Canadian war memorials facts for kids

Ceremonial Guard stand watch over Canada's national memorial, The Response, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the foreground.

Canadian war memorials are special buildings, statues, and monuments that help us remember important moments in Canada's military past. They honor the brave actions of the Canadian military in different conflicts and peacekeeping missions. These memorials also remember Canadians who were hurt or died while serving their country.

You can find these memorials all over Canada and in many other countries. They help us remember events from as far back as the Seven Years' War to more recent times like the War on Terror. Before 1949, Newfoundland was a separate British area. Because of this, there are unique memorials in Newfoundland and Labrador and overseas that honor Newfoundland's own service members.

Today, there are over 6,293 war memorials in Canada. They are officially listed with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many other memorials around the world are dedicated to Canada and other Commonwealth countries. For example, there are 17 in France, six in Belgium, four in the United Kingdom, and others in places like Afghanistan, South Korea, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Canadian War Memorials: A Look Back
Canadian War Memorials Around the World
- First World War Memorials Abroad
- Later Memorials Abroad
Legacy
Images for kids

Canadian War Memorials: A Look Back

Memorials from Early Canadian History

Canada has memorials that remember events even before it became a country in 1867. These often mark important battles. For example, there are monuments for the War of 1812, a big conflict between British North America (which included parts of Canada) and the United States.

Some famous early memorials include:

The Battle of Crysler's Farm Monument in Morrisburg, Ontario, which remembers a key victory in the War of 1812.
Brock's Monument in Queenston, Ontario, honors Major General Isaac Brock, a hero from the War of 1812.
The Battle of Trois-Rivières Monument in Quebec remembers British and Canadian soldiers who fought during the American Revolutionary War.
The Wolfe and Montcalm Obelisk in Quebec City is the oldest war monument in Canada. It honors both the French and British commanders, Louis-Joseph de Montcalm and James Wolfe, who fought at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

There are also memorials for the Fenian raids, which were attacks by Irish-American groups on Canadian borders in the 1860s. The Canadian Volunteer Monument in Toronto honors university students who helped defend the border during these raids.

Remembering the North-West Rebellion and Boer War

Later, Canada built memorials for conflicts like the North-West Rebellion (a conflict in western Canada) and the Second Boer War in South Africa. These memorials often feature statues of soldiers.

Some examples include:

The Boer War Memorial in Montreal, sculpted by George W. Hill.
The South African War Memorial in Halifax, created by Hamilton MacCarthy.
The North-West Rebellion Monument in Toronto, dedicated to those who served in that conflict.
The Volunteers Monument in Winnipeg, which remembers members of the 90th Winnipeg Battalion of Rifles who served during the North-West Rebellion.

Memorials from the World Wars and Beyond

The First World War and Second World War had a huge impact on Canada, and many memorials were built to remember the millions of Canadians who served.

Some important memorials from this time are:

The Albert Memorial Bridge in Regina, Saskatchewan, honors soldiers from Saskatchewan who died in the First World War.
The Animals in War Memorial in Ottawa remembers the animals (like mules, horses, and dogs) that helped Canada in military conflicts.
The Bronze Angel statues, found in Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, honor the 1,115 Canadian Pacific Railway employees who died in the First World War.
The Halifax Memorial in Nova Scotia remembers Canadian service members who died at sea during both World Wars.
The National War Memorial in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, honors soldiers from Newfoundland who served in the First World War.
The Ottawa Memorial is dedicated to missing airmen from the Second World War.
The Peace through Valour sculpture in Toronto remembers Canadians who fought in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It even has a map of the Battle of Ortona.
The Soldiers' Tower at the University of Toronto remembers university members who served in the World Wars.
The Vimy Memorial Bandshell in Saskatoon honors those who served in the First World War at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

After 1945, Canada continued to build memorials for new conflicts and peacekeeping missions.

The Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in Trenton, Ontario, remembers all Canadians who died in Afghanistan.
The Korean War Memorial Wall in Brampton, Ontario, honors Canadians who served in the Korean War.
The North Wall in Windsor, Ontario, is dedicated to Canadians who volunteered to serve with the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War.

General War Memorials in Canada

Many memorials honor all Canadians who have served in various conflicts, not just one specific war.

The 48th Highlanders Memorial in Toronto honors those who served with the Canadian forces.
The East and West Memorial Buildings in Ottawa are dedicated to all Canadians who served in war. The Department of Veteran Affairs is located in one of these buildings.
The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa honors Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) who served with the Canadian forces.
The Old City Hall Cenotaph in Toronto remembers Torontonians who died in the First World War, Second World War, and the Korean War.
The Ontario Veterans Memorial in Toronto honors Canadian military members who served from the Fenian raids to the Campaign Against Terror.
The Memorial Chamber inside the Peace Tower in Ottawa holds the Books of Remembrance. These books list every Canadian killed in service, from the Nile Expedition to today.
The Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa honors Canadian soldiers who have served in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The The Response – Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa is one of the most important memorials. It honors all Canadians and soldiers who have died in armed conflicts.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, also in Ottawa, is part of the National War Memorial. It is dedicated to all unidentified Canadian soldiers.
The Valiants Memorial in Ottawa remembers fourteen important figures from Canada's military history, from early French rule to the Second World War.

Canadian War Memorials Around the World

Canada also has memorials in other countries where its soldiers fought.

The Canada Memorial in Green Park, London, England, honors the nearly one million Canadian men and women who served in the United Kingdom during the First and Second World Wars.

First World War Memorials Abroad

Many Canadian memorials are found in France and Belgium, where some of the biggest battles of the First World War took place.

