CenotaphMontreal, QuebecDedicated to Montrealers who died in the First World War.
Montreal Clock TowerMontreal, QuebecDedicated to Canadian naval sailors who died during the First World War.
Monument des BravesShawinigan, QuebecCommemorates those who died in the First World War, and Second World War
National War MemorialSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorMemorial for soldiers who served with the Dominion of Newfoundland during the First World War.
Ottawa MemorialOttawa, OntarioDedicated to missing airmen of the Second World War. Sometimes known as the Commonwealth Air Force Monument.
Peace through ValourToronto, OntarioDedicated to members of the Canadian Forces who served in the Italian campaign of the Second World War. The sculpture features a 3D-topographical map of Ortona, site of the Battle of Ortona. Located within the sculpture garden of Nathan Phillips Square.
Renfrew War MemorialRenfrew, OntarioCommemorated to residents of Renfrew who served in the First World War and Second World War.
Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval MemorialBurlington, OntarioDedicated to members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Merchant Navy.
Saint-Lambert Cenotaph by Emanuel HahnSaint-Lambert, QuebecDedicated to citizens of Saint-Lambert who fought in the First World War
Saskatoon CenotaphSaskatoon, SaskatchewanDesigned by Francis Henry Portnall, this tall granite plinth incorporating a public clock face is a part of the City Hall Square. though it was originally located in the middle of the intersection of 21st Street and 2nd Avenue
Sherbrooke War MemorialSherbrooke, QuebecDedicated to citizens of Sherbrooke who fought in the First World War
Soldiers' TowerToronto, OntarioCommemorates members of the University of Toronto who served in the World Wars.
Victory SquareVancouver, British ColumbiaDedicated to Vancouverites who served in the First World War.
Vimy Memorial BandshellSaskatoon, SaskatchewanThe Vimy Memorial Bandshell in Kiwanis Park was built in 1937 to honour the men and women that served in the First World War at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
War Memorial of Montreal WestMontreal, QuebecHonours those from the town of Montreal West who died in the First World War

1945 – present

Generic war memorials

War memorials overseas

First World War

Second World War – present

Legacy

The 31 paintings of Canadian War Memorials by F.A. Dawson were unveiled just outside Currie Hall in the Mackenzie Building at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston on Wednesday 7 April 2010. Jack Pike, the chairman of the Royal Military College of Canada Museum's board of directors, said they had found a permanent and appropriate home. "We are delighted to have these paintings," he said in front of the assemblage of paintings, each representing a different memorial in a different setting and different seasons. "These are symbolic of sacrifice and remembrance and they do the whole thing so well."