Natoinal War Memorial & Beyond

For more than a century, Canadian military history has been memorialized on the streets of Ottawa. Over that time, our feelings about war have changed dramatically. While the bronze and stone memorials remain static, what they mean to the people who gaze upon them has evolved. Sometimes, especially on Remembrance Day, there is general agreement. Sometimes, there is great controversy. 

This tour requires only a few blocks of walking, but it will take you across over 150 years of Canada's history. We will not only talk about the events memorialized, but also why they were memorialized, how that meaning changed over time, and how these monuments were used to symbolize things beyond the intentions of those who commissioned them. 

I find these memorials bring life to the history that I have studied for many years. Dry facts of dates and names are not nearly as interesting as understanding why things occurred and what changes it brought. It is this that makes history interesting and thought provoking.

Walking covers 700 metres of sidewalk with no stairs.

Click map for directions