Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 53 Canadian victories at Amiens, the Drocourt-Queant Line, Canal du Nord, and the Pursuit to Mons were among the most difficult and costly battles of the entire war, with Canadian soldiers fighting a tough and disciplined enemy. Nova Scotia units like the Royal Canadian Regiment, the 25th Battalion Nova Scotia Rifles, the 85th Battalion Nova Scotia Artillerymen, Engineers and Service Corps soldiers, as well as the doctors and nurses in the field hospitals were all in the thick of it. However, those victories came with an enormous cost. More than 45,000 men of the Canadian Corps were killed, wounded, or went missing in action, representing close to 50 percent of the Corps’ strength. More than half of Canada’s WWI dead lie in Flanders Fields. For this reason, ‘Canada Gate’ features representative footsteps, that lead one through the twin arches, in a way that helps illustrate the loss and tragedy of war, and one that requires a minimum of interpretation. Creating this second memorial has closed the circle of a nationally significant story, with a circumference that links Halifax and the people of Canada with Flanders. This project established a simple, powerful and emotional place of reflection for visitors to Passchendaele, where 16,000 Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded during the Third Battle of Ypres, between October and November 1917. While victory was achieved, it was the bloodiest battle fought by the Canadian Corps and one that is a major touch stone of Canada’s entire Great War history. Given the terrible price our country paid during this battle, the interpretive story at ‘Canada Gate’ speaks to the overall sacrifice of a young nation. The planning, conceptual framework and execution was all undertaken by the Army Museum Halifax Citadel project team, whose mission was to illuminate the perspectives of Canadians and other visitors fortunate enough to visit these sites, both in Halifax and in Zonnebeke. On this side of the Atlantic, the team will add additional interpretation and an image of ‘Canada Gate’ in Passchendaele, at the site of ‘The Last Steps Memorial Arch’. ‘The Last Steps Memorial Arch’ was the first step in a linked series of steps, taken to ensure that our soldiers are never forgotten. Both the ‘Arch’ and the ‘Gate’ now stand as simple, enduring reminders of the importance of remembrance, connecting two very meaningful sites together in a unique way. Both of these initiatives symbolize our ongoing, collective commitment to never forget, with the understanding that the spirits of soldiers past still watch over us today and, as long as we are free, we owe them everything.
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