Royal Canadian Navy Monument
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Royal Canadian Navy Monument

Photo credit: National Defence

Naval Signature

Photo credit: National Defence

Navy wake and mast

Photo credit: National Defence

plaque

Photo credit: National Defence

mast

Photo credit: National Defence

surroundings

Photo credit: Richard Turcotte

Municipality/Province: Ottawa, ON

Memorial number: 35059-182

Type: Monument

Address: Ottawa River Pathway off of Commissioner Street

Location: Richmond Landing

GPS coordinates: Lat: 45.4213937 Long: -75.7099112

Submitted by: Richard Turcotte. National Defence.

The Royal Canadian Navy Monument commemorates the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women in naval uniform who have served and continue to serve Canada at sea in times of peace and war. Built for the Navy’s Centennial in 2010, it is located at Richmond Landing, a quiet enclave in the heart of Ottawa, surrounded on three sides by water where it juts into the Ottawa River just below the Library and Archives Canada building and not far from the Canadian War Museum.

Rather than a single focal object, the site itself is a key part of the monument. It is a tranquil sloped lawn that provides for a moment of reflective pause while also offering a visceral feeling of flow and movement, like a ship at sea, and contained within the setting of the river and the sky. The monument reflects many facets of the Canadian Navy in its use of the naval colours of black, white and gold.

In addition to the symbolism of the site itself, the monument includes two main components:

The Naval Signature: a curved white marble structure that celebrates the navy’s past and future. Its dramatic vertical form suggests many naval associations, from sails to naval attire and even modern stealth ship design. Set into an inclined granite base, it symbolizes the sense of movement inherent in the naval experience. Cut into this inclined granite base are two bronze strips aligned with the North/South and East/West cardinal axes, referencing navigation and Canada’s tri-coastal naval reality. A curved level deck on the east side of the sloped granite plinth provides repose and a comfortable opportunity to read the Naval Battle Honours inscribed in the surface of the marble, as well as a view of the fast-moving Ottawa River. Set into the deck is a fouled anchor, a powerful naval symbol, made of black granite.

The Navy Wake: Added to the monument in 2017, this long and low curved wall is inscribed with the names of all Her/His Majesty’s Canadian Ships and naval establishments since the navy’s founding in 1910. Its curvilinear form makes visual reference to many naval shapes including ships, sails, and waves.

And several other elements:

Mast: contrasting the solidity of stone Naval Signature, the delicate steel navy mast provides a second spatial counterpoint within the monument space. A recognized symbol on all ships and naval establishments, the mast and its flags link past, present, and future.

Gold spheres: mounted on both the Naval Signature and the mast, these orbs speak of sun, moon, and the global reach of the navy, and to the critical dimension of communications and navigation. The slight offset of the gilded orb on the white marble Signature contributes to the unsettled sense of horizontality.

Entry threshold / Heart of Oak: a shallow grass berm, surrounded with symbolic oak trees. Oak is a historic shipbuilding material, immortalized in the traditional navy song Heart of Oak.

Pier on the Ottawa River: a naval reference that makes the monument site symbolically accessible by water, though the pier could also be used for practical ceremonial purposes, for example to land dignitaries on the site from a vessel.

Al McWilliams, a Canadian artist from Vancouver, British Columbia, worked with the architects Joost Bakker and Bruce Haden to create the design of the monument. "During our initial visit to the Richmond Landing site, the three of us were unanimous in thinking that the site, as a land form, needed very little, but subtle, manipulation. The shape of this peninsula, while much like the prow of a ship, also echoed the shape of Canada, a tri-coastal nation surrounded on three sides by water."

Inscription found on memorial

[Naval Signature/signature navale]

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

MONUMENT

“… mark my words, whoever may take over

the reins of power will have to have a

navy, as every nation with a seashore must have

and has had in the past.”

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, November 10, 1910.

This monument was created as an enduring legacy

to the Royal Canadian Navy, in honour of its centennial

celebrated in 2010.

Since its establishment, the Navy has been instrumental

in protecting and preserving Canada’s sovereignty,

not only by safeguarding our maritime approaches,

but also by representing our interests in international waters.

The contributions and sacrifices of the men and women

in naval uniform who have served and continue to serve

Canada at sea in times of peace and war will not be forgotten.

Unveiled by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, PC, MP,

Prime Minister of Canada, on May 3, 2012.

Artist: Al McWilliams

Architects: Joost Bakker and Bruce Haden

MONUMENT DE LA MARINE

ROYALE CANADIENNE

« … croyez-moi, quiconque prendra

les rênes du pouvoir devra disposer d’une

marine, puisque chaque pays qui possède

des rives a disposé d’une marine par le passé

et devra en disposer à l’avenir. » [Traduction]

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, le 10 novembre 1910.

