Beechwood Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Beechwood Cemetery is the National Cemetery of Canada. Because it is located in Ottawa
, Ontario
, the nation's capital, it is the burial site for a number of statesmen as well as a large number of mayors of the city. A woodland cemetery founded in 1873, it is 160 acres (647,000 m²) and is the largest cemetery in the city of Ottawa. It was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2001. The cemetery also serves as the National Military Cemetery and the RCMP
National Memorial Cemetery.
.
Erected by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery in the 1870s, a sculptured sandstone cairn is dedicated to the memory of their former commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Turner. Erected in the 1870s by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery, a sculptured sandstone statue on shaft is dedicated to the memory of a former commander, Captain James Forsyth.
The cemetery inspired a classic Canadian poem "In Beechwood Cemetery" by Archibald Lampman
with its memorable final line, "They know no season but the end of time."
Noted for the Neo-Gothic architecture of its mausoleum, the chapel at Beechwood Cemetery is used by families for private ceremonies.
On March 5, 2009 Environment Minister
Jim Prentice
introduced legislation to designate Beechwood as the National Cemetery of Canada due to "its location here in our national capital, Beechwood serves as a focal point for our national memorial events, including Remembrance Day, and it is an appropriate place to conduct state burials". This was done in an effort to "serve as an important symbol of Canadian unity and pride and a means of preserving and promoting Canada's rich history and our diversity." The bill was passed on March 6. The bill received Royal Assent
on April 23, 2009.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the nation's capital, it is the burial site for a number of statesmen as well as a large number of mayors of the city. A woodland cemetery founded in 1873, it is 160 acres (647,000 m²) and is the largest cemetery in the city of Ottawa. It was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 2001. The cemetery also serves as the National Military Cemetery and the RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
National Memorial Cemetery.
History
Since the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, soldiers who were killed in the line of duty and veterans of war have been buried in Beechwood Cemetery. The cemetery contains two military sections owned and managed by the federal Department of National Defence including the recent addition of the National Military Cemetery and monument that was dedicated in 2001. There is another older section for veterans managed by the Commonwealth War Graves CommissionCommonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
.
Erected by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery in the 1870s, a sculptured sandstone cairn is dedicated to the memory of their former commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Turner. Erected in the 1870s by members of the 2nd Ottawa Field Battery, a sculptured sandstone statue on shaft is dedicated to the memory of a former commander, Captain James Forsyth.
The cemetery inspired a classic Canadian poem "In Beechwood Cemetery" by Archibald Lampman
Archibald Lampman
Archibald Lampman, was a Canadian poet. "He has been described as 'the Canadian Keats;' and he is perhaps the most outstanding exponent of the Canadian school of nature poets." The Canadian Encyclopedia says that he is "generally considered the finest of Canada's late 19th-century poets in...
with its memorable final line, "They know no season but the end of time."
Noted for the Neo-Gothic architecture of its mausoleum, the chapel at Beechwood Cemetery is used by families for private ceremonies.
On March 5, 2009 Environment Minister
Minister of the Environment (Canada)
The Minister of the Environment is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's environment department, Environment Canada...
Jim Prentice
Jim Prentice
James "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
introduced legislation to designate Beechwood as the National Cemetery of Canada due to "its location here in our national capital, Beechwood serves as a focal point for our national memorial events, including Remembrance Day, and it is an appropriate place to conduct state burials". This was done in an effort to "serve as an important symbol of Canadian unity and pride and a means of preserving and promoting Canada's rich history and our diversity." The bill was passed on March 6. The bill received Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on April 23, 2009.
Interments
- Thomas McKayThomas McKayThomas McKay was a Canadian businessman who was one of the founders of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. He was born in Perth, Scotland and became a skilled stonemason...
(1792–1855), businessman, a founder of the city of Ottawa - Sir William Johnstone RitchieWilliam Johnstone RitchieSir William Johnstone Ritchie was one of the first judges appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and became the second Chief Justice of the court....
(1813–1892), second Chief Justice of Canada - Henry Wentworth MonkHenry Wentworth MonkHenry Wentworth Monk was a Canadian Christian Zionist, mystic, Messianist, and millenarian. Some have credited him with predicting the formation of the United Nations and both World Wars, although these claims are of questionable scholarly merit...
