Canada's National Military Cemetery Plaque

Just east of the centre of Beechwood Cemetery in the southwest corner of the Field of Honour stands a plaque commemorating Canada's National Military Cemetery.

National Military Cemetery
Le cimetière militaire national

CANADA'S NATIONAL MILITARY CEMETERY, dedicated on 13 September 2007, is a partnership amongst the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada. This cemetery brings together all those who rest here who died on active service, whose death was related to service, or who served honourably and chose to rest amongst their comrades in these sacred grounds.

LE CIMETIÈRE MILITAIRE NATIONAL DU CANADA, inauguré le 13 septembre 2007, est un partenariat entre la Fondatin du cimetière Beechwood, la Commission des sépultures de guerre du Commonwealth, le Ministère de la Défense nationale et anciens combattants Canada. Ce cimetière réunit ceux qui sont morts en service, dont la mort est reliée au service militaire ou qui ont servi leur pays honorablement et qui ont choisi d'être inhumés aux côté de leurs camarades dans ces lieux sacrés.

Rideau Hall Totem Pole

The totem pole on the grounds of Rideau Hall occupies a location about half way between the gates and Rideau Hall and about halfway between the roadway and the foot path among many trees.

Symbols of the Pacific Coast Peoples

Carved by Mungo Martin, this totem pole features symbols of the unique heritage of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples of the Pacific coast.

Topped by a thunderbird, which can cause lightning by the blinking of its eye and thunder by flapping it wings, the pole also shows a man holding a salmon and a double-headed serpent known as a sisiutl, one of the most powerful beings in the myths of the people.

This totem pole was a gift to Governor General Lord Alexander in 1946 when he was named Honorary Chief Nakupunkim.

Symboles des peuples de la côte du Pacifique

Œuvre du sculpteur Mungo Martin, ce mât totémique est orné des emblèmes du patrimoine unique des Kwakwaka'wakw de la côte du Pacifique.

Surmonté d'un oiseau-tonnerre, qui provoque la foudre en clignant de l'œil et le tonnerre en battant des ailes, la mât montre également un homme tenant un saumon et un serpent à deux têtes nommé sisiutl, un des êtres les plus puissants de la mythologie de ces peuples.

Ce mât totémique fut offert au Gouverneur général lord Alexander en 1946 lorsqu'il reçut le titre de chef honoraire Nakupunkim.

Mungo Martin

Chief William Scow

This totem pole was made for Viscount Alexander of Tunis, Governor General of Canada (1946-1952) on the occasion of his installation as Honorary Chief Nakapunkim by Chief Scow of the Native Brotherhood at Kitsilano Park, Vancouver, British Columbia on Saturday, July 13, 1946.

Ce mât totémique a été fabruiqué pour le vicomte Alexander de Tunis, Gouverneur général du Canada (1946-1952) lorsqu'il a reçu le titre de Chef honoraire Nakapunkim du Chef Scow, Président de la Fraternité des autochtones, au parc Kitsilano, à Vancouver (Colombie-Britannique le samedi 13 juillet 1946.

Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander
1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
17th Governor General of Canada
(1946-1952)

Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District Plaque, Maple Lane

In Rockcliffe Park, on the northeast corner of Maple Lane and Springfield Road, a stone stands with a plaque on it declaring Rockcliffe Park Village a heritage conservation district. Similar imilar markers occupy other locations in Rockleffe Park.

Canadian Heritage Garden, Rideau Hall

There are at least two Canadian Heritage Gardens in Canada. The one on the grounds of Rideau Hall occupies a prominent location to the southwest of the Hall.

This traditional rose garden commemorates the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of Confederation, its design inspired by the related themes of the migrations of people from around the world to Canada and the development of our governing institutions over more than three centuries.

Cette roseraie commémore le cent vingt-cinquième anniversaire de la Confédération, sa conception rappelle à venue au Canada de gens des quatre coins du monde et l'évolution de nos institutions gouvernementales depuis plus de trois siècles.

Addressing the Empire Club of Canada on June 23, 1999, the Right Honourable Raymon J. Hnatyshyn had this to say about the National Heritage Garden in development at the time:

"While we were at Rideau Hall, Gerda and I initiated "The Canadian Heritage Garden" to celebrate the first 125 years of Confederation. In working on the development of this wonderful heritage garden which evokes two themes-the evolution of Canadian nationhood and the contribution of peoples of diverse ancestry to our social fabric my wife and I were reminded of, and moved with renewed pride in, the enormous accomplishments of our country and its people. I should say that I am extremely proud of Gerda who single-handedly raised more than $2 million from private benefactors to provide this gift to the people of Canada. Gerda and I hope that you will all have the opportunity to visit the Canadian Heritage Garden at Rideau Hall — a testament to what we have done and what we can be."

Governor General Ramon John Hnatyshyn and Mrs. Gerda Hnatyshyn started developing the creation of the garden in 1992, the year of Canada's 125th anniversary. Mrs. Hnatyshyn founded The Canadian Heritage Garden Foundation, Fondation du jardin du patrimoine canadien to privately raise funds for the garden, incorporating the Foundation in 1995. Later on the board of directors of the Foundation requested its dissolution, which happened in 2006.

Prestige Design and Construction built the garden designed by Alvin David Regehr with landscaping designed and roses selected by Claire Laberge. The National Heritage Garden consists of eleven circular flowerbeds with more than two-hundred varieties of winter-hardy roses. Claire Laberge selected as many native Canadian varieties as possible as well as roses that illustrated the many immigrant contributions to Canadian society. Within the garden, roses and marble columns illustrate key milestones in Canadian History, while the roses also symbolize Canadian ancestral groups and historical events, and are a reflection of Canada's cultural diversity.

The National Garden of Canada officially opened on June 9, 2000. Former Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn, his wife, Gerda, then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson attended along with landscape architect and project manager Alvin D. Regehr, horticulturalist Clair Laberge, members of the Board of Directors of The Canadian Heritage Garden Foundation and other dignitaries.

The Unity Pool

The garden peaks around mid June, the best time to visit it. When in Ottawa you should visit the garden, whether at the peak time or not. The photographs here provide no substitute for experiencing this truly Canadian wonder for yourself.