Nova Scotia

The mural is a representation of all services in war and peace.

The Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building supports residents diverse in life experiences, but united by their service to our country. During the First World War, the Military Hospital Commission in Canada built military hospitals across the country to provide medical and supportive care to returning soldiers.

Camp Hill Hospital opened its doors in the fall of 1917, and even though it was meant as a temporary hospital, it continued to provide support during the Second World War and Korean War and in the years that followed.

Only months after opening, on December 6, 1917, the city was devastated by the Halifax Explosion. Camp Hill played a role in response efforts. Originally built to care for 225 soldiers, within the first 24 hours following the explosion it cared for 1,400 of the most critically injured. Because of its location on the hill, it was not damaged. Soldiers gave up beds and medical staff worked without relief until people from away could help.

By 1928, Camp Hill’s care expanded to provide residential care to Veterans. A hundred years since it opened, there was a shift in the type of support needed from a rehabilitation focus right after the war to caring for an aging generation of Veterans.

Along with providing medical care, Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Hospital provides many social programs, recreation projects and outdoor space. The QEII’s Veterans Memorial Garden, came to fruition with commitment and fundraising efforts led by Shirley Robertson, a former resident’s wife, in collaboration with the QEII Foundation. The relaxing and safely gated atmosphere houses many social events and five commemorative celebrations each year. Twice a year, about 80 Canadian military soldiers come to clean and upkeep the Garden. The Veterans all watch from their windows and comment on how they are doing.

This memorial is dedicated to the Canadian Merchant Seamen and Canadian vessels lost by enemy action during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean Conflict. It was dedicated on November 11, 1993, sponsored by the Canadian Merchant Navy Association and assisted by the Armed Forces. On October 22, 1993, the Merchant Navy Memorial was mounted at Sackville Landing, Halifax. It was sponsored by the Canadian Merchant Navy Association with donations from Canadians.

The significance of the memorial is that it honours the memory of thousands of Canadians who volunteered their service and lives for their country in wartime, which occurred half a century ago. The Merchant Navy provided a vital role in the Allied success of World War II, by carrying troops, food, fuel, and war supplies overseas to the armed forces and civilian population. The black rectangle-shaped African granite monument on a gray granite base is nearly six feet long, four and a half feet high and weighs over 5,000 pounds. Both sides are engraved with various marine symbols. Conspicuous is the S.S. Point Pleasant Park, a 10,000-ton Parkship, built in Canada and torpedoed off the coast of West Africa in World War II. "Canada" is in large block letters. "Mother Earth" in upper right corner is depicted by a six inch terrestrial sphere, displaying North and South America, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Canadian Merchant Navy insignia, worn in wartime as a lapel pin, is in the upper left corner. Both official languages describe the memory of 2,200 known Canadian Merchant Seamen and 91 Canadian vessels lost by enemy action and those who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict. Two anchors at bottom corners depict a destroyed vessel at rest on the ocean floor. A rope border inside the perimeter represents the continuity of seamanship and the marine profession. Engraved in the rear is a similar rope and then names of 24 Canadian vessels lost in World War I and 67 vessels lost in World War II. A time capsule, a 3" x 12" insulated cylinder, containing various items is fitted inside a stainless steel vacuum sealed four inch pipe. Contents include Senate Report "It's Almost Too Late", letters from three levels of government, C.M.N.A. membership, a set of 1993 Canadian coins, M.N. Report, copy of "Red Duster" and front page of the Chronicle Herald, September 23, 1993. Captain E. Wagner designed the memorial. Professor Horst Deppe produced the drawings. Commander Tony and Jane Law were artistic consultants. Heritage Monuments, Windsor, Nova Scotia, manufactured the memorial.

Since November 11, 1993, the Merchant Navy Memorial remembers and honours all those men and women who served their country in World War II. The special significance is the memory of 2,200 known Canadian Merchant Seamen and 91 Canadian vessels lost by enemy action and those who served in the cause of freedom, commemorating wars of this century.

This ship is owned and operated by the Naval Memorial Trust and is berthed on Halifax's waterfront. HMCS Sackville is an iconic symbol of the Battle of the Atlantic and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives and of all those who served and continue to serve Canada at sea. 

In August 2011, Governor General David Johnston, patron of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, toured the ship and met with Veterans and other trustees.

This memorial is dedicated to the sailors who served in both war and peace. It was erected by the Atlantic Chief and Petty Officers' Association.

The Bonaventure Anchor Memorial, also known as the Canadian Peacetime Sailors’ Memorial, stands on the shore at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the principal naval base of the Royal Canadian Navy is located. The site previously served as the location of a searchlight battery that formed part of the their Second World War harbour defences.

The monument was dedicated in 1973 by Rear Admiral Robert Walter Timbrell, CMM, DSC, CD, then Commander of Maritime Command. It consists of an anchor and chain from HMCS Bonaventure, the Royal Canadian Navy’s last aircraft carrier, in commission from 1957 to 1970 (and commanded by Rear Admiral (then Captain) Timbrell between 1963 and 1965). The anchor is mounted on a concrete base with bronze plaques displaying the sailors’ names. This anchor is a stockless pattern, made by W.L. Byers and Co. Ltd. of Sunderland in North East England, serial number 6299W. It stands 12 feet tall and weighs approximately nine tons.

This anchor is a memorial to those who died while serving with the Canadian Navy during peacetime and the names on the panels are those who have no known grave in Canada. The chain from the anchor to the water signifies a connection to those lost or buried at sea or buried on foreign lands. Its dedication statement read: "To commemorate the personnel of the Armed Forces of Canada who lost their lives at sea in the performance of their duties and for whom there is no known grave”. At some unknown time the dedication was changed to read:  “Dedicated to the men and women who died while serving with the Canadian Navy during Peacetime.”

The monument contains 131 names, the earliest of whom died in 1948 and the most recent in 1994. Among them are the names of nine members of HMCS Kootenay who died during an explosion in the ship in 1969 during naval exercises 210 miles west of Plymouth England. The Bonaventure Anchor Memorial was in dire need of attention for many years. On May 1, 2017 a campaign for action was initiated by Allan “Dinger” Bell,  a 1969 HMCS Kootenay survivor, with the support of Veterans and military support organizations. All three levels of government and all three services (Navy, Army and Air Force) became engaged and worked to secure, repair and update the memorial. This work was completed in 2019 which included the addition of 46 names. A re-dedication of the Bonaventure Anchor Memorial was held at the HMCS Kootenay 50^th Commemoration ceremony on October 23, 2019.  

This memorial is dedicated to Francis J. Fitzgerald.

This memorial commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy. It was dedicated by HMCS Scotian on May 12, 1985.

This memorial is dedicated to those who served and those killed in the Korean War. It was erected by the Korea Veterans Association.

This memorial is dedicated to Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) SHANNON and its engagement with the USS CHESAPEAKE. It was erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.