National War Memorial: Restoration and maintenance
The National War Memorial honours all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who served Canada in war in the cause of peace and freedom, past, present and future. Learn more about how Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) works to restore and maintain this important monument.
Project overview
- Location
-
Ottawa, Ontario
Locate the National War Memorial on a map - Type of project
-
Restoration
- Lead department
- Construction firm
- Project status
-
Completed in November 2016
Project description
In 2016, we awarded a contract to Atwill-Morin Group Inc. of Montréal, Quebec. The project was to restore and repair the National War Memorial and protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As the memorial is a national ceremonial and sacred burial site, the repair project was carried out with great care and sensitivity.
The contractor began work in the beginning of April 2016, and the restoration was completed on November 4, 2016.
The work included:
- demolishing, removing and replacing the existing concrete slab
- replacing and repairing damaged pavers
- introducing a waterproofing membrane and ensuring proper slab sloping to the pre-installed drains
- cleaning and repairing the cenotaph masonry
- cleaning all existing bronze figures and rewaxing them with a new protective coating
- preserving and protecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Photo gallery
View the photo gallery to see how we restored the monument. (Click the image to enlarge the photo)
Project background
In 2013, a contract was awarded to Prestige Design & Construction Ltd. to improve the structural integrity of the concrete slab that supports the memorial. The work was completed in July 2014.
History of the National War Memorial
During the restoration of the National War Memorial, Canadian Heritage installed an exhibit on the construction panels surrounding the memorial.
The is called National War Memorial: Symbol of Remembrance. It tells the story of the monument’s design and construction and explores its role as a place of remembrance for Canadians.
Maintaining the National War Memorial
We are the custodian of the National War Memorial and are committed to ensuring that it is preserved, protected and well maintained.
Each year, we are responsible for:
- installing a new protective layer of wax to protect the memorial from the elements (for example: snow, ice, cold, heat, wind and rain) and preserve it for future generations
- repairing stonework to preserve site integrity and maintain the safety of the site for the public
- clearing snow and ice so the site remains accessible to the public year-round