Renovations to close National War Memorial for 7 months

Written by David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen, April 1, 2016

The National War Memorial on Elgin Street will be off limits to the public beginning the second week of April as the 77-year-old monument undergoes a second round of repairs and renovations.

The $3.2-million project will fix damaged concrete slabs and paving around the monument and refurbish the iconic bronze statues.

The work is expected to be complete by early November, in time for Remembrance Day. Throughout the work, measures will be taken to preserve and protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from damage. Workers will also try to minimize the impact on pedestrian and car traffic around the memorial.

The work is the second phase of renovations that began in 2014 when the monument was again closed to the public for months while workers repaired the concrete and reinforcing steel in a crawl space underneath. That work cost $2.975 million.

The current contract was awarded to Atwill-Morin Group of Montreal, which has also done restoration work on the Parliament buildings and Quebec City’s National Assembly.

With the slated construction, the sentry program, where two military members stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, will not occur this season. The Ottawa Police Service, which has a paid-duty contract to provide security for the unarmed sentries after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was gunned down at the memorial on Oct. 22, 2014, will also not guard the site.

The War Memorial was designed by English sculptor Vernon March and officially dedicated in 1939 by King George VI to commemorate Canadian sacrifice in the First World War. It has since been rededicated to include the Second World War, Korea and the war in Afghanistan.

October 22nd Ottawa Attack: One Year Anniversary Ceremony

The Government of Canada will hold a ceremony at the National War Memorial on October 22, 2015, at 11 a.m., to commemorate the assault on Parliament Hill one year ago.

The event will also honour the sacrifices of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, and the bravery of the first responders.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and other dignitaries will attend the event. Dignitaries will lay wreaths and His Excellency will deliver an address on this occasion. Out going Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Prime Minister-Elect Justin Trudeau will also be in attendance.

A 21-gun salute will be fired by 30th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery from the lawns of Parliament Hill around 11 a.m.

Four Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets, based out of CFB Bagotville will conduct a flyby in the missing man formation over the National War Memorial at 11:20 a.m.

50 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force will be in attendance in honour of Warrant Officer Vincent as he was an RCAF Firefighter;

50 members of the Canadian Army members including members of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s) will be in attendance in honour of Corporal Cirillo.

There will be two 50-person marching contingents of Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Paramedics, Ottawa Fire Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Parliamentary Precinct Guards to honour the First Responders who were at the event of 2014;

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

When: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 11 a.m.

Where: The National War Memorial, 30 Wellington Street, Ottawa

What: A ceremony to commemorate the assault on Parliament Hill and the deaths of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo.

Entry is restricted to journalists accredited through the Parliamentary Press Gallery. To register and for more information on accreditation, contact Terry Guillon, Chief of the Press Gallery, at 613-992-4511 or terry.guillon@parl.gc.ca.