Ce monument a été érigé pour commémorer le centenaire

de la Marine royale canadienne en 2010.

Depuis sa création, la Marine joue un rôle déterminant dans

la protection de la souveraineté du Canada, non seulement

en protégeant ses abords maritimes, mais en représentant

ses intérêts dans les eaux internationales. La contribution

et les sacrifices des hommes et des femmes qui ont servi

et servent toujours le Canada en uniforme de la Marine, et ce,

en temps de guerre comme en temps de paix, ne tomberont

pas dans l’oubli.

Inauguré par le très honorable Stephen Harper, CP, député,

premier ministre du Canada, le 3 mai 2012.

Artiste : Al McWilliams

Architectes : Joost Bakker et Bruce Haden

(east side)

ATLANTIC

1939 – 45

ATLANTIQUE NORTH SEA

1940 – 45

MER DU NORD GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE

1942 – 44

GOLFE DU ST-LAURENT ALEUTIANS

1942 – 43

ALÉOUTIENNES NORTH AFRICA

1942 – 43

AFRIQUE DU NORD

ENGLISH CHANNEL

1942 – 45

MANCHE BISCAY

1943 – 44

GOLFE DE GASCOGNE MEDITERRANEAN

1943

MÉDITERRANÉE ARCTIC

1943 – 45

ARCTIQUE NORWAY

1944 – 45

NORVÈGE AEGEAN

1944

MER ÉGÉE

NORMANDY

1944

NORMANDIE SOUTH FRANCE

1944

SUD DE LA FRANCE OKINAWA

1945

OKINAWA KOREA

1950 – 53

CORÉE GULF AND KUWAIT

GOLFE ET KOWEIT

(west side)

READY AYE READY

PRÊT OUI PRÊT

[Navy Wake/sillage de la Marine]

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

Ships and Establishments

1910 – 2010

Names are listed alphabetically

Figures in brackets indicate the number of times a name has been used.

________________________________

MARINE ROYALE CANADIENNE

Navires et établissements

1910 – 2010

Les noms sont en ordre alphabétique.

Les chiffres entre parenthèses indiquent le nombre de fois qu’un nom a été utilisé.

(column 1/colonne 1)

ACADIA

ADVERSUS

AGASSIZ

AKLAVIK

ALACHASSE

ALBERNI

ALBRO LAKE

ALDERGROVE

HMS ALGERINE

ALGOMA

ALGONQUIN (2)

AMBLER

(column 2/colonne 2)

AMHERST

ANDRÉE DUPRÉ

ANNAN

ANNAPOLIS (2)

ANTICOSTI

ANTIGONISH

ARLEUX

ARMENTIÈRES

ARNPRIOR

ARRAS

ARROWHEAD

ARVIDA

(column 3/colonne 3)

ASBESTOS

ASSINIBOINE (2)

ATHABASKAN (3)

ATHOLL

AURORA

AVALON

BADDECK

BARRIE

BATTLEFORD

BAYFIELD

BEACON HILL

BEAUHARNOIS

(column 4/colonne 4)

BEAVER (2)

BELLECHASSE

BELLEVILLE

BERMUDA

BITTERSWEET

BLAIRMORE

BLUE HERON

BONAVENTURE

BORDER CITIES

BOWMANVILLE

BRANDON (2)

BRANTFORD

(column 5/colonne 5)

BRAS D'OR (2)

BROCKVILLE

BRUNSWICKER

BUCKINGHAM

BUCTOUCHE

BURLINGTON

BURRARD

BYTOWN

CABOT

CALGARY (2)

CAMROSE

CANADA

(column 6/colonne 6)

CANSO

CAP DE LA MADELEINE

CAPE BRETON (2)

CAPE SCOTT

CAPILANO

CAPTOR

CARAQUET

CARIBOU (3)

CARLETON

CARLPLACE

CARTIER (2)

CATARAQUI

(column 7/colonne 7)

CAYUGA

CC 1

CC 2

CD 1 - CD 100

CEDARWOOD

CH 14

CH 15

CHALEUR (3)

CHAMBLY

CHAMPLAIN (2)

CHARLOTTETOWN (3)

CHARNY

(column 8/colonne 8)

CHATHAM (2)

CHAUDIÈRE (2)

CHEBOGUE

CHEDABUCTO

CHICOUTIMI (2)

CHIGNECTO (3)

CHILLIWACK

CHIPPAWA

CHURCHILL

CLAYOQUOT

COATICOOK

COBALT

(column 9/colonne 9)

COBOURG

COLLINGWOOD

COLUMBIA (2)

COMOX (2)

CONESTOGA

COPPER CLIFF

COQUITLAM

CORDOVA

CORMORANT (2)

CORNER BROOK

CORNWALLIS

COUGAR (3)

(column 10/colonne 10)

COURTENAY

COVERDALE

COWICHAN (3)

