The Book of Remembrance lists the names of all officers from The Bank of Nova Scotia (including the amalgamated banks - The Bank of Ottawa and The Bank of New Brunswick) who died in the First and Second World Wars.
The bank's General Manager, Mr. C. Sydney Frost recorded the names of those who gave their lives in the two World Wars for the book. Mr. A. Scott Carter, who also designed the bank’s seal and coat of arms, spent more than two years hand-lettering and illuminating the book which was completed. The names of the war dead are inscribed on vellum pages with two names on each page. When the book was completed in 1952, the next of kin of each war dead received a replica of the page bearing the name of their loved one.
Of the total of 94 staff members who died in the First World War, nearly 80 percent were 25 years of age or younger with an average of three years of service in the bank. Of the total of 81 staff members who were killed in the Second World War, 57 percent were 25 years old or younger and also had an average of only three years of service in the bank. Most of the First World War casualties were in the Army. In the Second World War, more than three-quarters of those who died were in the Air Force, with the words “reported missing, presumed dead, following air operations” appearing after many of their names in the book.
In 1951, The Bank of Nova Scotia opened their General Office at 44 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario. From the outset of its construction, consideration was taken to preserve a space for a memorial to members of staff who died in the two World Wars. On 24 September 1953, the bank held a service of remembrance to dedicate a special room, known as the Memorial Room, to the memory of those who served. The Book of Remembrance stood on display as the main focal point in this room. The bank no longer has a Memorial Room and the book is now located in the Archives.
