Newfoundland & Labrador

Bert Riggs of the Gower remembers program profiles the men connected with the church who served in the great wars. 

On October 17, 1920, the Terra Nova Council of the Knights of Columbus laid the corner stone of its new Knights of Columbus Memorial School in St. John's. The school was established to promote Catholic education in Newfoundland and to remember the members of the Knights of Columbus who died in the war.  It was built as an extension to the already existing Academy of Our Lady of Mercy near the Catholic Cathedral. The building contained 12 large classrooms, a domestic science room, music and dressing rooms, a water fountain, and a large gymnasium/auditorium. The Sisters of Mercy assumed teaching responsibilities for the Knights of Columbus Memorial School. 

The original complex has had many additions over the years. The original 1857 chapel, called the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, was replaced by a new chapel in 1892. After the construction of the new chapel, called the Oratory of the Sacred Heart, the original structure was used as a community room. In 1913 renovations were made to the convent and an extension constructed to provide additional space for a kitchen, refectory and sleeping quarters. The chapel is a fine example of Renaissance Revival architecture, while the convent is a valuable example of the Second Empire style. On April 27, 1990, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador declared Our Lady of Mercy Convent and Chapel a Registered Heritage Structure.

Bannerman Park was dedicated St. John's "Peace Park" as part of Canada's 125th Birthday in 1992.

"Peace Parks Across Canada" was conceived and organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) in collaboration with "CANADA 125" and the National Capital Commission. As Canada celebrated its 125th Birthday, some 400 cities and towns across Canada dedicated a Park to Peace – with most parks dedicated at Noon local time, October 8th, as the National Peacekeeping Monument was being unveiled in Ottawa. The members of the winning design team included Cornelia H. Oberlander, landscape architect. Supporters included the Federation of Canadian Mayors and Municipalities, Canada Parks and Recreation Association, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Heritage Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Friends of the Earth, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, and local Rotary Clubs all across Canada. Project sponsors included VIA Rail, Greyhound Lines Canada, Ltd., CP Hotels and Resorts, Ramada International Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons Ltd., Meridien Hotels, Concept 3 Advertising and Programmed Communications, Ltd.

Peace Parks Across Canada" has served as the foundation in launching the "IIPT Global Peace Parks Program" on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 2000

At noon on October 9th, 2007 – one day after the precise 15th Anniversary of the original dedications, and as Canada continues to be a beacon of peace, Tolerance, and Understanding in a world of increasing violence and distrust, and a nation that celebrates diversity, a nation-wide re-dedication was co-ordinated.

Each of the original Peace Parks incorporated a ‘Bosco Sacro’ (Peace Grove) of 12 trees as a symbolic link with one another, and with nature - and as a symbol of hope for the future. The 12 trees were also symbolic of Canada’s 10 Provinces and two Territories. As there are now three Territories, a 13th tree was planted as part of the "Re-dedication Ceremony."

The Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden was planted in 2015 by Outer Cove, which partnered with Communities in Bloom. Volunteers planted an interlaced pattern of red and white tulip bulbs in the garden beds surrounding the Veterans Memorial Monument. The blooms offer a visual reminder of the link between the Netherlands and Canada.

Logy Bay–Middle Cove–Outer Cove was one of the 140 communities selected from the more than 400 applications received by the Canadian Garden Council. Each of the 140 new 70th Anniversary Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Gardens across the country will consist of 700 red and white tulip bulbs (350 of each colour) donated by Veseys in Prince Edward Island. Tulip bulbs generally bloom between the end of April and the beginning of June depending on the type of tulip and where it’s planted.

The memorial garden was dedicated as a living monument in recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the original Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden planted in Ottawa at the end of the Second World War in 1945. The memorial is in appreciation of the safe haven that members of Holland’s exiled royal family received during the Second World War, and in recognition of the role Canadian troops played in the liberation of the Netherlands.

In 2023, the garden was expanded to include forget-me-not flowers, the emblem flower of remembrance for Newfoundlanders who fought in the First World War, long before joining Canada. They were planted by local Grade 6 students in June as their legacy project before leaving for junior high school in St. John’s.

This memorial was erected by the Congregation of St. Mary`s Church, Lance Cove, Bell Island. It was unveiled in 1919. The Cenotaph is dedicated to residents of the community of Lance Cove, Bell Island who were killed in action during the World War I.

The Seaman’s Memorial was created in 1994 by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 18. It commemorates the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy sailors who lost their lives in the two U-boat attacks at Bell Island in 1942. SS Lord Strathcona, SS Saganaga, SS Rosecastle, and SS PLM 27 were all sunk.

A large poppy sits at the top of the archway entrance. The monuments in the garden are surrounded by a wall supporting a salvaged anchor chain that was recovered from PLM 27. The anchor chain was previously supported by wooden posts and before the wall and archway were constructed, there were six large stones at the entrance.

Built in 1986 in British Columbia, the CCGS George R. Pearkes is a light icebreaker/large buoy tender. It operated in the Pacific and Quebec Regions before being transferred to the Newfoundland and Labrador Region in 2004. The vessel is named after Mr. George R. Pearkes, who served in both world wars and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross. Mr. Pearkes reached the rank of Major-General, was appointed Minister of National Defense, and later became Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

This 7.2-inch Howitzer is similar to ones used by the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, during the Second World War.

The Sergeant Thomas Ricketts V.C. Memorial was erected on June 10, 1972. It was taken down in 2008 to be refurbished and not re-installed until 2021. The memorial is located at the corner where he ran a drugstore after the war. It opened in 1934 and Ricketts was known to many as the primary health-care provider for the west end of St. John's.

Thomas Ricketts enlisted in the First World War in September 1916 when he was only 15 years old. In October 1918, he was one of the few Newfoundlanders to be awarded the Victoria Cross. He was still not old enough to be on the front. 

Private Ricketts' family donated his Victoria Cross to the Canadian War Museum in 2003. Ricketts, who died in 1967 at the age of 65, was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre during the First World War.

The Cenotaph, located by the Anglican Cathedral, was erected by the city of St. John's in memory of those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean Conflict.