(1827–1896), Canadian Christian Zionist - Thomas FullerThomas Fuller (architect)Thomas Fuller was a Canadian architect.He was born in Bath, Somerset , where he trained as an architect. Living in Bath and London he did a number of projects. In 1845 he left for Antigua, where he spent two years working on a new cathedral before emigrating to Canada in 1857...
(1823–1898), architect, designer of the Parliament Buildings of Canada - Archibald LampmanArchibald LampmanArchibald Lampman, was a Canadian poet. "He has been described as 'the Canadian Keats;' and he is perhaps the most outstanding exponent of the Canadian school of nature poets." The Canadian Encyclopedia says that he is "generally considered the finest of Canada's late 19th-century poets in...
(1861–1899), poet - Sir John George BourinotJohn George Bourinot (younger)Sir John George Bourinot, KCMG was a Canadian journalist, historian, and civil servant, widely regarded and remembered as an expert of parliamentary procedure and constitutional law....
(1837–1902), historian, political scientist, newspaper publisher - Andrew George BlairAndrew George BlairAndrew George Blair, PC, KC was a Canadian politician in New Brunswick, Canada.He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1878 after unsuccessful attempts in the previous two elections. Though Blair was a supporter of Sir John A...
(1844–1907), statesman, Premier of New Brunswick - Hod StuartHod StuartWilliam Hodgson "Hod" Stuart was a Canadian professional ice hockey cover-point who played nine seasons for several teams in different leagues. He also played briefly for the Ottawa Rough Riders football team...
(1879–1907), ice hockey player, member of Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup... - Sir Sandford FlemingSandford FlemingSir Sandford Fleming, was a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and inventor, proposed worldwide standard time zones, designed Canada's first postage stamp, a huge body of surveying and map making, engineering much of the Intercolonial Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, and was a founding...
(1827–1915), engineer, inventor - Wilfred Campbell (1858–1918), poet
- Sir Cecil Spring-RiceCecil Spring-RiceSir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice GCMG GCVO , was a British diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the United States from 1912 to 1918.-Early life:...
(1859–1918), British Ambassador to the United States - John MacounJohn MacounJohn Macoun was an Irish-born Canadian naturalist.- Early life :Macoun was born in Magheralin, County Down, Ireland in 1831, the third child of James Macoun and Anne Jane Nevin. In 1850 the worsening economic situation in Ireland led his family to emigrate to Canada, where he settled in Seymour...
(1831–1920), noted naturalist - Arthur L. Sifton (1858–1921), statesman, Premier of Alberta
- John Rudolphus BoothJohn Rudolphus BoothJohn Rudolphus Booth was a Canadian lumber and railway baron. He controlled logging rights for large tracts of forest land in central Ontario, and built a railway to extract his logs; and from Ottawa through to Vermont to export lumber and grain to the United States and...
(1827–1925), lumber tycoon - James Creighton or J.G.A. Creighton (1850–1930), 'father' of organized ice hockey, law clerk of the Senate
- Frank Maurice Stinson JenkinsFrank Maurice Stinson JenkinsFrank Maurice Stinson Jenkins was an early amateur ice hockey player. He was a founder, and the first captain of the Ottawa Hockey Club of 1883...
(1859–1930), founder, and the first captain of the Ottawa Hockey Club, orchestra conductor - James Wilson Robertson (1857–1930), businessman, educator
- Charles H. MackintoshCharles H. MackintoshCharles Herbert Mackintosh was a journalist, mayor of Ottawa from 1879–1881, represented Ottawa City as a Liberal-Conservative in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1887, and from 1890 to 1893, and served as Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories from 1893 to 1898.-Parentage and...
(1843–1931), Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories, 1893–1898, Member of Parliament, 13th Mayor of Ottawa, (1879–1881), owner/editor of the Ottawa Citizen (1874–1892) - Sir George Eulas FosterGeorge Eulas FosterSir George Eulas Foster, PC, PC, GCMG was a Canadian politician and academic. He coined the phrase "splendid isolation" to describe British foreign policy in the late 19th century....
