Mount Royal Cemetery facts for kids
Mount Royal Cemetery Gate in November 2016
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1852 |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Type | Protestant cemetery, now non-denominational |
| Size | 165 acres (67 ha) |
| No. of graves | 200,000 |
| Designated: | 1998 |
Mount Royal Cemetery is a special place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened way back in 1852. This large cemetery covers about 165-acre (67 ha) on the side of Mount Royal. It's a beautiful, terraced area where many people have been laid to rest.
Even though it started as a Protestant cemetery, today it welcomes people of all faiths. It shares Mount Royal with other cemeteries, like Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery and Shaar Hashomayim Cemetery. The cemetery is run by a private, non-profit group. This means any money it makes goes right back into making the grounds even more beautiful.
Contents
What Makes Mount Royal Cemetery Special?
Mount Royal Cemetery is not just a burial ground. It's also a peaceful park and a place of history. It's known for its beautiful design and important buildings.
Canada's First Crematory
Did you know the very first building for cremation in Canada was built here? It was built in 1901 by Sir Andrew Taylor. A generous person named Sir William Christopher Macdonald gave the money for it. He was a famous tobacco businessman and a great philanthropist (someone who helps others).
This building is the oldest of its kind in Canada. It was the only crematorium in Quebec until 1975! The first cremation happened on April 18, 1902. The building was made from Montreal limestone. It had a chapel, rooms for cremation, and even a large winter storage vault. There was also a conservatory filled with exotic plants, but that part was taken down in the 1950s. The original chapel is still there, with a beautiful mosaic floor.
Honoring War Heroes
The cemetery has a special area for soldiers who served in wars. This section contains 459 war graves of soldiers from the Commonwealth. Most of these are from World War I and World War II. After World War I, when Canada lost many soldiers, people wanted a special place to remember them. So, an entire section was dedicated to war veterans and fallen soldiers. A large stone cross, called the Cross of Sacrifice, stands near the border with Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery.
Famous People Buried Here
Many important and interesting people are buried at Mount Royal Cemetery. Here are just a few:
- Sir John Abbott (1821–1893): He was a prime minister of Canada.
- Sir Hugh Allan (1810–1882): A powerful businessman who owned shipping companies.
- Sir Montagu Allan (1860–1951): A businessman and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Frank Calder (1877–1943): An important executive for the National Hockey League.
- Sir Arthur Currie (1875–1933): A military commander during the First World War.
- Sir Mortimer Barnett Davis (1866–1928): A businessman and someone who gave a lot to charity.
- William Dow (1800–1868): A famous brewer and businessman.
- Edith Maude Eaton (1865–1914): An author known by her pen name "Sui Sin Far."
- Phil Edwards (1907–1971): An athlete and a doctor.
- Sir Alexander Galt (1817–1893): A businessman, statesman, and one of the Fathers of Confederation (people who helped create Canada).
- Charles Melville Hays (1856–1912): A railway executive who sadly died on the Titanic.
- C. D. Howe (1886–1960): An American-born politician and engineer who played a big role in Canada.
- Anna Leonowens (1834–1915): A governess who inspired the story Anna and the King of Siam. She also started the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
- Sir William C. Macdonald (1831–1917): A tobacco maker and a generous giver to good causes.
- John Wilson McConnell (1877–1963): A publisher and philanthropist.
- David Ross McCord (1844–1930): A lawyer who founded the McCord Museum of Canadian History.
- John Molson (1763–1836): A famous brewing businessman.
- Howie Morenz (1902–1937): A legendary ice hockey player in the Hall of Fame.
- Henry Morgan (1819–1893): He opened the very first department store in Canada.
- William Notman (1826–1891): A famous photographer and businessman.
- Alexander Walker Ogilvie (1829–1902): A miller and statesman.
- John Redpath (1796–1869): A contractor who built Canada's first sugar refinery.
- Mordecai Richler (1931–2001): A well-known author.
- F. R. Scott (1899–1985): A scholar and writer.
- Sir George Simpson (c1786–1860): An administrator for the Hudson's Bay Company and an explorer.
- David Thompson (1770–1857): A famous mapmaker, astronomer, and explorer.
- Walter P. Zeller (1890–1957): The person who started the Zellers department store chain.
Images for kids
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Mount Royal Cemetery Gate in November 2016
