
(OTTAWA ON) –The site for a new national monument which will honour paramedics, celebrate our profession and mourn those who have lost their lives in service to Canada and Canadians, has been approved in Commissioner’s Park facing Dow’s Lake in Ottawa.
The National Capital Commission’s (NCC) Board of Directors approved the site which is near the new campus for The Ottawa Hospital and allows for both public visibility and a space for quiet reflection. The site is fully accessible by foot, car, bike — even skates in winter — and public transportation.
The Canadian Paramedic Monument is expected to cost $5-million and be funded through the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation (CPMF).
“Thank you to all of you from deep within my heart. I don’t exactly have the words to describe how I am feeling. As the twin sister of a fallen paramedic, I have walked the grounds in Ottawa where many of the memorial monuments are and felt a huge hole in my heart of deep sadness and disappointment for the lack of acknowledgement for our fallen medics by our country,” said Laura Sanders, CPMF board member.
“There was nowhere for the public to go to be educated on our fallen and their duty, and nowhere for family members to sit for a few moments to reflect on the price our loved one paid. Today has been bringing me mixed emotions literally from minute to minute since receiving this great news. It’s truly a bittersweet moment for me. Thank you again, to all of you for your dedication to this project,” Sanders said.
“The site in Commissioner’s Park is truly beautiful and serene,” said CPMF board member and public art consultant Annie Hillis. “It is surrounded by mature trees and facing Dow’s Lake, where both residents and tourists love to walk, bike, picnic and – during the annual Tulip Festival – enjoy millions of colourful blooms. The park has lots of room for people to gather for ceremonial events and is a stone’s throw from the new Ottawa Hospital campus, with its close connection to paramedics.”
The Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation would like to thank each of the members of the Board who contributed to making this moment possible. “We are grateful for everyone who contributed to the visioning process for the monument, and we look forward to the next phase of this project,” said CPMF Board President Tom Zajac.
CPMF will be the project lead responsible for the design competition, development, and installation. The NCC will be responsible for the long-term stewardship of the Canadian Paramedic Monument.
The Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation, with the support of the Paramedic Association of Canada and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada – as well as Paramedic Associations in every province and territory, the Alliance of Canadian EMS Honour Guards, First Nations Paramedics, EMS unions, the Tour Paramedic Ride, and working paramedics across Canada – has been working to create a Canadian Paramedic Monument in Ottawa for more than 10 years.