(1847–1931), politician - Marion Osborne (1871–1931), author, poet, dramatist
- Sir Robert BordenRobert BordenSir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
(1854–1937), 8th Prime Minister of Canada - Eddie GerardEddie GerardEdward George Gerard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada he played professionally for 10 seasons for the hometown Ottawa Senators and was member of several Stanley Cup-winning teams before retiring as a player in 1923...
(1890–1937), Hall of Fame ice hockey player - Harvey PulfordHarvey PulfordErnest Harvey Pulford was a Canadian all-around athlete at the turn of the 20th century, winning national championships in ice hockey, lacrosse, football, boxing, paddling and rowing. He won four Stanley Cups with the Ottawa Hockey Club and championships or tournaments in every sport in which he...
(1875–1940), Hall of Fame ice hockey player - Charles StewartCharles Stewart (Canadian politician)Charles Stewart, PC was a Canadian politician who served as the third Premier of Alberta from 1917 until 1921. Born in Strabane, Ontario, in Wentworth County, Stewart was a farmer who moved west to Alberta after his farm was destroyed by a storm...
(1868–1946), politician, Premier of Alberta - Duncan Campbell ScottDuncan Campbell ScottDuncan Campbell Scott was a Canadian poet and prose writer. With Charles G.D. Roberts, Bliss Carman, and Archibald Lampman, he is classed as one of Canada's Confederation Poets....
(1862–1947), poet - Sir Percy A. Taverner (1875–1947), ornithologist
- Henry Crerar (1888–1965), Canadian Army General and diplomat
- Andrew McNaughtonAndrew McNaughtonGeneral Andrew George Latta McNaughton, CH, CB, CMG, DSO, CD, PC was a Canadian army officer, politician and diplomat.- Early life :...
(1887–1966), Commander-in-Chief Canadian 1st Army in WW II, statesman - Charles FoulkesCharles Foulkes (Canadian)Charles Foulkes, was a Canadian soldier, and an officer of The Royal Canadian Regiment.-Military career:Foulkes was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England and joined the Canadian Army in 1926...
(1903–1969), Canadian Army General - Harry L. 'Punch' BroadbentPunch BroadbentHarold Lawton "Punch" Broadbent was an ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons and the New York Americans, and generally regarded as one of the first true power forwards in National Hockey League history.-Personal life:Born in Ottawa, Ontario...
(1892–1971), Hall of Fame ice hockey player - Clint BenedictClint BenedictClinton Stevenson "Praying Bennie" Benedict was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Maroons. He played on four Stanley Cup-winning squads. He was the first goaltender in the National Hockey League to wear a face mask...
(1894–1976), Hall of Fame ice hockey player - Johnny FauquierJohn Emilius FauquierJohn Emilius “Johnny” Fauquier DSO & Two Bars, DFC was a Canadian aviator and Second World War Bomber Command leader. He commanded No. 405 Squadron RCAF and later No. 617 Squadron RAF over the course of the war. A bush pilot, prior to the war, he joined the RCAF as a flight instructor in 1939. He...
(1909–1981), Hall of Fame aviator, WWII hero, DFC, DSO - Tommy DouglasTommy DouglasThomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
(1904–1986), politician, voted "The Greatest Canadian" - Ray Hnatyshyn (1934–2002), statesman, Governor General of CanadaGovernor General of CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
- Nichola GoddardNichola GoddardCaptain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, MSM was the first female Canadian combat soldier killed in combat, and the 16th Canadian soldier killed in Canadian operations in Afghanistan.-Profile:...
, MSMMeritorious Service Medal (Canada)The Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...
(1980–2006), CAPT, Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryRoyal Canadian Horse ArtilleryThe Royal Canadian Horse Artillery is the name given to the regular field artillery units of the Canadian Army. RCHA units are the senior units of the Canadian land field force, with a history dating back to the birth of Canada as a nation...
. First Canadian female soldier killed in action - Rev. John Sandford Fleming MacLean (1926–2006), clerk-in-holy-orders, naturalist
- John Duncan MacLeanJohn Duncan MacLeanJohn Duncan MacLean was a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th Premier of British Columbia, Canada....
(1873–1948), a teacher, physician, politician and the 20th Premier of British Columbia, Canada.