NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL

From its perch atop a hill in downtown Ottawa, the memorial stands as an imposing and indelible landmark, a reminder not just of the crucial role Canada played in the First World War – but also the human cost, in service and sacrifice, borne out by generations of Canadians over a century of conflict.
It took well over a decade from the time the memorial’s concept was approved until the day King George VI arrived in Ottawa to oversee its unveiling in 1939 – just four months before the start of the Second World War. And over the ensuing decades, it has taken on a sort of dual identity: while a monument that evokes a specific, pivotal moment in Canada’s history, it has simultaneously evolved to take on new significance as our nation matures and faces new challenges.