Monday, July 26, 2021

For The Brotherhood

 My next destination was the Canadian Firefighters Memorial, which stands in the Lebreton Flats area west of the Portage Bridge. Dedicated in 2012, it memorializes Canadian firefighters who have died in the line of duty or of workplace related illnesses.


At one entrance, the Firefighters Prayer is inscribed in English and French.


The Memorial is a collaborative effort of monument architecture and landscape architecture, with shrubs and buses deliberately chosen to complement the imposing wall. A large statue of a firefighter is erected on the grounds beside a large fire pole.


The wall is inscribed with names of each firefighter over the country's history who have given their lives in the line of duty, each organized by province and territory from where they were based. At this point, all provinces and territories are represented with the name of at least one firefighter. The more populous provinces have many names. Each year more names are added, and in September a ceremony is held here honouring those newly added to the wall. I have attended the ceremony on several occasions.


A look from the west. The shrubs and bushes chosen for the landscaping are often the first to regenerate after forest fires. Many of them occupy a slope leading up to the main wall.


And a look over to the neighbouring monument and the Canadian War Museum beyond it.

30 comments:

  1. That's a magnificent memorial; I don't know if we have anything like it in the UK.

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  2. Ottawa is big when it comes to monuments.

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  3. ...a lovely tribute to these important first responders.

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  4. So many names. So many people left alone. I sure am thankful to these brave men and women, but I am glad mine is now too old for this. I freaked out every time I heard the sirens. (He was a volunteer but fully equipped and trained to go into the most dangerous places with inhalation protection).

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  5. Hello,
    It is a lovely tribute to the firefighters, a beautiful memorial!
    Take care, have a great new week!

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  6. The way that trees are burning of late, we may need a monument to the trees themselves.

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  7. A truly moving post. A magnificent monument. Having as many fires as we do here each summer I admire and respect those that put themselves in the path of a raging fire. Heroes, every single one of them.

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  8. We can’t say enough to honour those who rush into life threatening situations to help others.

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  9. A beautiful tribute to the firefighters for their sacrifice.

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  10. i can only imagine the work. i mean it must be so rewarding. well most of the time i would guess. a learning experience. ( ;

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  11. I have been to the ceremony here for the Ontario memorial. I wonder if all the names from here are also on that wall?

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  12. @John: it was a good concept.

    @Jan: we have a good number.

    @Tom: that it is.

    @Iris: there are many.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @David: it feels that way.

    @Gemel: it is a calling.

    @Marie: quite true.

    @Nancy: definitely.

    @Beth: a tough line of work.

    @RedPat: yes, every name. Ontario is probably the largest number of them, while Nunavut has one name, a recent addition.

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  13. You were out on a day with beautiful cloud formations. I like summer cumulus.

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  14. That is a very impressive memorial.

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  15. A wonderful memorial William, so well deserved. The firefighters do an amazing job ✨

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  16. What a wonderful tribute to your Firefighters ~ great photos too!

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  17. Buen monumento, como reconocimiento a la labor de los bomberos y que nunca se olviden de aquellos que perdieron la vida, en cumplimiento de su misión.

    Has hecho un buen reportaje, con excelentes fotografías.

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  18. That last photo makes it look like the bow of a ship.

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  19. Canada does this beautifully too!

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  20. @Red: it was a good day.

    @Maywyn: that it is.

    @Sharon: I think so.

    @Grace: definitely.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Ventana: thanks.

    @Revrunner: indeed.

    @Cloudia: definitely.

    @Joanne: that it is.

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  21. It's important to recognize them.

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  22. I've never seen a place with so many monuments but oh, so well deserved.

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