West Vancouver Memorial Arch
History
1900 Blk. Marine Dr., West Vancouver, British Columbia
In 1921, Bylaw #151 was passed by the municipal council and the district accepted the donation of the land to be utilized as a public park and to be known as Memorial Park. The land is bounded by 19th Street, Marine Drive, 20th Street and Esquimalt Avenue. In 1925, money was raised for a permanent memorial to be built in the Memorial Park. The money was raised by the Duncan Lawson Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.), the Great War Veterans Association (G.W.V.A.) and Fenian Raid Veterans.
Mr. Theodore Frederick Korner, an architect living in West Vancouver, submitted a sketch of an arch which was accepted and published in the North Shore Press newspaper on March 20, 1925 (click to view article). It was to be made of granite and on a foot thick concrete base, incorporating an ornamental lamp on either side of the arch. Apparently these were never installed. Mr. Korner never asked for nor received payment for his design and donated his supervisory services. The contract was awarded to stonemason, A. McRitchie of Vancouver, for $1,325.00. The foundation stone was laid on May 30, 1925 by A.F. & A.M. Past Grand Master Andrew McCreight Creery.
Just after the unveiling of the Memorial Arch July 5, 1925
Sunday, July 5, 1925, saw the culmination of the continuing efforts of so many people from a population of less than 5,000 when Governor General Baron Bing of Vimy unveiled the Memorial Arch in the presence of a solemn audience.
In December, 1925 the West Vancouver council accepted the custody, maintenance and care of the War Memorial Arch.
In 1979, the West Vancouver council agreed to pay 50% of the cost of erecting two granite plinths on which are recorded the names of West Vancouver men who lost their lives in WWII.
Dedication of the Plinths, Dec. 9, 1979
From left to right: Jack McMillan, Canon Ramsay, Bob Spray,
Unknown, Mrs. M.A. Mackie and Allan McLean
Photo courtesy of Ken Oxenham Photography
The commemorative service for unveiling and dedication of the plinths was held on Sunday, December 9, 1979 – unveiling of the plinths by Mr. C. Hailstone and Mrs. M.A. Mackie. Air Vice-Marshall L.F. Stevenson, C.B. was special speaker.
On Sunday, July 24, 1988, Brigadier-General E.D. Danby, DSO, OBE, CD, unveiled a new granite inscription commemorating the Korean War cease-fire July 27, 1953. 516 Canadian servicemen were killed during the hostilities, though none were from West Vancouver. This is the first time veterans from the North Shore who served in Korea have been honoured.
Spring 2000
Holland is a country that has not forgotten the many Canadian regiments that freed them in the fall of 1944. To this day, any visiting group of veterans that tour the towns in Holland are given a tremendous welcome by its citizens. Most notable are the children who carry on the tradition of their parents. To celebrate the millennium, many towns in Holland sent tulips to corresponding towns, cities and municipalities in Canada. In the fall of 1999, the municipality received 2,000 tulip bulbs from the Town of Diemen. The Parks Department suggested several sites in West Vancouver to plant the tulips and, with the approval of the Branch, it was decided that the Cenotaph was the best place. In the fall of 1999, after Remembrance Day, the lawns in front of the Cenotaph were dug up and a planting ceremony was held that included the Mayor, children from Westcot School, Branch President and veterans who were in regiments that liberated Holland.
Parade and automobiles on Marine Dr. at 14th St. Signs
for Ambleside Tea Rooms and West Vancouver Pharmacy
at left, fire hall at right. Start of parade to dedication
of war memorial arch on 1900 block Marine Drive.
Photo was taken on July 5, 1925.
To view more pictures of the Cenotaph and Memorial Park please view our Gallery page.
