Some Special Places of Remembrance in Calgary

Guest post by Matt Petrie

In a city like Calgary that has a rich tradition of military service it is not surprising that there is evidence of this all around.

There is the Cenotaph in Memorial Park (where ironically the largest, most striking statue is to the Calgarians who served in the Boer War), The Unit numbers of the replacement Battalions that trained at Sarcee Camp on Signal Hill in Battalion Park (which overlooks the plain where Sarcee Camp was situated) and the Military Museums on Crowchild Trail. These are some of the most striking and accessible reminders of the service and sacrifice earlier generations of Calgarians gave for their country.

However there are also smaller, more intimate reminders in this city.

There is the plaque commemorating the sacrifice of the 10th Battalion during the 2nd Battle of Ypres outside the main entrance of Old City Hall. It also remembers the service of the men of the Calgary Highlanders during the Second World War. (The 10th Battalion was perpetuated by both the Calgary Highlanders and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles)

A very striking and poignant reminder of how the Wars affected local communities is found in the Scarboro United Church and the Wesley United Church(now the Calgary Opera Centre).

The congregation of the Scarboro United Church collected money in the years following World War I and commissioned Stained Glass Windows to honour the members of the church who had died
overseas.

The Wesley United Church was built right around the start of World War I and after the war ended a plaque was placed near the entrance to the sanctuary, past which all of the parishioners would file as they were leaving the church.

Do you know of a unique Memorial in your community? Please let us know in the comments below.