canadian national vimy memorial and … · cover | canadian national vimy memorial and canadian...

Article Title | SECTION

NETWORKCanadian Cemetery Management March 2017

What’s Inside? Vol. 31 No. 2 • March 2017

2 Cover Story: Canadian National Vimy Memorial and Canadian Cemetery No 2

7 OACFP Association Update

8 WCCA Association Update

10 Business Index

CANADIAN NATIONAL VIMY MEMORIAL AND CANADIAN

CEMETERY NO 2 Overseas historic sites commemorate the 100th

anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

COVER | Canadian National Vimy Memorial and Canadian Cemetery No 2

CANADIAN NATIONAL VIMY MEMORIAL AND CANADIAN

CEMETERY NO 2 Overseas historic sites commemorate the 100th

anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

• NETWORK | March 2017

By L i sa JohnstonPhotos cour tesy o f Commonwea l th War Graves Commiss ion

March 2017 | NETWORK •

Canadian National Vimy Memorial and Canadian Cemetery No 2 | COVER

While the Government of Canada will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the Battle of Vimy Ridge with a special ceremony

on April 9, 2017 at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, a second ceremony will take place – where the soldiers won the battle and many lost their lives – at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in northern France.

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about ten kilometres north of Arras. It was on this soil that the Battle of Vimy Ridge began on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917.

“The first wave of 20,000 Canadian soldiers, each carrying up to 36 kilograms of equipment, attacked through the wind-driven snow and sleet into the face of deadly machine gun fire,” reads the website of Veterans Affairs Canada. “The Canadians advanced behind a ‘creeping barrage.’ This precise line of intense artillery fire advanced at a set rate and was timed to the minute. The Canadian infantrymen followed the line of explosions closely. This allowed them to capture German positions in the critical moments after the explosions but before the enemy soldiers emerged from the safety of their underground bunkers.

“Battalions in the first waves of the assault suffered great numbers of casualties, but the Canadian assault proceeded on schedule. Most of the heavily-defended ridge was captured by noon. Hill 145, as the main height on the ridge was called, was taken on the morning of April 10. Two days later, the Canadians took ‘the Pimple,’ as the other significant height on the ridge was called. The Germans were forced to withdraw three kilometres and the Battle of Vimy Ridge was over.”

Following the war, families and communities around the world, mourning the loss of so many young lives, turned their attention to honouring the dead. According to Veterans Affairs, prominent figures like General Arthur Currie and Brigadier-General H.T. Hughes led the efforts – starting in February of 1919 – to identify which Canadian engagements should be recognized with memorials in Europe. “On September 2, 1920, the Canadian Battlefields Memorials Commission was established to oversee creation of eight Canadian battlefield memorials in France and Belgium. Beginning with a design competition, the commission was also responsible to manage land acquisition and construction.”

Included in the plans was the inspiring Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Designed by Canadian sculptor and architect


Walter Seymour Allward and sitting on land granted by France to the Canadian people, it took 11 years to build and is Canada’s most impressive First World War tribute overseas.

“Twenty sculpted, symbolic figures grace the monument, each carved where they now stand from huge blocks of limestone,” reads the Veterans Affairs website. “The largest, a mourning figure known as Canada Bereft, was carved from a single 30-tonne block. Head bowed in sorrow, she provides a powerful representation of Canada, a young nation grieving her dead. Overlooking the Douai Plain, she gazes down upon a symbolic tomb draped in laurel branches and bearing a helmet and sword. Carved on the walls of the monument are the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were killed in France and whose final resting place was then unknown.”

The Vimy Memorial was unveiled in July 1936 to a crowd of more than 100,000, including 6,000 Canadian veterans who had travelled overseas for the ceremony. “The memorial

survived the Second World War, despite fears that German forces would destroy it after France’s surrender,” notes the Canadian War Museum’s website. “Adolf Hitler visited and was photographed at the site in 1940. Since the Second World War, there have been several formal, and countless informal, Canadian pilgrimages to the memorial and the 91-hectare park of Canadian trees and shrubs surrounding it.”

