Ontario

The October 6, 1991 issue of the Cambridge Times reported that a Toronto restoration company had estimated that the memorial needed approximately $2,900 in repairs. As the memorial had just been rebuilt three or four years earlier, the Royal Canadian Legion decided that these repairs were not necessary. The city was prepared to repay the Legion for half of the expense of these repairs the following year.

This memorial is dedicated to the men and women of the area who gave their lives in the Second World War. It was erected by The Highland Light Infantry of Canada Association.

This memorial was erected in 1926, in memory of the town's fallen soldiers. It was first unveiled on November 8, 1926, by the Lt. Governor of Ontario Col. Henry Cockshutt. The structure was erected by the McIntosh Granite Co. of Toronto and was built of Canadian grey granite, "all fine hammered finish".

At the centre of the monument is a seven-foot high soldier with arms outstretched, carved in high relief. The soldier emphasizes the whole meaning of the monument, which is carved on the band above the statue: "They were a wall of defence unto us". At the feet of the soldier is carved a broken gun carriage overgrown by poppies. The town crest of Preston is carved into the capstone along with the words "Their names liveth evermore" arranged on either side.

On each side of the statue are panels upon which are carved the names of the Preston men who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. The names of the First World War fallen are written in lead while those of the later wars are carved into the stone. The back of the memorial carries the names of some of the great battles of the first world war including Ypres, Somme, Mount Sorel, Vimy, Passchendale, Amiens, Arras, Cambrai, Givenchy, St. Eloi, Sanctuary Wood du Nord and Courcelette. The panel which holds the names of Preston's Second World War and Korean War dead were added early in 1949.

On November 11, 1918, the news of the final end of the "War To End All Wars" arrived in the Galt at 4:40 A.M. The breaking of dawn on that first Armistice Day was greeted with the continuous ringing of bells and factory whistles. The crowds gathered in the downtown area and were marching in impromptu parades, led by the boys banging on tin pots. The celebrations gained momentum and the parades took a more "official" look as they were joined by the Salvation Army and Galt Kiltie Bands.

Some young men, caught up in the celebratory mood and ignoring the possible hazardous consequences, ignited a bonfire fed by wagons from a nearby livery stable, at the intersection of Main and Water and proceeded to parade around the blaze. The schools and factories were closed as everyone joined in the festivities. It was a gigantic and magnificent parade. The parade was said to be two miles long and required 45 minutes to pass any given point. The celebrations continued into the evening, with people dressed in all sorts of weird costumes.

On the next day, Tuesday, November 12, a few factories reopened but had to close down again when only a few workers put in an appearance. The afternoon saw more parades and a football game in Dickson Park. By Wednesday, city and business leaders were feeling that the time had to come for the public celebrations to end and consequently that day the Galt Reporter carried two front page appeals. The first was signed by the Mayor and urged workers to return to the factories. It read in part: "We kept the home fires burning, now keep the home wheels turning. Now back to work and be a happy Galtonian". The second, smaller appeal carried the signature of the Chairman of the Public School Board and urged that children be sent back to school. There can be no doubt that the dominant feelings on that first Armistice Day were those of relief and thanks that the killing had finally stopped, combined with a liberal dose of the joy that can come only with final victory after a long and bitter struggle.

The cares of war could finally be set aside after four long years and, for this day at least, the sorrow felt for those lost in battle could be forgotten. There would be other days to remember the 348 soldiers from Galt, Preston and Hespeler who died in France. After the end of the First World War, these men were remembered on Armistice Day each year, as they were in 1920 when "Canada's ordinary activities, in practically all of the Dominion, were suspended for two minutes at noon in silent and honourable memoriam to the Canadian warriors and nurses who, by the sacrifice of their lives, helped to make possible the signing of the armistice".

