Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood Cemetery is the National Cemetery of Canada. Because it is located in Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital, it is the burial site for a number of statesmen as well as a large number of mayors of the city. A woodland cemetery founded in 1873, it is 160 acres (647,000 m²) and is the largest cemetery in the city of Ottawa. It was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2001. The cemetery also serves as the National Military Cemetery and the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery.[1]
History
Since the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, soldiers who were killed in the line of duty and veterans of war have been buried in Beechwood Cemetery. The cemetery contains two military sections owned and managed by the federal Department of National Defence including the recent addition of the National Military Cemetery and monument that was dedicated in 2001. There is another older section for veterans managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Erected by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery in the 1870s, a sculptured sandstone cairn is dedicated to the memory of their former commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Turner. [2] Erected in the 1870s by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery, a sculptured sandstone statue on shaft is dedicated to the memory of a former commander, Captain James Forsyth. [3]
The cemetery inspired a classic Canadian poem "In Beechwood Cemetery" by Archibald Lampman with its memorable final line, "They know no season but the end of time."[4]
Noted for the Neo-Gothic architecture of its mausoleum, the chapel at Beechwood Cemetery is used by families for private ceremonies.
On March 5, 2009 Environment Minister Jim Prentice introduced legislation[5] to designate Beechwood as the National Cemetery of Canada due to "its location here in our national capital, Beechwood serves as a focal point for our national memorial events, including Remembrance Day, and it is an appropriate place to conduct state burials". This was done in an effort to "serve as an important symbol of Canadian unity and pride and a means of preserving and promoting Canada's rich history and our diversity."[6] The bill was passed on March 6.[7] The bill received Royal Assent on April 23, 2009.[8]
Gallery
Interments
- Thomas McKay (1792–1855), businessman, a founder of the city of Ottawa
- Sir William Johnstone Ritchie (1813–1892), second Chief Justice of Canada
- Henry Wentworth Monk (1827–1896), Canadian Christian Zionist
- Thomas Fuller (1823–1898), architect, designer of the Parliament Buildings of Canada
- Archibald Lampman (1861–1899), poet
- Sir John George Bourinot (1837–1902), historian, political scientist, newspaper publisher
- Andrew George Blair (1844–1907), statesman, Premier of New Brunswick
- Hod Stuart (1879–1907), ice hockey player, member of Hockey Hall of Fame
- Sir Sandford Fleming (1827–1915), engineer, inventor
- Wilfred Campbell (1858–1918), poet
- Sir Cecil Spring-Rice (1859–1918), British Ambassador to the United States
- John Macoun (1831–1920), noted naturalist
- Arthur L. Sifton (1858–1921), statesman, Premier of Alberta
- John Rudolphus Booth (1827–1925), lumber tycoon
- James Creighton or J.G.A. Creighton (1850–1930), 'father' of organized ice hockey, law clerk of the Senate
- Frank Maurice Stinson Jenkins (1859–1930), founder, and the first captain of the Ottawa Hockey Club, orchestra conductor
- James Wilson Robertson (1857–1930), businessman, educator
- Charles H. Mackintosh (1843–1931), Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories, 1893–1898, Member of Parliament, 13th Mayor of Ottawa, (1879–1881), owner/editor of the Ottawa Citizen (1874–1892)
- Sir George Eulas Foster (1847–1931), politician
- Marion Osborne (1871–1931), author, poet, dramatist
- Sir Robert Borden (1854–1937), 8th Prime Minister of Canada
- Eddie Gerard (1890–1937), Hall of Fame ice hockey player
- Harvey Pulford (1875–1940), Hall of Fame ice hockey player
- Charles Stewart (1868–1946), politician, Premier of Alberta
- Duncan Campbell Scott (1862–1947), poet
- Sir Percy A. Taverner (1875–1947), ornithologist
- Henry Crerar (1888–1965), Canadian Army General and diplomat
- Andrew McNaughton (1887–1966), Commander-in-Chief Canadian 1st Army in WW II, statesman
- Charles Foulkes (1903–1969), Canadian Army General
- Harry L. 'Punch' Broadbent (1892–1971), Hall of Fame ice hockey player
- Clint Benedict (1894–1976), Hall of Fame ice hockey player
- Johnny Fauquier (1909–1981), Hall of Fame aviator, WWII hero, DFC, DSO
- Tommy Douglas (1904–1986), politician, voted "The Greatest Canadian"
- Ray Hnatyshyn (1934–2002), statesman, Governor General of Canada
- Nichola Goddard, MSM (1980–2006), CAPT, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. First Canadian female soldier killed in action
- Rev. John Sandford Fleming MacLean (1926–2006), clerk-in-holy-orders, naturalist
- John Duncan MacLean (1873–1948), a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th Premier of British Columbia, Canada.
See also
References
- Jennifer McKendry `Into the silent land : historic cemeteries & graveyards in Ontario` Kingston, Ont. : , c2003.
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