Construction has officially begun on a permanent, national memorial to pay tribute to Canada’s fallen firefighters, thanks to a program by the Government of Canada.
The announcement was made last week by MP Pierre Poilievre, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages James Moore, as part of an official sod-turning ceremony alongside the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“No job is more important than protecting the lives of Canadians and their families,” said Moore. “This memorial will be a permanent reminder of the sacrifices firefighters across Canada make to keep us safe.”
The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation is building the monument in the Lebreton Flats area of the National Capital Region, near the Canadian War Museum. The monument, the only official memorial to Canada’s firefighters, will be located at the exact location where the Great Fire of 1900 was finally brought under control after destroying 1,400 buildings and killing seven people in Ottawa, and destroying 1300 buildings in Gatineau.
The government announced funding of $2,529,800 for the construction of the monument in 2009. That funding is being provided through the Commemorate Canada component of the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program.
