St. Catharines is home to eight war memorials, with unveilings dating back all the way to 1886. Some of the city's memorials include cenotaphs (empty graves), which acknowledge the loss of life by those participating in wars past. Several memorials name those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, while others recognize the conflicts fought by local men and women.
The preservation of our historic monuments and war memorials ensures that Canada's story of valour and sacrifice is shared with future generations.
St. Catharines Cenotaph
The largest monument in the city is the St. Catharines Cenotaph, located in Memorial Park on Veterans Way (St. Paul Street West). At the time of its construction in 1927, the monument was a tribute to the memory of the 300 St. Catharines men who gave their lives for the British Empire in the First World War from 1915 to 1918. Unveiled on Aug. 7, 1927 the first wreath was laid by His Royal Highness, Edward, Prince of Wales, who made a brief stop at the unveiling ceremony while travelling through Niagara.
Today, the cenotaph also commemorates those who fought in World War Two, the Korean War, the United Nations Peacekeepers and the Canadian Merchant Navy.
Restoration
The City of St. Catharines hired a heritage conservator in 2009 to evaluate the condition of all memorials. His report revealed that the St. Catharines Cenotaph needed significant restoration. The structure was frail, with dusty crumbling brick, but we needed more information on the materials making up the inner core. Our staff conducted research, reviewing historic documents, newspaper stories and correspondence between the City and original builder, McIntosh Granite Company, but could not determine the nature of the inner core.
In fall 2012, we temporarily removed the top of the monument to review its interior condition. The core was made of solid concrete, with very little wear and slightly shifted granite blocks that seemed intact. Early correspondence suggested that the blocks had been slightly out of place since the original build.
The company hired to do the cenotaph investigation also completed the masonry work required in the restoration report at a reduced cost, and quickly completed it in time for Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2012. In 2013, final repointing was completed on the cenotaph's stairs, along with further landscaping. Accessibility ramps were installed to boost access for all residents.
Restoration funding support
The costs to repair the St. Catharines Cenotaph were significant, but community support helped offset the costs to taxpayers. In May 2010, we hosted a concert by The Stadacona Band of Canadian Forces Atlantic, which celebrated the Canadian Naval Centenary. The concert drew more than 300 attendees and helped raise $3,000 for the restoration.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 24 generously contributed $10,000 and the Royal Canadian Legion, Polish Branch 418 contributed $3,000. Other community members stepped forward with donations, bringing the total to $17,000 in donations.
Merritton and Port Dalhousie Cenotaphs
Merriton and Port Dalhousie are home to their own monuments, with cenotaphs found on Merritt Street and Ann Street, respectively. It's believed each monument was carved by artist Emmanuel Hahn around 1921.
The St. Catharines Green Committee performed beautiful greening projects around both cenotaphs and they are now surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
Restoration
In 2012, the eagle eyes of Port Dalhousie Legion member Brian Bowman spotted space beneath the Port Dalhousie statue atop the memorial. After a quick investigation, the statue was confirmed to be lifting off its pins and required re-installation.
In 2014, work was completed to repair the cenotaph, with funding support received by the Royal Canadian Legion, Port Dalhousie Branch 350 in the way of a written grant application bringing in $6,000 of matching funds from the Government of Canada's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Victoria Lawn Cemetery Memorials
The grounds of Victoria Lawn Cemetery are home to four different memorials.
The Grantham Cenotaph, the Korea Veterans Associations Memorial, the 10th Field Battery R.C.A. Memorial (built around 1965) and the Royal Canadian Legion's Monument (built in 1990) are all found at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.
City Hall plaques and statue of Private Watson
The front doors of City Hall are surrounded by elegant, bronze plaques that serve as our Honour Rolls, with the names of the men and women who gave their lives in World Wars One and Two, as well as the Korean War.
Another plaque at City Hall's main entrance commemorates the two St. Catharines recipients of the Victoria Cross, which is the highest decoration for valour in the British Empire.
One of the oldest monuments in the city is the statue of Private Alexander Watson, which graces the front lawn of City Hall. Private Watson died during the Northwest Rebellion and the community raised funds to erect the memorial in his honour. The statue also commemorates local men who lost their lives in the Second Boer War.
Make a donation
Contact us if you would like to make a donation toward the preservation and restoration of our monuments and memorials. There is always a need.