14 August 2023 – NWORA Memorial Sod-Turning Ceremony – Before the Dig! From left to right: Conny Glenn (District Councillor – Sydenham, City of Kingston); Bryan Paterson (Mayor, City of Kingston); Gary Coulter (Chair, National Wall of Remembrance Association); Mark Gerretsen (Member of Parliament, Kingston and the Islands); and Ted Hsu (Member of Provincial Parliament, Kingston and the Islands).

After the event – dignitaries, some NWORA Board members and other project affiliated personnel. From left to right: Jenna Neilson (Student Architect); Jennifer Demitor (Project Architect); Cathy Sharpe (VP Operations, iMedia Northside Inc); Jonathan Clarke (Shareholder, iMedia Northside Inc); Conny Glenn (District Councillor – Sydenham, City of Kingston); Bryan Paterson (Mayor, City of Kingston); Gary Coulter (Chair, National Wall of Remembrance Association); Mark Gerretsen (Member of Parliament, Kingston and the Islands); Ted Hsu (Member of Provincial Parliament, Kingston and the Islands); Louis Cyr (NWORA Secretary/Treasurer); Bruce Ewing (NWORA Vice Chair); Debra St-Gelais (a NWORA Director); Don Kerstens (General Contractor for the Project build).

14 August 2023 – NWORA Sod-Turning Ceremony – We have broken ground!

The NWORA Executive prepare the Site board just prior to the Sod-Turning Ceremony. The board states: “Future site of the National Wall of Remembrance Association’s NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO CANADA’S FALLEN. Donations are welcome, please go to www.worassociation.ca for more details.” From Left to Right: Louis Cyr (NWORA Secretary/Treasurer); Bruce Ewing (NWORA Vice Chair); and Gary Coulter (NWORA Chair)

The NWORA Executive prepare the Site board just prior to the Sod-Turning Ceremony.
The board states: “Future site of the National Wall of Remembrance Association’s NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO CANADA’S FALLEN. Donations are welcome, please go to www.worassociation.ca for more details.”
From Left to Right: Louis Cyr (NWORA Secretary/Treasurer); Bruce Ewing (NWORA Vice Chair); and Gary Coulter (NWORA Chair)

Site and construction discussions take place near a rough mockup of the southern most Column that has been erected for the discussions.

After the meeting, NWORA Secretary/Treasurer Louis Cyr and NWORA General Contractor Don Kenstens start dismantling the mockup Column. The height of the granite column is evident in this photo.

Barr Construction began site excavation for the National Memorial to the Fallen on 23 June 2025 and construction will continue throughout the summer months.

Work has begun by the craftsmen of Mascon Restorations to build the first forms on the site of the future National Memorial to Canada’s Fallen and is progressing quickly.

With form work complete, the Mascon Restorations team started the month by pouring concrete into the forms at the site of Canada’s National Memorial to the Fallen. The concrete was left for 2-3 days, afterwhich the forms were removed and filled with gravel.

The month began with the Mascon team pouring concrete into the space surrounding the forms which will hold the National Memorial to the Fallen granite pillars.