Ontario

The original memorial (central column) was dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War One. Following the Second World War, a secondary addition was made to the primary column. A pair of carved stone benches flanks the central column, dedicated to the soldiers who died in WWII. A small bronze plaque was also added to the base of the central column dedicated to commemorate the Korea war. A third (major) addition was completed in 2010. Two new curved walls were added on either side of the memorial. A total of 20 new bronze plaques display the names of all veterans who served in WWI and WWII.

On June 11, 1989, Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander unveiled a cairn in Tannery Park dedicated to the Officers and Crew of HMCS OAKVILLE.  On May 14, 2016, the Town of Oakville added the HMCS Oakville Plaque in Tannery Park.

Captain Arthur Roy Brown was born on December 23, 1893, in Carleton Place, Ontario. In the summer of 1915, he applied to Britain’s Royal Naval Air Service but was told he first needed a private pilot’s license. The nearest Canadian flying school was full, so he attended the Wright School of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio and obtained his pilot’s license on November 13, 1915. He enrolled in the Royal Naval Air Service and was sent to Royal Naval Air Service Station Chingford in northeast London to learn the fundamentals of military flying and dropping bombs.

He was injured on May 2, 1916, when he crashed a training airplane and was hospitalized for two months. In March 1917, Brown was posted to No. 9 Naval Squadron, was injured again and did not recover until May. On November 2, Brown was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his aerial victories and for aiding a fellow pilot under attack by four German aircraft, even though his own machine guns had jammed. By April 1918, he had shot down nine enemy aircraft.

On the morning of April 21, 1918, Brown and other pilots in 209 Squadron became involved in a dogfight with a German squadron including top ace Manfred von Richthofen and his cousin, novice pilot Wolfram von Richthofen. The Red Baron broke off to pursue Canadian pilot “Wop” May, who was on the tail of his cousin. Brown saw that his friend was in trouble and disengaged to attack Richthofen. He fired a long burst from behind and pulled out of a steep dive to avoid a collision. Richthofen continued over Allied territory and was fired at by British and Australian soldiers until he crashed into a field.

Four days later, Brown was grounded and hospitalized with severe food poisoning and extreme exhaustion, then sent to England to recover. Soon afterwards, he was recommended to receive the Distinguished Service Cross with Bar. Released from hospital on June 6, Brown reported for duty as an instructor with No. 2 School of Aerial Fighting and Gunnery in Yorkshire. On July 15 just after takeoff, his engine failed, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Seriously injured again, Roy spent eight months in hospital before being sent back to Canada on March 8, 1919 and was released from the Royal Air Force in April 1920 with the rank of Captain. Captain Brown tried to join the Royal Canadian Air Force when the Second World War began, but was rejected.

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae was born in Guelph, Ontario in 1872, he served with an artillery battery in the South African War and had a successful civilian medical career. When the First World War broke out in 1914, the patriotic 41-year-old enlisted again and would be appointed as a medical officer with the First Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery.

During the Second Battle of Ypres in the spring of 1915, McCrae was tending to the wounded in a part of Belgium traditionally called Flanders. On May 2, a close friend was killed in action and this painful loss inspired McCrae to write In Flanders Fields the next day. It would be published in Britain’s Punch magazine and quickly became one of the best-known poems of the war, helping make the poppy an international symbol of remembrance. Sadly, Lieutenant-Colonel McCrae would not survive the conflict, dying of illness in January 1918.

John McCrae Public School was named in honour of John McCrae B.A. M.D. Tor; M.R.C.P. & Lt Col: C.A.M.C. Pathologist, poet, physician and soldier. a man among men. In 1899 he came to McGill University as Governor's Fellow in Pathology and was lecturer in Pathology and later a Lecturer in Medicine. He served with the Artillery in the South African War and in the Great War as M. O. with the 1st B.de C.F.A. as Chief Physician to No 3 C.G.H. McGill & as Consultant in Medicine to First Army. Born at Guelph Ont. 1872. Died on service at Boulogne France 1918. He wrote In Flanders Fields in May, 1915, just after the horrendous second battle of Ypres, in which he lost a close friend.

Unity Park was designated as Richmond Hill's "Peace Park" as part of Canada's 125th Birthday in 1992.

"Peace Parks Across Canada" was conceived and organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) in collaboration with "CANADA 125" and the National Capital Commission. As Canada celebrated its 125th Birthday, some 400 cities and towns across Canada dedicated a Park to Peace – with most parks dedicated at Noon local time, October 8th, as the National Peacekeeping Monument was being unveiled in Ottawa. The members of the winning design team included Cornelia H. Oberlander, landscape architect. Supporters included the Federation of Canadian Mayors and Municipalities, Canada Parks and Recreation Association, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Heritage Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Friends of the Earth, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, and local Rotary Clubs all across Canada. Project sponsors included VIA Rail, Greyhound Lines Canada, Ltd., CP Hotels and Resorts, Ramada International Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons Ltd., Meridien Hotels, Concept 3 Advertising and Programmed Communications, Ltd.

Peace Parks Across Canada" has served as the foundation in launching the "IIPT Global Peace Parks Program" on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 2000

At noon on October 9th, 2007 – one day after the precise 15th Anniversary of the original dedications, and as Canada continues to be a beacon of peace, Tolerance, and Understanding in a world of increasing violence and distrust, and a nation that celebrates diversity, a nation-wide re-dedication was co-ordinated.

Each of the original Peace Parks incorporated a ‘Bosco Sacro’ (Peace Grove) of 12 trees as a symbolic link with one another, and with nature - and as a symbol of hope for the future. The 12 trees were also symbolic of Canada’s 10 Provinces and two Territories. As there are now three Territories, a 13th tree was planted as part of the "Re-dedication Ceremony."

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 459 Memorial

This road is named to honour Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie, MC.

Addison Alexander "Lex" Mackenzie was born in 1885 in Richmond Hill. He originally pursued a military career and in 1912 joined the Governor-General's Body Guard (in 1936 this regiment was amalgamated with The Mississauga Horse to become The Governor-General's Horse Guards).

He was transferred to 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles and arrived in France in 1915. He was wounded and decorated for valour (Military Cross) at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and was later wounded at Vimy Ridge.

After the war, Mackenzie left the army and returned to the family farm and took up farming. He entered municipal politics, serving as a member of the Village Council and later as reeve. He was elected member of the Provincial Legislature for York North in 1945, and represented the riding until his retirement at the 1967 election. He died in 1970.

This park is named in memory of Corporal Matthew Dinning. It was unveiled on July 12, 2008 by the Town of Richmond Hill.

Matthew David James Dinning was born in March 1983 at Richmond Hill and raised in Wingham, Ontario, where he was very active in high school and community sports. Following graduation from high school, he completed a Police Foundations Program at Westervelt College in August 2002 and joined the Canadian Forces in May 2003 as Military Police. Completing his military police training in Spring 2004, he was posted to CFB Petawawa and subsequently transferred to 2 MP Platoon in May 2005. Soon after, he volunteered and was selected to be a member of the Close Protection Team assigned to protect the Regional Command South Commander, Brigadier General David Fraser, in Afghanistan. Following intensive training, he deployed to Kandahar in February 2006. On April 22, 2006, Corporal Matthew Dinning was one of four soldiers killed by a roadside bomb in Gumbad, Afghanistan.

This memorial was erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario. The plaque is dedicated to Lieutenant-colonel Robert Moodie 1778-1837. He served in the war of 1812, participating in the battles at Lundy's Lane, Fort Erie and Sackett's Harbour. See the plaque inscription for more details.