There were other local services to mark the day but local war memorials were lacking until 1926 when Preston's Patriotic Society raised a Cenotaph at the front of Central Park on King Street. Source: Cambridge Reporter Jim Quantrell, City Archivist November 27, 1989 In 1991, the memorial was in need of repair. A Toronto restoration company estimated the work to cost approximately $7,750, unfortunately, the city's budget didn't permit this type of expenditure. An agreement between the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126 and the city sited how the city would repay the Legion for half of the expense the following year. The project coordinator was to make sure the restoration didn't interfere with November 11th Remembrance Day services. Source: Cambridge Times Dave Menary October 6, 1991

Thousands witnessed unveiling of Galt's War Memorial Cambridge Reporter By Jim Quantrell, City Archivist Galt's war memorial was unveiled in an impressive and moving ceremony on November 10, 1930. About 10,000 people crowded into Queen's Square and the new "Garden of Remembrance" which was to be a "living memorial to peace". The cenotaph standing within the Garden of Remembrance was to serve as a "perpetual reminder of the great sacrifice made by the men of Galt and district". The memorial itself was designed by Toronto sculptor Miss Francis Loring, recognized as one of Canada's top sculptors of her day. The actual cutting of the stone was done under Miss Loring's supervision by Robert M. Gullett, also of Toronto, from models made by Miss Loring.

The symbolism of the cenotaph is best described by Miss Loring herself. "Out of a large central stone merges the heroic figure of "Victory" on one side and a mourning figure of "Peace" on the opposite side. This central block is supported at either end by two pylons on which are carved the names of those whose sacrifice upheld Victory and made Peace possible. The symbolic figure of "Victory" stands leaning on the Sword of Sacrifice. He looks to the future and speaks: To them all honour Guard ye their victory On the opposite side the woman also speaks. She is "Peace". Peace mourning for great is the sacrifice these her sons have made that Peace might endure. She leans with one hand on the shield, for it is through battle that they achieved peace. And with the other hand she offers them the laurel branch that their sacrifice may be ever glorified. In Peace and Honour Rest you, my sons The dedication ceremony started at 2:30pm when "the stillness was broken by the deep tones of "O Canada" played by the combined Highland Light Infantry, Salvation Army and Galt Kiltie Bands.

Following a number of speeches the cenotaph was unveiled by Minister of National Defence, Lt.-Col. Hon. D.M. Sutherland. The crowd at the ceremony was so large that all locations which offered a good view of the proceedings were occupied. The local press reported that "two heads were noticed protruding from an opening in the Central Church tower, quite a crowd was on the roof of the Y.M.C.A., from the top windows of Knox's quite a number had a bird's eye view, boys were up telephone poles and trees and so great a crowd gathered on the roof of the new clubhouse at the curling rink, it was feared an accident might happen and the police had to chase them off." When the cenotaph was unveiled it was implied, if not directly stated, that it was the devout hope of all in attendance that no more names would be added to the 239 inscribed on the monument. This was not to be the case however, and the names of 137 of Galt's sons who died during the Second World War were added and dedicated in a special ceremony witnessed by 5,000 Galtonians on November 11, 1949." Excerpts of "Legion, city to share cost of repairing war memorials", Cambridge Times, October 6, 1991 by Dave Menary At first glance, Cambridge's three cenotaphs don't appear to be in disrepair. But tow of the monuments will receive more than $40,000 in restoration work this fall and winter, as local Legion branches strive to keep the structures from deteriorating.

A Toronto restoration company, Summit Restoration, has estimated the total cost of restoring the Galt cenotaph at $32,700. There was no money available to fund the restorations in the 1991 city budget, but city staff have proposed that half the cost be set aside by the city in its 1992 budget as a one-time expenditure. Both the Preston and Galt Legions have agreed to pay half the cost. Galt Legion Branch 121 has offered to foot the bill for the total cost of repairs to the Galt monument and be reimbursed by the city next year. Although the Galt monument is in the most need of restoration, it looks sound at first sight. "The steps at the bottom are bad," noted Legion spokesman, John White. The closer you look at it the more you see it needs work." in addition to the steps, the base and foundation will be restored, as will some names. A new limestone base will replace the cracking poured concrete. City parks superintendent John Hannah, who is acting as co-ordinator of the project, said a schedule will soon be set up with Summit Restoration to proceed with the work. But Hannah said the work will not interfere with November 11 Remembrance Day services. A vigil is now held throughout the night of November 10th at the cenotaph. Remembrance Day Services are held here on the 11th month of the 11th day at the 11th hour yearly. The floodlit grounds are wonderfully maintained by the City of Cambridge’s Community Services Dept. (Parks Division). The Canadian Flag flies every day.

