Memorial Park Cenotaph
Constructed in 1925.
A Ladies' Auxiliary to the Great War Veterans Association was started in 1919 to aid the club and to choose a memorial to war veterans.
The auxiliary held bazaars and other fund-raising affairs to raise money for this purpose. It was decided by them to have a clock as part of the memorial.
Location of the Memorial was a matter of much discussion for several years. In June 1923, a plebiscite was held, the majority favouring a site in the 400-block, Victoria.
On June 22, 1923, an ad was inserted in the Standard by the Auxiliary to the G.W.V. Association for tenders to erect the clock. The clock had already been purchased by them from Benson's of England at a cost of $1,063.00 in December of 1921. A bazaar was held by the Auxiliary that month at which $833.00 was raised. In January 1924, a request was made to the City for help for the memorial and the Mayor appointed the finance committee to act on this.
It was reported at the February 7, 1924, Council meeting that a meeting of representative bodies had met and decided City Council be asked to provide the balance of the money to complete the Memorial. A motion was passed that a by-law be introduced authorizing a loan to borrow the necessary amount.
Voting took place March 15, 1924, and By-Law 389 for $3,800.00 was approved.
Further discussion took place about location, and By-Law 402 was voted on with four choices:
N/E corner of Battle & 2nd
Stuart Wood School grounds, 3rd & St. Paul
Coronation Park (Riverside)
Victoria St. between 4th & 5th Av.
June 20, 1924, the choice favored for the Memorial was the N/E corner of Battle & 2nd. Tenders were called and Art Monument Company Ltd. of Vancouver was the successful bidder. Their quote of $5,000.00 was accepted on Sept. 11/24, which included the cost of fixing the mechanism and dials of the clock.
On December 5, 1924, Architect W. H. MacAulay was asked to prepare plans of Memorial Hill - to be laid out and beautified in the future.
The Memorial was duly finished and the unveiling took place on May 24, 1925.
From War Monuments in Canada