The War of 1812 Monument, Triumph Through Diversity sits on Parliament Hill, at the South East corner of East Block, facing the National War Memorial. It is dedicated to the people who defended Canada during the War of 1812 and was unveiled on November 6, 2014.
It was designed by Adrienne Alison to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War 1812. The two smooth granite boat-shaped pieces symbolize the ships used by the Royal Navy and remind us that part of the war was fought on water. Atop the rough granite center base that recalls the Canadian landscape, seven bronze figures form a circle illustrating the stages of battle. Each is approximately seven feet tall and represent the key combatants that came together to defeat the American invasion: a Métis fighter firing a cannon; a woman bandaging the wrist of a Voltigeur; a Royal Navy sailor pulling a rope; a Mohawk warrior pointing out the advancing enemy; a Canadian militiaman raising his arm in triumph, and a member of a British Army unit, specifically the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, firing a musket.
Alison consulted experts to ensure the accuracy of the clothing and sourced authentic weaponry for the statues. She enlisted live models to pose for about 40 hours each, including a Six Nations Mohawk man who travelled to Toronto several times from Brantford, Ontario.
A maple tree was planted in soil that was taken from ten Canadian battlefield sites. It was watered at the dedication with water from six oceans and lakes that were significant in the War of 1812. The tree symbolizes the Canadian nation that grew out of the unifying effort to defend Canada against the American invasion during the War of 1812 and pays tribute to the many naval battles that played a part throughout the war.
