On November 1, dignitaries, City of Kingston representatives, and members of the National Wall of Remembrance Association (NWORA) gathered to unveil the new National Memorial to the Fallen in Macdonald Park, Kingston, Ont.

NWORA and the City of Kingston partnered to create the memorial, which honours more than 120,000 Canadian veterans who died in military conflicts. The former first approached the City in 2019 with a proposal for a unified memorial to Canada’s fallen heroes. Council approved the plan in 2022 after initial direction in 2019, followed by a sod-turning in 2023 and construction beginning in spring 2025. The unveiling completed a 15-year planning and fundraising effort led by NWORA.

Honouring their memory

“This memorial, situated in the historic city of Kingston, is a place where memories become personal. Families may reflect. Veterans may honour their comrades. Children may learn. Canadians may pay their respects,” said General Walt Natynczyk (retired), former Chief of Defence Staff and former Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, who served as guest of honour for the ceremony and is a patron of NWORA.

“As a city with deep military roots, Kingston is proud to be the home of this national memorial,” said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson. “It’s a place that honours the memory of every Canadian who has fallen in service, and reflects our enduring gratitude for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice.”

The memorial features four granite pillars engraved with imagery representing Canada’s military involvement from pre-First World War to today. The pillars align with the cardinal directions and form a compass shape from above, symbolizing the global reach of Canadian service and the locations of Canadians who died abroad.

The monument connects to a digital memorial at CanadianFallen.ca, which presents stories, biographies, and photographs of the Fallen, and outlines NWORA’s broader remembrance programs.