This plaque was dedicated by Galt employees of the Bell Telephone Company of Canada in honour of their comrade who gave his life in the Second World War. It is not known where the plaque is located now.

When the First World War was over, the citizens felt the need of a memorial cross and the Ayr War Memorial Committee was formed. The Weigh scales belonging to the Watson factory that stood in the center of Ayr for three-quarters of a century were removed and through voluntary contributions, construction of the cross commenced.

The Department of Militia and Defence, Ottawa, granted permission to the Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Bloomfield, and advised the committee as to the wording of the inscription. Owing to Bloomfield's design and the simplicity of the cross, no names were to appear on the cross. A rough field boulder was chosen to be sunk as support for a bronze tablet which would contain the names of those who died and this was later carried out in 1923.

The contract between McIntosh Granite Company, Toronto and the committee was signed April 25, 1922, for the cross to be completed by August 1. Forty wagonloads of earth for the surrounding plot was provided by the farmers of the district.

The memorial was unveiled on September 3, 1922. Originally labelled simply as the Soldiers Memorial or Soldiers Monument, now most residents call it the cenotaph. In 1923, a bronze tablet was placed nearby with the 32 names of the fallen; another plaque was added after the Second World War with eight more names.

After a road improvement project at Stanley and Northumberland Streets, the cenotaph was renovated and rededicated on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. 

On November 9, 2021, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns and Canadian Armed Forces Veteran Dan Lauzon unveiled the sign designating Veteran Square, the area around the Cenotaph to the north of City Hall. The decision to name the area Veteran Square was made by Burlington City Council on November 23, 2020, following a formal request from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 60, Burlington.

The Canadian Destroyers that served in Korea Monument is dedicated to the memory of naval ships and sailors who served during the Korean War, and is inscribed with their names. Andy Barber and Ron Kirk, Navy veterans of the Korean War, spearheaded the four year effort to create a lasting memorial for the naval efforts in the Korean conflict. Veterans and community groups raise $80,000 and saw the idea through to fruition, with funding partly through the government’s Community War Memorial Program. Defence Minsiter Bob Nicholson, Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino, Colonel Choi Jang Min, Republic of Korea’s Defence Attaché, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Republic of Korea Jeong Kab Yoon, as well as several Canadian Korean War veterans, attended the unveiling on July 28, 2014. The ceremony in Spencer Smith Park on Burlington’s waterfront marked the 61^st anniversary of the armistice to end the Korean war.

Memorialized on the wall are 8 destroyers that served in the waters off Korea from 1950 to 1955. Many of the 9 sailors who lost their lives, were lost at sea or buried in Korea – their families never had a place to mourn in Canada. Over 3,600 sailors served in the region during times of war and peace. A total of 516 Canadians lost their lives to defend the democratic rights of what is known today as the Republic of Korea.

The Royal Canadian Naval Ships Memorial Monument is also located here.

This memorial recalls a historic injustice Canadians should pause to remember, as we recall the First World War and the valour of all those Canadian men, and some women, who served. It is a tribute to mark the memory of the thousands of "enemy aliens" who had their civil rights stripped, and were subsequently imprisoned during Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920, following the implementation of the War Measures Act. 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the War Measures Act - adopted on August 22, 1914 during the First World War. It was used to imprison Ukrainian-Canadians, and other ethnic groups, including German, Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian, and Armenian communities, into one of Canada's 24 internment camps.

Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and former chair of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA), had taken it upon himself to lead the way and organize the memorial. In the CTO ("One Hundred") project, 100 aluminum plaques were simultaneously unveiled at 100 different locations across the country at 11:00am local time on August 22, 2014. The first plaque was unveiled in Amherst, Nova Scotia, followed by a wave of plaque unveilings moved west, from province to province, culminating in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The plaques, which cost $1,000 to make, were funded by the generosity of the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Interment Recognition Fund.

Each plaque features a photo of internment prisoners confined behind a wire fence at the Castle Mountain Internment Camp in Banff, Alberta. The Castle Camp, which was built in 1915 at the base of Castle Mountain, was a Canadian internment camp which held immigrant prisoners of Ukrainian, Austrian, Hungarian, and German descent.

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