CRANBROOK

CRESCENT

CRUSADER

DAERWOOD

DAUPHIN

DAWSON

D'IBERVILLE (2)

DIGBY

DISCOVERY

(column 11/colonne 11)

DOMINION

DONNACONA

DRUMHELLER

DRUMMONDVILLE

DUNDALK

DUNDAS

DUNDURN

DUNVEGAN

DUNVER

EARL GREY

EASTORE

EASTVIEW

(column 12/colonne 12)

EDMONTON

EDMUNDSTON

ELK (2)

ESQUIMALT

ETTRICK

EYEBRIGHT

FENNEL

FERGUS

FESTUBERT

FLEUR DE LIS

FLORENCE

FOREST HILL

(column 13/colonne 13)

FORT ERIE

FORT FRANCES

FORT RAMSAY

FORT STEELE

FORT WILLIAM

FORTUNE

FRASER (2)

FREDERICTON (2)

FRENCH

FROBISHER BAY

FRONTENAC

FUNDY (3)

(column 14/colonne 14)

GALIANO

GALT

GANANOQUE

GANDER

GASPÉ (2)

GATINEAU (2)

GEORGIAN

GIFFARD

GIVENCHY

GLACE BAY (2)

GLOUCESTER

GODERICH

(column 15/colonne 15)

GOOSE BAY

GRANBY

GRANDMÈRE

GRIFFON

GRILSE (2)

GRIZZLY (2)

GROU

GUELPH (2)

GUYSBOROUGH

HAIDA

HALIFAX (2)

HALIGONIAN

(column 16/colonne 16)

HALLOWELL

HAMILTON

HAWKESBURY

HEPATICA

HESPELER

HOCHELAGA (2)

HUMBERSTONE

HUNTER

HUNTSVILLE

HURON (2)

HUSKY

INCH ARRAN

(column 17/colonne 17)

INGONISH

INUVIK

IROQUOIS (2)

JALOBERT

JAMES BAY

JOLIETTE

JOLLIET

JONQUIÈRE

KALAMALKA

KAMLOOPS

KAMSACK

KAPUSKASING

(column 18/colonne 18)

KELOWNA

KÉNOGAMI

KENORA

KENTVILLE

KINCARDINE

KINGS

KINGSTON

KIRKLAND LAKE

KITCHENER

KOKANEE

KOOTENAY (2)

LA HULLOISE

(column 19/colonne 19)

LA MALBAIE

LABRADOR

LACHINE

LACHUTE

LADY EVELYN

LANARK

LANSDOWNE

LASALLE

LAURENTIAN

LAURIER

LAUZON

LAVALLÉE

(column 20/colonne 20)

LAYMORE

LCI(L) (30)

LEASIDE

LETHBRIDGE

LÉVIS (2)

LIL II

LINDSAY

LLEWELLYN

LLOYD GEORGE

LOCH ACHANALT

LOCH ALVIE

LOCH MORLICH

(column 21/colonne 21)

LOCKEPORT

LONG BRANCH

LONGUEUIL

LOON

LOOS

LOUISBURG (2)

LUNENBURG

LYNX

MACDONALD

MACKENZIE

MACSIN

MAGNIFICENT

(column 22/colonne 22)

MAGOG

MAHONE

MALAHAT

MALASPINA

MALLARD

MALPEQUE

MARGAREE (2)

MARGARET

MARVITA

MASSET

MASTODON

MATANE

(column 23/colonne 23)

MATAPEDIA

MATSQUI

MAYFLOWER

MEDICINE HAT

MELVILLE

MEON

MERRITTONIA

MESSINES

MICMAC

MIDDLESEX

MIDLAND

MILLTOWN

(column 24/colonne 24)

MIMICO

MINAS

MIRAMICHI (3)

ML 050 - ML 129

MONCTON (2)

MONNOW

MONT JOLI

MONTCALM

MONTRÉAL (3)

MOONBEAM

MOOSE (3)

MOOSE JAW

(column 25/colonne 25)

MORDEN

MORESBY

MTB TYPE D: 726, 727, 735, 736, 743-746, 748, 797

MTB TYPE G: 459-466, 485, 486, 491

MULGRAVE

MURRAY STEWART

HMS NABOB

(column 26/colonne 26)

NADEN

NANAIMO (2)

NANOOSE

NAPANEE

NENE

NEW GLASGOW

NEW LISKEARD

NEW WATERFORD

NEW WESTMINSTER

NEWPORT CORNER

NIAGARA (2)

NIOBE (2)

(column 27/colonne 27)

NIPIGON (2)

NITINAT

NONSUCH

NOOTKA (2)

NORANDA

NORSAL

NORSYD

NORTH BAY

OAKVILLE

OJIBWA

OKANAGAN

ONONDAGA

(column 28/colonne 28)

