Sunday, November 12, 2017

The World Remembers

This is the Government Conference Centre downtown. It started its life as the main train station in 1912, connected by tunnel to the Chateau Laurier across the street. The government has had possession of it for many years, using it for conferences. It's been under renovation work in recent years; as part of the work on Parliament Hill, the Senate will be meeting in here starting next year for a few years. The banners hanging on the front, however, have been there for a different reason, since September.

A screen has been mounted on the west side, over the Rideau Canal. Since 2014, Canada has been participating with thirteen other countries in a program, The World Remembers, to mark centennial years of the First World War in a different way- the projection of names of those who died in each year onto the screen. 

That includes nations from both sides, listed below, with the numbers of their dead for each given year. This year the names of the dead of 1917 are projected onto that screen.

This event has been going on in the evenings since late September, ending on the night of November 10th, just in time for Remembrance Day. I returned to capture the building at night one evening in October.

Names are projected onto the screen from a projector that has been set up on a staircase across the Canal. A Canadian name is among each set, with the names around his own followed by country abbreviations. This lasts about thirty seconds before the next set of names comes up, and goes on all through the night. I found it to be a solemn, dignified, and moving form of remembrance: men who fought on opposing sides, commemorated together. Brothers in arms.


  1. This does sound like a very moving tribute.

  2. It is good to remember and realize what freedom is.

  3. ...yes, 'The World to End All Wars.'

  4. That's an impressive tribute and remembrance.

  5. What a wonderful way to honor those lost serving their country.

  6. I don't think we have anything today as charming as a train station. They are such great spaces and need to be kept in use, even if it is a different use!


  7. Quite an edifice! Similar to other N. American train stations of the 20th Century

  8. @Kay: simple but effective.

    @Marianne: it is.

    @Tom: so they called it.

    @Jan: I found it quite effective.

    @Janey: it certainly is.

    @Janis: our current station looks quite different.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Jennifer: it isn't too far from home for me.

    @Cloudia: it's a great style.

  9. There are many more Remembrance events and they are varied which makes things more meaningful.

  10. Canada does a much better job than the US when it comes to honoring our fallen warriors.

  11. Oh my gosh that is an amazing tribute to soldiers lost in war William.. I love everything I hear about Canada!

  12. An amazing tribute, it is good to remember

    All the best Jan

  13. I heard R.H. Thompson talking about this on CBC radio. He is one of the people involved in organizing this, I believe.

  14. I like how the names are displayed on the screen.

  15. A wonderful tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

  16. @Red: that's true.

    @Maywyn: I certainly thought so.

    @Sharon: I thought this was quite a splendidly done tribute.

    @Grace: it's a wonderful idea. Given who started it, it's not a surprise.

    @Jan: it certainly is.

    @RedPat: when I read his column in yesterday's Globe, it didn't surprise me that he was behind this project.

    @Whisk: so did I.

    @Bill: it certainly is.

  17. i was just making up a blog post of my own about things we remember, thank goodness some one thinks we need memories of where we came from. so true. ( ;

  18. Events were held in both countries yesterday. Even my little city had a memorial program. Of course, we honored all who had served in church this morning. It was amazing how many of the congregation including women stood.

  19. What a lovely way to honor those who served and died, especially 100 years later.

  20. Now that's what I call a memorial! Superb creativity and sensitivity and with all sides represented, an empathic thrust so much needed in our world today.

  21. Marvelous photos and wonderful tribute to the dear Veterans ~ so brave ~ ^_^

    Happy Week to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

  22. Poignant! It was a terribly brutal war.

  23. @Beth: true.

    @Mari: in cities and towns across our country, one will find cenotaphs. Even in villages.

    @Annette: it certainly is.

    @Lowell: I agree.

    @Carol: thank you!

    @Linda: it was.

    @Klara: we must.