In 2007, after several years of extensive restoration work, the restored Vimy Memorial was unveiled to dignitaries and several thousand Canadian visitors. It has since undergone additional maintenance, including repointing of stonework, in preparation for the centennial ceremonies. A large focus of the April events will feature the grand opening of a new Visitor Education Centre.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is committed to building a lasting legacy to honour the sacrifices of Canadians who helped to shape our nation,” said former minister Jim Flaherty, while visiting the Canadian


The Vimy Memorial was unveiled in July 1936 to a crowd of more than 100,000, including 6,000 Canadian veterans who had travelled

overseas for the ceremony.

Canad ian Cemetery No 2 .


National Vimy Memorial in 2013. “The construction of a permanent Visitor Centre at Vimy honours our commitment to commemorate the courage and sacrifices of Canadians in the First World War.”

Visitors to the site are encouraged to tour the preserved Grange Tunnel and front-line trenches, while also taking time to explore the beautifully maintained cemeteries dotting the area that serve as the final resting place for many Canadians. Student interpreters provide information on Canada’s role in the First World War and the main features of this important national historic site.

Located just across the road from the memorial as part of the park is Canadian Cemetery No 2. Established by the Canadian Corps after the successful storming of Vimy Ridge, the original burials were from 4th Division soldiers killed between April 9-12, 1917. However, the majority of the dead buried at the cemetery were recovered from surrounding battlefields and from isolated graves. Battlefield clearances in 1919 significantly increased the size of the cemetery as it was reopened for burials in 1931, receiving its last Canadian burial in 1947. At approximately 10,869 square metres, the cemetery is within Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial Park and is enclosed by low walls of coursed stone. The cemetery contains the graves of 2,966 (72 per cent unidentified) Commonwealth soldiers of which 693 are Canadian (226 unidentified).

Today the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and the cemeteries in the surrounding area – including Canadian Cemetery No 2 – remain a principal location of remembrance and commemoration, and one of the most widely recognized symbols of Canada’s military past. N


Visitors to the site are encouraged to tour the preserved Grange Tunnel and front-line trenches, while also taking time to explore the beautifully maintained cemeteries dotting the area that serve as the

final resting place for many Canadians.

Canad ian Cemetery No 2 . The l a rgest mourn ing f igure on the Canad ian Nat iona l Vimy Memor ia l known as Canada Bere f t .


Article Title | SECTION

ASSOCIATION UPDATE

By Pat ty Har r i s , p res ident

Pat ty Har r i s

In this busy, ever-changing world it seems to be even more difficult to strike that perfect balance between the demands of our careers, our family, friends and our own personal

needs. There seems to be no end to the “to-do” list and more and more people are feeling the effects of stress in their lives.

Based on feedback from our members after our annual conference last year it became clear to us there was a need to focus on health and wellness for bereavement professionals.

In December, OACFP provided a webinar to members on the topic of compassion fatigue and the importance of self-care. To further support our commitment to our member’s health and well-being, the OACFP board made a decision to research options to provide an affordable employee assistance program, or EAP, to our members. The purpose of an EAP is to help improve the overall health and wellness of employees by providing resources, tools and support for a better work-life balance and overall wellness. We are excited to announce that in January we engaged Ceridian Canada LTD. to provide its LifeWorks EAP service at preferred pricing to our members, no matter how large or small the organization. We will continue to keep wellness top of mind as we plan and execute our programs this year.

It’s been a busy start to the year as our committees have been working to finalize our many programs and events. Following are a number of programs already on the calendar for the year.

Webinars:• February 16 - Care and Maintenance Fund/Account Requirements and Annual Licensure Reporting - Michael

D’Mello, manager-licensing, education, outreach and trusts, Bereavement Authority of Ontario• April 6 - Residual Radioactivity Due to Medical Procedures - Rachel Timmins, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

In addition to the webinars, future OACFP events include:• March 28/29 - Crematorium Operator Training, Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre• June 12 - 2017 Annual Charity Golf Day, Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club• October 17-19 - 2017 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show – Caesar’s Windsor Resort & Convention Centre

The 2017 OACFP board of directors is an enthusiastic and talented team of professionals who I have the privilege of working alongside this year. We have four new directors to welcome to our team: Howard Mammon, Toronto Hebrew Memorial Parks, Toronto; Frank Pinelli, Service Corporation International, Toronto; Steven Reynolds, Oakview Funeral Home (Arbor), Oakville; and Rebecca Zinger, Parkview and Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo. Returning board members include: Darren Denomme (past president), North Bay Roman Catholic Cemeteries, North Bay; Ian Merritt (1st vice president), Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay; Ron Hendrix (2nd vice president), Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services – Archdiocese of Toronto; James S. Cardinal (director), Cardinal Funeral Homes Ltd., Toronto; Melanie Turner (director), Canadian Funeral and Cemetery Supply, Maidstone; Tim Vreman (treasurer), Catholic Cemeteries of Windsor; and Jo-Anne Rogerson (executive director). N

