Canada’s Books of Remembrance hold the collective memory of a nation. In them, the names of the more than 120,000 Canadians who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving Canada in uniform are remembered with beautiful penmanship. Richard Draffin, the calligrapher who updates and makes additions to these priceless objects for Veterans Affairs Canada, uses only traditional methods of lettering. Every brush stroke and every letter is done by hand. It is a painstaking process that gives him a sense of connection to the past.

Canada’s Books of Remembrance hold the collective memory of a nation. In them, the names of the more than 120,000 Canadians who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving Canada in uniform are remembered with beautiful penmanship. Richard Draffin, the calligrapher who updates and makes additions to these priceless objects for Veterans Affairs Canada, uses only traditional methods of lettering. Every brush stroke and every letter is done by hand. It is a painstaking process that gives him a sense of connection to the past.

Richard Draffin is a 28-year Veteran of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. Upon retiring from the forces, he returned to his roots in fine arts. He is now the Calligrapher that maintains and updates Canada’s Books of Remembrance for Veterans Affairs Canada.

Of the eight Books of Remembrance, the first seven commemorate the more than 118,000 Canadians who, since Confederation, lost their lives while serving Canada in uniform. The eighth book, the War of 1812 Book of Remembrance, was commissioned to mark the 200^th anniversary of the peace treaty that ended the conflict.

Richard uses traditional methods of lettering on vellum paper (i.e. animal skin). He also uses 23 or 24 karat gold, done in the same thousand year-old method as those who came before him. These methods ensure the books will be preserved for thousands of years.

“When the books are open in a thousand years, the lettering, the gold, the colors will be as nice, clean, crisp as they were when they were actually laid down and that I think does honour to it.”

Richard updates and maintains the Books of Remembrance on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada. This mostly entails making corrections and additions. For instance, sometimes the wrong name, rank, or regiment was originally entered, thus requiring a correction. In the case of additions, well, the story is much more somber. During the War in Afghanistan, Richard was sometimes adding names every week of those who suffered fatal casualties.

Calligraphy is exceptionally meticulous work. It requires a great deal of care and technique. Richard remembers the time it took to write the War of 1812 Book of Remembrance (nearly 11 months to write the 1,600 names).

Richard has a personal connection to the books. His grandfather’s name appears in the First World War Book of Remembrance. Also, as a Veteran himself, some of his friends’ names appear in the pages of the seventh book. When you listen to Richard describe these priceless objects with awe and reverence, you get a true sense of the pride he takes in his work.

“I am constantly in awe of the calligraphers that came before me and the responsibility that lies with me in maintaining these books”

The eight Books of Remembrance are temporarily on display in the Room of Remembrance in the Visitor Welcome Centre of Parliament Hill’s West Block. The Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower, where the Books of Remembrance used to lie, will remain closed throughout the decade long renovations of the Centre Block. The names inscribed in these Books of Remembrance can also be found in the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.

Date published: 2020-05-18

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