ONTARIO

ORANGEVILLE

ORCA

ORILLIA

ORIOLE

ORKNEY

OSHAWA

OTTAWA (4)

OTTER

OUTARDE

OUTREMONT

OWEN SOUND

(column 29/colonne 29)

PARRY SOUND

PATRICIAN

PATRIOT (2)

PENETANG

PEREGRINE

PETERBOROUGH

PETROLIA

PICTOU

PORT ARTHUR

PORT COLBORNE

PORT HOPE

PORTAGE

(column 30/colonne 30)

PORTE DAUPHINE

PORTE DE LA REINE

PORTE QUÉBEC

PORTE SAINT JEAN

PORTE SAINT LOUIS

POUNDMAKER

PRESCOTT

PRESERVER (2)

PRESTONIAN

PREVOST

PRINCE DAVID

PRINCE HENRY

PROVIDER (2)

(column 31/colonne 31)

PRINCE ROBERT

PRINCE RUPERT

PROTECTEUR

PROTECTOR

HMS PUNCHER

PV I - PV VII

QU'APPELLE (2)

QUATSINO

QUEBEC

QUEEN

QUEEN CHARLOTTE

(column 32/colonne 32)

QUESNEL

QUINTE (2)

RACCOON (2)

RADISSON

RAINBOW (2)

RAVEN

RAYON D'OR

RED DEER

REGINA (2)

REINDEER (2)

RENARD (2)

REO II

(column 33/colonne 33)

RESOLUTE

RESTIGOUCHE (2)

REVELSTOKE

RIBBLE

RIMOUSKI

RIVIÈRE DU LOUP

ROCKCLIFFE

ROSS NORMAN

ROSSLAND

ROSTHERN

ROYAL ROADS

ROYALMOUNT

(column 34/colonne 34)

RUNNYMEDE

S-09

SACKVILLE

SAGUENAY (2)

SAINT JOHN

SAMBRO (2)

SANKATY

SANS PEUR

SARNIA

SASKATCHEWAN (2)

SASKATOON (2)

SAULT STE. MARIE

(column 35/colonne 35)

SCATARI

SCOTIAN

SEA CLIFF

SHAWINIGAN (2)

SHEARWATER (2)

SHEDIAC

SHELBURNE

SHERBROOKE

SHULAMITE

SIOUX

SKEENA (2)

SKIDEGATE

(column 36/colonne 36)

SMITHS FALLS

SNOWBERRY

SOMERS ISLES

SOREL

SPIKENARD

SPRINGHILL

ST. HYACINTHE

ST. BONIFACE

ST. CATHARINES

ST. CLAIR

ST. CROIX (2)

ST. ELOI

(column 37/colonne 37)

ST. FRANCIS

ST. JOHN'S

ST. JOSEPH

ST. JULIEN

ST. LAMBERT

ST. LAURENT (2)

ST. PIERRE

ST. STEPHEN

ST. THOMAS

STADACONA (2)

STANDARD COASTER

STAR

(column 38/colonne 38)

STAR XVI

STE. THÉRÈSE

STELLARTON

STETTLER

STONE FRIGATE

STONE TOWN

STORMONT

STRATFORD

STRATHADAM

STRATHROY

SUDBURY

SUDERÖY I

(column 39/colonne 39)

SUDERÖY II

SUDERÖY IV

SUDERÖY V

SUDERÖY VI

SUMMERSIDE (2)

SUNBEAM

SUSSEXVALE

SWANSEA

SWIFT CURRENT

TECUMSEH

TEME

TERRA NOVA

(column 40/colonne 40)

THE PAS

THETFORD MINES

THIEPVAL

THORLOCK

THUNDER (3)

TILLSONBURG

TIMMINS

TORONTO (2)

TR 1 - TR 60

TRAIL

TRANSCONA

TRENTONIAN

(column 41/colonne 41)

TRILLIUM

TRINITY

TROIS RIVIÈRES

TRURO

TUNA

U 190

U 889

UGANDA

UNGAVA (2)

UNICORN

VALLEYFIELD

VANCOUVER (3)

(column 42/colonne 42)

VEGREVILLE

VENCEDOR

VENOSTA

VENTURE (6)

VICTORIA

VICTORIAVILLE

VIERNOE

VILLE DE QUÉBEC (2)

VIMY

VISON

WALLACEBURG

WARRIOR

(column 43/colonne 43)

WASAGA

WASKESIU

WENTWORTH

WEST YORK

WESTMOUNT

WETASKIWIN

WEYBURN

WHITBY

WHITEHORSE

WHITETHROAT

WINDFLOWER

WINDSOR

(column 44/colonne 44)

WINNIPEG (2)

WOLF (3)

WOODSTOCK

YELLOWKNIFE

YORK

YPRES

YUKON

Street view

Note

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