Veterans Affairs Canada preserves the legacy of Canada’s fallen at Vancouver’s Mountain View Cemetery

News release

6 March 2020—Vancouver, British Columbia—Veterans Affairs Canada

We honour Canada’s military fallen and preserve their legacy. One way we do this is by maintaining their gravesites and grave markers, at home and abroad.

Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, announced an investment of more than $2.7 million to cover restoration costs in the Field of Honour at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

This funding is provided through Veterans Affairs Canada’s Grave Marker Maintenance program and will be used to clean, repair or replace more than 7,000 Veteran grave markers. In the 2018 budget, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $24.4 million over five years to address urgently needed repairs to Veteran grave markers across Canada.

The work is estimated to take four years. The City of Vancouver will complete the work on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada.

Spanning a total of 106 acres, Mountain View Cemetery is one of Canada’s largest military burial sites. With approximately 92,000 grave sites, it is the final resting place for more than 11,000 Veterans.

Quotes

“Walking through the Fields of Honour in Mountain View Cemetery is a sombre and humbling experience. These men and women—some of them barely old enough to drive at the time—put their lives on the line for our freedom. These grave markers now serve as a lasting symbol of remembrance. Maintaining their final resting place is just one way that we can honour their sacrifices.”

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“We’re grateful for this funding from Veterans Affairs Canada which will see thousands of grave markers being restored, respectfully commemorating veterans from Vancouver and beyond who are laid to rest in the Fields of Honour.”

Mayor Kennedy Stewart, City of Vancouver

Quick facts

  • The Mountain View Cemetery Restoration Project will see repairs made to more than 7,000 Veteran grave markers.

  • Veterans Affairs Canada maintains more than 200,000 Veteran grave markers nationally.

  • Veterans Affairs Canada will cover the restoration costs at Mountain View Cemetery totaling $2,709,577.50.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
vac.media-medias.acc@canada.ca

John Embury
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
john.embury@canada.ca

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