Ontario

Soldiers’ Memorial Hall was erected in 1919-20 and dedicated on December 13, 1920. The classic revival style was designed by Hamilton, Ontario, Architect Joshua A. Armes and built by Isbister Brothers of Hamilton.

The building is owned by the City of Hamilton and is one of three buildings to serve as a Veterans memorial in the City. The other two are located in Waterdown and Carlisle. When built, it was one of 12 such buildings in Canada. A building was selected by the community of Binbrook rather than a traditional monument with the view that it would serve as a social/cultural/practical focal point for the community — this objective has been achieved and continues to do so today.

Soldiers’ Memorial Hall has been expanded over the years to include wings on the north and south sides. A larger addition was made in the 1960s to make room for a kitchen and an area for plaques bearing the names of those whose lives were lost in the First World War and the Second World War as well as the names of those who served in both wars. The building was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in December, 2008.

The Provincial Paper Limited plaque was commissioned in 1948 to honor the 18 employees of the Georgetown paper mill who lost their lives during the Second World War. Crafted from bronze and weighing approximately 100 pounds, the plaque prominently displayed the names of the fallen. For decades, it hung within the mill as a tribute to the sacrifices made by its workers during the war. 

In 1991, the Abitibi Provincial Paper Mill, formerly known as Barber Coated Paper Mill, then Provincial Paper Ltd. and one of Georgetown’s largest employers, ceased operations. During the process of clearing out the building, the plaque was removed and entrusted to the Georgetown Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 120. While the Legion initially planned to install it at Greenwood Cemetery, its significant size and weight led to it being stored temporarily in the cemetery’s maintenance garage. Over time, the plaque was misplaced behind other stored items and remained forgotten for nearly two decades. 

In 2011, Shel Lawr, a Second World War Veteran and long-time member of the Georgetown Legion, recalled the plaque’s existence while reading about a similar effort to honor Veterans at Georgetown District High School. Motivated by the story, Lawr contacted the Town of Halton Hills’ Parks and Open Spaces department to investigate its whereabouts. A town employee rediscovered the plaque in the cemetery’s storage shed, untouched since its placement there 20 years earlier. 

Recognizing its significance, Lawr and other local advocates concluded that it should be displayed prominently at Remembrance Park, a site dedicated to honoring those who served in Canada’s wars. Lawr collaborated with Martin Bosomsa and Tom Schenk, who oversaw additions to the park, to ensure its placement. 

The Lorne Scots Monument honours the soldiers of the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin, and Halton Regiment) and commemorates the regiment’s 150th anniversary, celebrated in 2016. The unveiling was presided by their Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, CD, ADC(P). 

The regiment's origins date back to September 1866 when it was formed in Brampton, Ontario, as the 36th Peel Battalion of Infantry. Over the years, the regiment experienced several re-designations: it became the 36th Peel Regiment in 1900, the Peel Regiment in 1920, and the Peel and Dufferin Regiment in 1923. On December 15, 1936, it was amalgamated with the Lorne Rifles (Scottish), formerly the 20th battalion of Halton Rifles, assuming its current designation as the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin, and Halton Regiment). The regiment has a storied history of service, participating in every major theater of operations, including the First World War, Second World War, and the mission in Afghanistan. 

The monument’s design draws inspiration from the iconic Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France and is constructed of the same white granite. It features two columns, each standing 7.5 feet high with a symbolic design conveying the regiment’s core values. The left column represents duty, while the right column signifies honour, and the space between the two columns symbolizes sacrifice. At the top of the monument is the regiment’s bronze badge. Below the badge, the regiment's 17 Battle Honours are inscribed, commemorating significant engagements. A bronze Heraldic Ship, symbolizing service overseas, is depicted on the plinth. A twin monument is located in Gage Park at 2 Wellington Street, Brampton.  

The original proposed name for the memorial park was “Dieppe Park,” put forward in 1959. However, it was felt by Georgetown citizens that it should reflect the sacrifice of all Georgetown servicemen from every conflict, and they worried the name Dieppe Park placed too heavy an emphasis on the Second World War. 

The name Remembrance Park was voted on by council in August of 1960 and announced to the public on the following month. It was first dedicated on Sunday, October 2, 1960, however, a much larger re-dedication ceremony and remembrance service was held the following month on November 13, 1960.

Normandy Boulevard, built in 1947, was the first of four Victory Home streets built in Halton Hills. It was named after an important and strategic Second World War battle that took place on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. 

During the 1940s the Canadian government made a concerted effort to supply housing for the men and women who worked in defense-oriented industries and later for Veterans returning from the Second World War. Much legislation, including The Veteran's Land Act, provided funding for such projects, and small subdivisions sprang up in virtually every major town or city in Canada. 

Most of Victory Housing was prefabricated, generally one-and-a-half storey with a steep roof, shallow eaves and no dormers. Homes built for Second World War Veterans created a blueprint for the city’s suburbs.

This storyboard was unveiled on June 6, 2009.

When St. George's Anglican Church was enlarged in 1921, a memorial window was unveiled by Lieutenant Governor H. O. Cockshatt and dedicated by Bishop Clark to those from the congregation who died in the First World War. The window depicts an angel holding a wreath, the crown of life, and a knight who persisted unto death.

Robert Johannsen was commissioned by the Royal Canadian  Legion Georgetown branch 120 to paint a mural in 2012. The mural depicts the military history of the town in War and peacekeeping missions.

During the 1940s the Canadian government made a concerted effort to supply housing for the men and women who worked in defense-oriented industries and later for Veterans returning from the Second World War. Much legislation, including The Veteran's Land Act, provided funding for such projects, and small subdivisions sprang up in virtually every major town or city in Canada. 

Most of Victory Housing was prefabricated, generally one-and-a-half storey with a steep roof, shallow eaves and no dormers. Homes built for Second World War Veterans created a blueprint for the city’s suburbs.

On September 10, 2013, Rick Bonnette, Mayor of Halton Hills; Councilor Moya Johnson, Chair, Heritage Halton Hills and John Wagg, President Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 197 Acton, unveiled the newly-installed storyboard highlighting the architecturally unique and historically significant Victory Housing.

These gates and the entrance to the town park and fairgrounds have been dedicated to The Lorne Scots Regiment on their 145 anniversary of service.