Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service Window
Municipality/Province: Toronto, ON
Memorial number: 35090-032
Type: Stained Glass Window
Address: Hart House Circle
Location: Soldiers' Tower, St. George Campus, University of Toronto
GPS coordinates: Lat: 43.6633139 Long: -79.3951215
Submitted by: Victoria Edwards. University of Toronto.
The Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service Window is the first window in the Soldiers' Tower Staircase of Honour. It depicts a member of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service raising the Royal Canadian Navy ensign.
The Staircase of Honour features a series of eight stained glass windows honouring the Canadian Armed Forces in action during wartime. The windows were officially dedicated on May 26, 2005, by the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
The three stained glass windows along the first flight of stairs, on the north wall, commemorate women’s service in the Second World War: Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), commonly known as Wrens, Canadian Women's Army Corps, and the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women's Division).
Turning and mounting the next flight, one passes three larger windows on the south wall honouring all those who served in the Armed Forces during both World Wars: Air Force, Navy, and Vimy Ridge. Ascending the third and final flight of stairs, two small windows are on the north wall: Canadian Merchant Navy and the Auxiliary Services of The Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian Red Cross, Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army and the Young Men’s Christian Association.
All eight windows in the Staircase of Honour were designed and installed by the Goodman Zissoff Stained Glass Studio of Kelowna, British Columbia — formerly the Russell C. Goodman Stained Glass Studios of Parry Sound, Ontario, which created the Memorial Window in the Memorial Room of the Tower.
Inscription found on memorial
[plaque]
In memory of Wren Mary Sweeny and all who served in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service 1942-1945
[interpretive panel]
Window 1: A Wren -- Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service.
She is shown raising the Royal Canadian Navy ensign.
Gift of the Wren Association of Toronto.
Street view
Note
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