Calgary Soldiers' Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calgary Soldiers' Memorial |
|
|---|---|
| Calgary Soldiers' Memorial Committee | |
Architectural conception of the finished memorial design.
|
|
| For Calgary area war dead who served in Calgary army units | |
| Unveiled | April 9, 2011 |
| Location | near |
| Designed by | Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative |
| Commemorated | Approximately 3,000 |
|
The memorial is inscribed with the legend "We Will Remember Them" (the final words of the Act of Remembrance) as well as the dates of several Battle Honours granted to the Calgary area regiments to whom the soldiers commemorated by the memorial belonged.
|
|
The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial is a special monument in Calgary, Alberta. It was officially opened on April 9, 2011. This date is important because it's the anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The memorial honors soldiers from the Calgary area. These are soldiers who bravely gave their lives in wars and military service far from home. You can find the monument on Memorial Drive. It has the names of about 3,000 fallen soldiers from the Calgary area.
Contents
What Is the Memorial About?
The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial is made of several stone tablets. These tablets have the names of soldiers from Calgary area army groups. These groups include The King's Own Calgary Regiment and The Calgary Highlanders. It also remembers older groups like the 10th Battalion, CEF. The memorial helps us remember their bravery and sacrifice.
How the Memorial Was Built
Planning for this important memorial started in 2008. It was first thought of as a project for the 100th anniversary of The Calgary Highlanders. The goal was to finish it by Remembrance Day in 2010. Captain Peter Boyle led the committee that worked on the memorial.
Raising Money for the Memorial
By January 2010, over $700,000 had been raised. This included $5,000 from the Dutch-Canadian community. They wanted to mark 65 years since Canadians helped free the Netherlands. Money was also raised through an event called "Loops for the Troops." This walk and run was started by Michael Hornburg. His son, Corporal Nathan Hornburg, died in Afghanistan in 2007. In 2009, this event raised over $100,000. In the end, more than one million dollars was raised for the memorial.
Where Is the Memorial Located?
The City of Calgary helped plan the memorial's location. They included it in their "Memorial Drive - Landscape of Memory" project. This project started in 2004 to improve a nine-kilometer part of Memorial Drive. Old poplar trees along the drive were replaced. These trees were first planted in 1922 to remember soldiers from the First World War. New trees were grown from the original ones.
The area where Memorial Drive meets 10th Street West was turned into "Poppy Plaza." This plaza has new plants, lights, and metal sculptures. It was designed to remember Calgary's efforts in wartime. It also works as a public space for everyone to enjoy. The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial is next to Poppy Plaza. This spot was chosen so that people who drive, bike, or walk by can think about its meaning. The memorial looks across the Bow River towards Mewata Armoury. This was a place where many Canadian soldiers gathered before going to serve their country. The official address of the memorial is 1209 Memorial Drive NW.
Design and Building
The final design of the memorial was created by Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative. It was part of the city's larger "Memorial Drive - Landscape of Memory" project. Poppy Plaza, next to the memorial, has tall metal gateways. These are made of "weathered steel" to show the passing of time. Quotes about Canadian experiences in war are cut into the metal.
A special groundbreaking ceremony happened on March 6, 2010. The finished monument was officially revealed on April 9, 2011. This was the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Soldiers from 41 Canadian Brigade Group were there. The Mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi, also attended with about 100 people.
The names of soldiers who died in Afghanistan were not added right away. Officials wanted to wait until the war officially ended. After Canadian troops left Afghanistan in 2014, efforts were made to add these names. The memorial is owned by the City of Calgary, so permission was needed to make changes. The names of two civilians who died in Afghanistan were included from the start. These were journalist Michelle Lang and diplomat Glyn Berry.
Public Events at the Memorial
The memorial has been a place for public events since it opened.
In November 2011, a program started to place QR codes at military sites. The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial was the first place to get these codes. The codes link to videos about soldiers whose names are on the memorial.
On April 8, 2017, a parade was held to mark 100 years since the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Over 300 soldiers marched from Mewata Armouries to the memorial.
In May 2020, a global relay marathon started at the memorial. It raised money for charities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
Images for kids
-
Groundbreaking ceremony on March 6, 2010. Colonel Thomas Putt breaks ground. City Councillor Druh Farrell is at left.
-
Parade at the Calgary Soldiers' Memorial to commemorate the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 8, 2017.
