National War Memorial restoration
The National War Memorial
(Click to view enlarged image)
The National War Memorial is a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who served Canada in time of war for the cause of peace and freedom.
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is the custodian of the site and is committed to ensuring that it is preserved and well maintained.
The Department recently repaired and restored the 77-year-old monument.
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Restoring the National War Memorial
On March 23, 2016, PWGSC awarded a contract to Atwill-Morin Group Inc. of Montréal, Quebec, for the restoration and repair of the National War Memorial and the protection of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As the Memorial is a national ceremonial and sacred burial site, the repair project and continued maintenance was carried out with great care and sensitivity.
The work included:
- demolishing, removing and replacing the existing concrete slab
- replacing and repairing damaged pavers
- introducing a waterproofing membrane and ensuring proper slab sloping to the pre-installed drains
- cleaning and repairing the cenotaph masonry
- cleaning all existing bronze figures and re-waxing them with a new protective coating
- preserving and protecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The contractor began work in the beginning of April 2016, and the restoration was completed on November 4, 2016.
Photo gallery of the restoration project
View the photo gallery to see how PWGSC has restored the monument. (Click the image to enlarge the photo)
Exhibit
While the National War Memorial was being restored, Canadian Heritage installed an exhibit on the construction panels surrounding the Memorial.
The exhibit, entitled The National War Memorial – Symbol of Remembrance, tells the story of the monument's design and construction and explores its role as a place of remembrance for Canadians.
The Canadian Heritage exhibit
(Click to view enlarged image)
Remembrance Day 2016
The national Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held at the newly-restored Memorial on November 11.
Past restoration projects
2013
A contract was awarded to Prestige Design & Construction Ltd. to improve the structural integrity of the concrete slab that supports the Memorial. The work was complete in July 2014.
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