TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - The new Veterans' Memorial, built on the northwest quadrant of the grounds of the legislative assembly, commemorates the sacrifices and duties undertaken by Canada's men and women who have served, and continue to serve their country in times of war and peace. The memorial will be a legacy forever on the grounds of the Queen's Park legislature.

The memorial is a 30-metre (100-feet) long granite wall engraved with scenes from Canada's war history from Confederation to the present day. Poetic text contributions have been added from author Jane Urquhart on a bronze wall insert and documentary text by military historian Jack Granatstein includes a list of significant conflicts and peace support missions involving Canada's Canadian Forces. A memorial maple tree has been planted behind the wall in alignment with the midpoint bronze panel. Known for its bright red fall colour, the tree symbolizes the sacrifice of the soldiers and the annual falling of leaves represents human loss in past and continuing conflicts.

The Designing of a Veterans' Memorial
The Veterans' Memorial initiative was first announced in 2002 by the Ontario government and was to be located at the northwest corner of College Street and Queen's Park Circle. In June 2004, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the government would instead construct a military veterans' memorial on the front lawn of Queen's Park - the place of highest honour. The decision to locate the monument on the front lawn was agreed upon by all three political parties and the Speaker of the legislature. It is the first time in 66 years that a structure has been placed on the Queen's Park grounds.

The Veterans' Memorial Advisory Committee, established in May 2004, was created to undertake this initiative. Co-chaired by Major-General Richard Rohmer (Ret.) and Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips, the
17-member advisory committee comprises active military personnel and veterans who also hold executive membership on various organizations including the Juno Beach Association, and The Royal Canadian Legion and the Archivist of Ontario.

The committee agreed that a fair and equitable competition would result in the best design possible and took steps to ensure the integrity of the process was upheld at all times. One of Canada's leading art consultants, Karen Mills of Mills & Mills Consulting Services Inc., was selected to provide expertise to the project.
In June 2005, a final design was selected by the advisory committee, which then recommended it to the legislature for all party approval, which was given. Advice and support throughout that process were provided by the Speaker and Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, as well as the Sergeant-At-Arms.
The advisory committee chose a well-known Canadian war artist and a prominent landscape architectural firm to design the memorial. The team of Allan Harding MacKay and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg was selected following a nationwide competition held by the Veterans' Memorial Advisory Committee.
The design team oversaw the development of the memorial and implemented landscaping as set out in the approved design plan. Canadian historian Jack Granatstein provided expertise to the advisory committee in the selection of images regarding the representations of wartime and peacekeeping activities, and renowned Canadian author Jane Urquhart contributed poetic text for inclusion in the memorial design.
The construction of the wall, and surrounding landscaping, began in December 2005 and was completed in August 2006.