Royal Canadian Navy Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Canadian Navy Monument |
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| National Capital Commission and the Royal Canadian Navy |
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The large, marble-clad, sail-like focal feature of the Royal Canadian Navy Monument
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| For the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy | |
| Unveiled | 3 May 2012 |
| Location | 45°25′14.99″N 075°42′37.45″W / 45.4208306°N 75.7104028°W near |
| Designed by | Alan McWilliams, Joost Bakker and Bruce Haden |
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Ready Aye Ready – Prêt Oui Prêt
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The Royal Canadian Navy Monument is a special park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It sits right by the Ottawa River at a spot called Richmond Landing. This monument honors all the brave men and women who have worked or are still working in the Royal Canadian Navy.
The monument was created by artist Al McWilliams and architects Joost Bakker and Bruce Haden. It was officially opened on May 3, 2012, by Stephen Harper, who was the Prime Minister of Canada at the time.
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Designing the Monument
The National Capital Commission and the Royal Canadian Navy wanted a special monument. They started a design contest in 2009 to find the best idea. A team from Vancouver, British Columbia, won the contest. This team included artist Al McWilliams and architects Joost Bakker and Bruce Haden.
Where is the Monument?
The monument is a small park located at the very end of Richmond Landing in Ottawa. Richmond Landing is a small piece of land that sticks out into the Ottawa River. It's near Victoria Island and the Chaudière Falls. This area was important because it was where some of the first settlers arrived in Ottawa.
The monument is surrounded by the river on three sides. You can also see Parliament Hill from the monument, including the Centre Block building.
What Does it Look Like?
The monument has a shallow, round grassy area that looks like a small outdoor theatre. It's about 25 meters (82 feet) wide and faces east towards the river.
The main part of the monument is a large, tall shape that looks like a ship's sail. It stands between five and eight meters (16 to 26 feet) high. This "sail" is covered in slightly spotted white marble. On top of it is a shiny, gold-colored ball, about 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide.
On one side of the sail, you can see the navy's motto carved in big letters: "Ready Aye Ready". Below it is the French translation: "Prêt Oui Prêt". On the other side of the sail, the names of important naval battles are carved.
The sail stands on a light gray stone pavement. A symbol of a fouled anchor (an anchor with a rope wrapped around it) is set into the pavement using darker black stone. There's also a white mast with a yard and gaff (parts of a ship's rigging) and another small gold ball on top.
You enter the monument through a path cut into the side of the theatre. This path is also lined with the same gray stone.
What Does the Design Mean?
The monument's design has many special meanings about Canada and its navy.
- Being surrounded by water on three sides shows how Canada itself is surrounded by oceans.
- The colors of the monument – white, black, and gold – are the official colors of the Royal Canadian Navy.
- The sail-like shape can mean different things. It could be a ship's sail, the hull of a ship, an iceberg, or even a naval uniform.
- The golden balls on the sail and mast represent stars or planets. They also show that the navy works all around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento de la Marina Real Canadiense para niños
