- Canadian Battlefield Memorials Restoration Project
Canada 's thirteen World War I memorials were erected to honour and remember the achievements and sacrifices ofCanadians and Newfoundlanders during the Great War. In May 2001, theGovernment of Canada announced a major $30-million restoration project to restore and rehabilitate Canada's memorial sites inFrance andBelgium , in order to maintain and present them in a respectful and dignified manner.;Eight of these memorials stand on notable Canadian battlefields in France and Belgium:
*Vimy Ridge - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/vimy Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Bourlon Wood Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/bourlon Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Courcelette Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/courcelette Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Dury Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/dury Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Hill 62 Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/hill62 Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Le Quesnel Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/le_quesnel Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Passchendaele Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/passchen Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Saint Julien Memorial - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/stjulien Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page];Five other memorials mark places of historical significance to the then
Dominion of Newfoundland :
* Beaumont-Hamel - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/beaumonthamel Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Gueudecourt - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/gueudecourt Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Monchy-le-Preux - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/monchy Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Masnières - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=Memorials/ww1mem/masnieres Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]
*Courtray - [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=memorials/ww1mem/courtrai Canadian Veterans' Affairs web page]Collectively, they are symbolic of the Canadians and Newfoundlanders who gave their lives during the First World War, and are physical reminders that their sacrifices and victories must never be forgotten.
The repair work required to rehabilitate these memorial sites, now an average of 75 years old, is beyond the scope of routine maintenance. The program of work is being carried out in collaboration with
Public Works and Government Services Canada , theCommonwealth War Graves Commission and other specialists, consultants and military historians. The work is separated into four project areas, with the restoration of theCanadian National Vimy Memorial being the main priority.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.