The Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association envisioned, built and managed the Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre. The founder and lead of this project, is a member of the Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Units, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and was born on the armed forces base in Fort Churchill Manitoba. She is also a Dame in the Order of St George.
The Afghanistan War Monument and Park is a half acre pocket garden and outdoor living museum, a memorial for fallen soldiers, a place to honour silver cross families, and to learn about the regional military history for northwestern Alberta. The park includes the monument and walkways with “points of interest” for visitors to explore. There is also a miniature replica of the St Louis "Peace Arch".
The Afghanistan War Monument was unveiled in the fall of 2017. It is the centre piece of the memorial gardens. It is made from black granite and stands six feet high at its peak. It lists the names of all 158 Canadians killed in that country.
The monument honours Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson, who died of injuries from a car crash during a patrol near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Wilson, a member of Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, was born in Grande Prairie and lived here until he was nine.
The eight sections of the garden takes people through Canada’s military history and includes tributes to the three fallen members of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, information on Grande Prairie’s air and army cadets as well as ANAVETS and the Royal Canadian Legion. One also shows how Grande Prairie was home to the No. 132 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre during the Second World War and was the regimental home to D Company of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment.
Visit Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre for more information.
