The eight Books of Remembrance traditionally lie in the Memorial Chamber within the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Together, these books commemorate the more than 120,000 Canadians who gave their life while serving in uniform.
The “Turning of the Page” Ceremony
An officer turning the page of one of the Books of Remembrance. (Photo: Veterans Affairs Canada).
Every morning at eleven o'clock, an officer of the House of Commons Parliamentary Protective Service performs the Turning of the Page Ceremony.
During the ceremony the uniformed guard proceeds to the First World War Book of Remembranceand and turns the page. This process is repeated for each of the other seven Books of Remembrance and is performed in a counterclockwise direction. The guard then marches back to the entrance of the room, bows and salutes one final time.
Do you want to visit on a day when you can view a specific page?
Check the calendar to find the display schedule for each page of each book. If a family member’s name appears in the Books of Remembrance and you wish to attend that day's page-turning ceremony, you can email the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Peace Tower
On 1 July 1917, Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden dedicated a site in the Centre Block of the Houses of Parliament, calling the new structure:
"a memorial to the debt of our forefathers and to the valour of those Canadians who, in the Great War, fought for the liberties of Canada, of the Empire, and of humanity."
Two years later, on 1 September 1919, the Prince of Wales laid the corner stone of "The Tower of Victory and Peace" (known today as the Peace Tower). The tower was completed, nearly eight years later and inaugurated on 1 July 1927.
The Memorial Chamber
The Memorial Chamber is a solemn room on the second level of the Peace Tower. Built of marble, the room, which houses the now eight Books of Remembrance, is dedicated to the Canadians who died in conflicts around the world.
The stone used to build the Memorial Chamber was gifted to Canada by Belgium, France, and England.
The original plan was to engrave the names of Canadians who died during the First World War on the walls of the Memorial Chamber. As the lists of those lost were received, it became clear there would not be enough space on the walls for all of the names. The idea of a Books of Remembrance was developed as an alternative.
In February 2019, the Memorial Chamber was closed for the decade-long Centre Block renovation project, and the eight Books of Remembrance were moved into the Room of Remembrance. This room serves as a quiet, solemn space, where individuals can continue to view the books.
Related information
Learn more about the history of the Books of Remembrance.