Association Update | OACFP

“Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your business.” - Richard Branson


WCCA | Association Update

The board of the Western Canada Cemetery Association (WCCA) had its first meeting of the new year in early February. In addition to dealing with some small

constitutional changes, we were able to set the dates of our upcoming conference which will be taking place in Winnipeg from September 11-13, 2017 (location to be confirmed).

In conjunction with the three-day conference, we are pleased to be cooperating with the Saskatchewan Crematorium Council to offer their curriculum for a crematorium operator technician on September 14, 2017. This will be a good opportunity for people in Manitoba to take crematorium operator training they may not normally be able to access. We are excited to offer this session and hope people attending the conference will stay the extra day to partake in the training, while people wanting to attend the training will arrive early to join us for what promises to be a great conference.

In addition, the board has confirmed the dates and location of the 2018 conference which will see us return to Alberta to the city of Grande Prairie from September 10-13, 2018. This will get us back into the rotation of moving the conference between the three Prairie provinces. We have hosted many successful conferences in smaller centres, including last year in Medicine Hat, so we are looking forward to exploring some new regions for our gatherings.

ASSOCIATION UPDATE

Raymond Ba i l ey

By Raymond Ba i l ey, p res ident

The current WCCA board is composed of:

President, Raymond BaileyYorkton Memorial Gardens

Past President, Ralph KatzmanCongregation Agudas Israel

Vice President, Darryl ReimerCity of Grande Prairie

Supplier Director, Lorraine PillerFabhaven Inc./Biondan North America

Saskatchewan Director, Chris ZerebeskiCity of Saskatoon

Manitoba Director, Jim BakerElmwood Historical Cemetery Society

Alberta Director, Candace Rogers Municipal District of Foothills

Alberta Director, Richard ErdmannEvergreen Memorial Gardens

Manitoba Director, Mark PlamondonRosewood Memorial Gardens

WCCA Administrator, Sharon Pedde

We have hosted many successful conferences in smaller centres, including last year in Medicine

Hat, so we are looking forward to exploring some new regions for

our gatherings.


Association Update | WCCA

Thanks to the fiscal responsibility of the WCCA board over the last few years, we are in a sound financial position and will be once again offering a scholarship opportunity to attend the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) University. We will be awarding one $4,000 scholarship for 2017 which will cover all costs including registration, accommodations, meals and travel expenses. We hope to continue this scholarship in the years to come.

We are continuing to work on increasing membership and adding value to entice individuals to join WCCA. We will also be working on updating the website in the coming months.

For those wanting to contact the WCCA office, the mailing address remains the same as in the past (Box 31008 RPO Broadway & Taylor, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 5S8), but there are new phone numbers: 306-621-3216 or 306-783-4772.

For further information, please visit our website at www.westerncemetery.com. N

We are continuing to work on increasing membership and adding value to entice individuals to join WCCA. We will also be working on

updating the website in the coming months.

N E T W O R K BUSINESS INDEX

NETWORK PagE BI - 1

Bronze

Call1 (800) 465-0322

or email

[email protected]

to book your listing

Marble Statues

GAWET MARBLE & GRANITEBusiness Route 4, PO Box 219Center Rutland, VT 05736

Tel: (802) 773-8868Fax: (802) 773-2763Toll-free: 1 (800) 323-6398

Quality-crafted Italian marble statues and custom designs per request. Inventory. Free brochure and price lists.

Mausoleum Developers

Memorial Portraits

Cemetery Supplies

H.S. ECKELS & CO. (CANADA) LTD.352 Silvercreek Parkway NorthGuelph, ON N1H 1E7Tel: (519) 824-8020 • Fax: (519) 824-7161Canada Toll-free: 1 (800) 265-8350Toll-free fax: 1 (800) 914-1141www.eckelsandcompany.comE-mail Address: [email protected] to cemeteries across Canada with interment products.

