Located near the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, the National War Memorial, and Parliament Hill is the Valiants Memorial, which commemorates 14 individuals who made significant contributions to Canada’s military history in various wars over the last 400 years.
The Valiants Memorial
Officially unveiled in 2006 and dedicated by then-Governor-General Michaëlle Jean, the military tribute features nine life-sized busts and five statues of Canadian heroes, as well as an inscription on a bronze wall that contains a Latin phrase meaning: “No day will ever erase you from the memory of time.”
The memorial to Canada’s military men and women is maintained by the Valiants Foundation and honours five specific war eras crucial in Canada’s evolution: the French Regimes, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the First World War and the Second World War.
The honoured heroes reflect Canada’s multicultural heritage, featuring British, French and aboriginal individuals who that played significant roles in the country’s evolution. Among the valiants are Comte de Frontenac and General Sir Isaac Brock.
Bronze plaques are situated next to each hero, describing their contribution to the nation and the time period in which they lived.
The honoured heroes are aligned in a circular formation that presents them as though they are overlooking the capital of the nation that they helped create and protect.
Notably, Laura Secord is the lone woman represented, honoured for her contribution in the War of 1812, when she warned British soldiers about a pending American attack. Her alert contributed to the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams in the Niagara Peninsula, and the surrender of 500 invading American troops.
Benches at the corner of Confederation Square where Wellington and Elgin streets intersect next to the canal provide tourists and Ottawa residents alike with the opportunity to sit and appreciate the architecturally rich and historically significant area.