Video - Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument (youth version) – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
Transcript of Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument (youth version) – Decoding ART - Heritage Monuments
[Canadian Heritage signature]
Narrator: "This capsule is presented by Canadian Heritage."
[Three peacekeepers—a woman and two men—standing on a wall]
Narrator: "The monument is called Reconciliation, though many people call it the Peacekeeping monument. Reconciliation means that the warring sides have settled their differences peacefully and are ready to get along again."
"Canadian soldiers are really good at peacekeeping and have stepped in to promote peace and security in war zones around the world."
"Lester B. Pearson who was once the Prime Minister of Canada encouraged other countries to support the idea of peacekeeping and he won a Nobel Peace Prize for it!"
"The monument uses symbols to tell a story. The three people standing on the wall are peacekeepers. See what they're doing? Two are looking into the distance—they're watching to see what the soldiers on each side are doing."
"The third one is radioing headquarters to update the situation and make sure that people are safe and sound."
"Below the walls, there's a bunch of broken-up concrete. This represents the destruction caused by wars. The walls rise and form a point to symbolize pointing toward the future, when the war is over and there's peace again."
"See those trees over to one side? Oak trees are a symbol of peace, and you can see twelve in a circle."
"When the monument was made in 1992, there were twelve provinces and territories. And the monument itself is sitting in one of the most prominent places in Canada—in the capital, Ottawa, close to Parliament Hill and next to the National Gallery of Canada."
[Canada Wordmark]