Columbaria and Mausoleums

4 Rock of Ages StreetStanstead, Quebec J0B 3E2

Tel: (800) 567-2793 • Fax: (819) 876-2234Donald Labonté, President

Columbariums made entirely of granite, carefully chosen for high quality.Perpetual Warranty. Contact us torefer you to a dealer in your area.

Tell them you found it in NETWORK Call 1 (800) 465-0322 or email [email protected] to book your listing today!

Monument Suppliers

GAWET MARBLE & GRANITEBusiness Route 4, PO Box 219Center Rutland VT 05736(802) 773-8868 • Fax: (802) 773-2763Toll-free: 1 (800) 323-6398Custom-fabricated high-quality Vermont marble memorials, markers, cornerstones and statues.

MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS

NETWORK

works!Call (403) 264-3270

SUNSET MEMORIAL & STONE3300 - 8 St. SE, Calgary T2G 5S7Tel: 403.243.3393 • Fax: 403.243.7533Toll-free: 800.363.3393Web: www.sunsetstone.com

[email protected]

website: www.enduramemorials.com142 Deerglen Terrace, Aurora, ON L4G 6Y3

Dependable1 week delivery

tel: 905-726-8288fax: 905-726-8248

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Your ad here!

Call (403) 264-3270 to place an ad

Quarries

ROCK OF AGES CANADA INC.4 Rock of Ages, Stanstead, QC J0B 1E0Tel: (819) 876-2745 • Fax: (819) 876-2234Donald Labonté, President

Vases

U.S. METALCRAFT, INC.P.O. Box 308, Delphos, OH 45833Toll-free: 1 (800) 633-1190Fax: 1 (888) 695-0235In business for over 30 years, the originalmanufacturer of the Metalflake granite-match finish. Die-cast aluminum vases. Trouble-free profit. No Canadian distributor, buy direct from manufacturer. Call Debra Altenburger for assistance.

Vaults & Grave Boxes

B.C. WILBERT VAULT(A division of Fraser Way Pre-Kast Ltd.)22765 Fraser Highway, Box 3294Langley, BC V3A 4R6Tel: (604) 534-2911 • Fax: (604) 533-3238

SUPERIOR VAULT CO. LIMITED‘Servicing Ontario for over 60 years’Box 42200, 128 Queen Street SouthMississauga, ON L5M 4Z0Tel: (905) 826-2870 or(905) 854-2688 (after hours)

MONUMENT RETAILERS

British Columbia

MORTIMER’S MONUMENTAL WORKS(in B.C. Since 1877)709 Kings Road., Victoria, B.C. V8T 1W4Tel: (250) 383-6421 • Fax: (250) 383-7770Toll-free: 1-800-788-0188www.mortimersmonuments.cominfo@mortimersmonuments.comContact Ken and Kerry MannWe service all of B.C. and the Yukon

Ontario

KINKAID AND LONEYMONUMENTS LTD.41 William Street EastSmith Falls, ON K7A 1C3Toll-free: 1 (800) 749-0807Contact: Chris LoneyComplete Monument Services Since 1947.Specialists in Cemetery Restoration. E-ZMasks Computer Graphics. Made-to-Orderfor Plastic, Bronze, Stone & Glass.Used Worldwide.

ST. JAMES CEMETERY/CREMATORIUM635 Parliment St.Toronto, ON M4X 1R1Tel: (416) 964-9194

WHOLESALE LETTERING & CARVING6215 Netherhart RoadMississauga, ON L5T 1G5Tel: (905) 564-5617 • Fax: (905) 564-8380

Please check your listing for

accuracy.

Should any changes be necessary, contact us at

[email protected]

NETWORK

works!Call (403) 264-3270

NETWORK PagE BI - 3

NETWORK works!Call (403) 264-3270

Quebec

GRANITE LACROIX INC.1735, Boul. des LaurentidesVimont, Laval, QC H7M 2P5Tel: (450) 669-7467Manufacturer of Monuments.www.granitelacroix.com


CEMETERIES/CREMATORIUMS

Saskatchewan

WARREN & SON LTD.MEMORY GARDENS CEMETERYBox 37, 126 - 2nd Ave. N.E.Swift Current, SK S9H 3V5Tel: (306) 773-8831Dick and Jim Warren, Owners

Please check your listing for

accuracy. Should any changes

be necessary, contact us at

[email protected]

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