The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France remembers the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's part in the Battle of the Somme.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France is a very famous memorial. It honors Canadian Expeditionary Force members who died in the First World War and those who have no known grave in France.
The Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Memorial in Belgium remembers the defense of the Ypres Salient.
The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, remembers defenders who died in the Ypres Salient and whose graves are unknown.
The Saint Julien Memorial in Ypres, Belgium, remembers Canada's role in the Second Battle of Ypres.

Later Memorials Abroad

Memorials for more recent conflicts are also found overseas.

The Gapyeong Canada Monument in South Korea honors the sacrifices made by Canadian forces during the Korean War, especially at the Battle of Kapyong.
The Kandahar Airfield Memorial in Afghanistan is dedicated to Canadians who died in the War in Afghanistan.
The Malta Memorial in Malta honors Commonwealth aircrew, including Canadians, who died in the Mediterranean Sea during the Second World War.
The National Canadian Liberation Monument in the Netherlands celebrates how Canadians helped free the Netherlands during the Second World War.

Legacy

The Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, has 31 paintings by F.A. (Tex) Dawson. These paintings show different Canadian War Memorials in various settings and seasons. They are a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by Canadians.

Images for kids

The Battle Hill Monument in Southwest Middlesex, Ontario.
The Battle of Cook's Mill Monument in Cook's Mill, Ontario.
The Battle of Crysler's Farm Monument in Morrisburg, Ontario.
The Battle of Eccles Hill Monument in Frelighsburg, Quebec.
The Battle of Lundy's Lane Monument in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Battle of Trois-Rivières Monument in Quebec.
The British Empire Loyalist Cairn in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Brock's Monument in Queenston, Ontario.
The Canadian Volunteer Monument in Toronto, Ontario.
The Defence of York Monument in Toronto, Ontario.
The James Wolfe Monument in Quebec City, Quebec.
Monument aux Braves in Quebec City, Quebec.
The Peace Arch in Surrey, British Columbia.
The Stoney Creek Battlefield Memorial in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Sebastopol Monument in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Wolfe and Montcalm Obelisk in Quebec City, Quebec.
The War of 1812 Monument in Ottawa, Ontario.
The War of 1812 Monument in Toronto, Ontario.
The Boer War Memorial in Montreal, Quebec.
The Boer War Memorial Fountain in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Boer War Monument in Windsor, Ontario.
Central Memorial Park in Calgary, Alberta.
The North-West Rebellion Monument in Toronto, Ontario.
The South African War Memorial in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The South African War Memorial in London, Ontario.
The South African War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
The South African War Memorial in Quebec City, Quebec.
The South African War Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Volunteers Monument in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Albert Memorial Bridge in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The Animals in War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
Ashburnham Memorial Park in Peterborough, Ontario.
The Bronze Angel in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Camp X Memorial in Whitby, Ontario.
The Coronation Park Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Cremation Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Cross of Sacrifice in Quebec City, Quebec.
The Great War Memorial in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The Halifax Memorial in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Law Society of Upper Canada Great War Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion Memorial in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Memorial Gates at the University of Saskatchewan.
The Montreal Cenotaph in Montreal, Quebec.
The Montreal Clock Tower in Montreal, Quebec.
The National War Memorial in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Ottawa Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
Peace through Valour in Toronto, Ontario.
The Renfrew War Memorial in Renfrew, Ontario.
The Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval Memorial in Burlington, Ontario.
The Saint-Lambert Cenotaph in Saint-Lambert, Quebec.
The Saskatoon Cenotaph in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The Sherbrooke War Memorial in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
The Soldiers' Tower at the University of Toronto.
Victory Square in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Vimy Memorial Bandshell in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The War Memorial of Montreal West in Montreal, Quebec.
The Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in Trenton, Ontario.
The B.C. Afghanistan War Memorial in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Canada Company LAV III Monument in Waterloo, Ontario.
The Korean War Memorial Wall in Brampton, Ontario.
The North Wall in Windsor, Ontario.
The 48th Highlanders Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Bruce Park Cenotaph in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The East and West Memorial Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Flesherton Cenotaph in Flesherton, Ontario.
The Garden of the Unforgotten in Oshawa, Ontario.
The National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa, Ontario.
Next of Kin Memorial Avenue in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The Old City Hall Cenotaph in Toronto, Ontario.
The Ontario Veterans Memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Memorial Chamber in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Per ardua ad astra memorial in Toronto, Ontario.
The Saskatchewan War Memorial in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The Regina Cenotaph in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The Response – Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Royal Canadian Navy Monument in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Shaunavon War Memorial in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Trenton Cenotaph in Trenton, Ontario.
The Valiants Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.
The London Cenotaph in London, Ontario.
The Thunder Bay Cenotaph in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The Welland-Crowland War Memorial in Welland, Ontario.
The Canada Memorial in Green Park, London, England.
The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France.
The Bourlon Wood Memorial in France.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.
The Courcelette Memorial in France.
The Courtrai Newfoundland Memorial in Belgium.
The Dury Memorial in France.
The Gueudecourt Memorial in France.
The Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Memorial in Belgium.
The Le Quesnel Memorial in France.
The Masnières Newfoundland Memorial in France.
The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium.
The Monchy-le-Preux Memorial in France.
The Passchendaele Memorial in Belgium.
The Saint Julien Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.
The Portuguese Fireplace in Lyndhurst, England.
The Gapyeong Canada Monument in South Korea.
The Malta Memorial in Floriana, Malta.
The National Canadian Liberation Monument in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

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