CAPILANO VIEW CEMETERY
1490 Third Street, West Vancouver
Tel: 604-925-7007
http://www.westvancouver.ca/Level3.aspx?id=1388
Since 1926, Capilano View Cemetery has served as the municipal cemetery of West Vancouver. In the many years of its existence, this facility has earned a reputation for its beauty and a high standard of public service. The community of West Vancouver and other patrons have valued this cemetery as a place of permanence, security and dignity, which has brought comfort and reassurance to the bereaved.
Veterans’ Memorial and Sitting Pavilion
www.pechetandrobb.com/veterans.html (Move your cursor over the squares to the left to view pictures.)
HISTORY
On April 6, 1925, the District of West Vancouver set aside 45 acres in District Lot 763 as a cemetery. A Board of Cemetery Trustees was appointed to oversee the operation of the cemetery, although the Clerk’s Department of the municipality always looked after the sales/operation of the Capilano View Cemetery. The Board of Trustees was dissolved by council in 1976 and the municipality took over its administration.
In 1926, four sections were set aside for particular groups: section A and K Roman Catholic Church; section B and D Masonic; and the east part of section Q Great War Veterans Association. Spouses of Veterans were not allowed to be interred next to their husbands unless they were Veterans themselves. In 1994, in consultation with Branch 60, it was agreed that spouses of Veterans would be allowed to be interred in the Veterans section.
In 1955, the Branch L.A. made wreaths out of laurel leaves and decorated them with poppies and placed them on the graves of Veterans on Remembrance Day. The practice continued for a couple of years.
In 1957, Joe Chamberlain, a South African Veteran, made and painted the first group of white crosses to mark Veterans’ graves and these were placed on the morning of Remembrance Day. This practice of putting crosses on Veterans’ graves, supplied by the Branch, continues today, however, they are placed approximately two weeks before November 11th. All Veterans’ graves in Capilano View Cemetery are now marked with a cross at this time. The number of crosses needed has grown over the years. The cemetery staff and Legion members to put up over 900 crosses in November 2009.
In 1960, the first Remembrance Ceremony at the cemetery took place on the morning of Remembrance Day at the Veterans’ section in front of a flag pole. In 1963, this ceremony was changed to the afternoon of the Sunday before November 11th and continues to this day. The ceremony is now attended by the Branch Colour Party, Veterans, Branch Chaplain, firing party from the 6th Field Engineers, a trumpeter, pipers and the public. After the half hour ceremony, all are invited back to the Branch where a reception is held in the upstairs hall.
In the early 1960’s, George Archer quietly went to work and almost single-handedly built the stone memorial cairn and flag staff which marks the Veterans’ Field of Remembrance at the Capilano View Cemetery.
Margaret & Jack McMillan in front of the original
Cemetery Cairn with the crosses in the background
marking the graves of Veterans.
In 1970, the L.A. donated a bronze plaque for the cairn. This was later transferred to the renovated cairn.
In 1995, the Branch appointed a committee to repair and update the memorial cairn. The municipality hired an architect to submit designs. The final design was approved by the Branch and the cost was shared by the municipality. Unlike the flag at the Cenotaph, which is lighted, the flag at the cairn is raised and lowered daily.
The Cemetery Cairn after the 1995 renovations.
