Experience living history at Beechwood National Cemetery: 150th anniversary presents a great time to visit

There are hundreds of cemeteries in Canada that serve to remind us of the rich tapestry of our nation’s history. As a living memorial to the broad expanse of people and events that helped shape the country, the hallowed grounds of Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery offer perhaps the greatest memorial record. Owned and operated by the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation and named as the National Cemetery of Canada through an Act of Parliament, Beechwood is celebrating its milestone 150^th anniversary in 2023. That makes it a perfect year to celebrate Beechwood’s role in showcasing stories that define a great deal of our history.

“Beechwood Cemetery serves as an important part of Canadian history,” said Nick McCarthy, director of marketing, communications and community outreach with the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation. “It’s a location that is not only beautiful, that not only preserves and protects the history of the individuals interred there, but also looks to share the stories through tour programming, events, and a calendar of activities.”

Beechwood Cemetery has grown in historical significance largely due to the various communities it ventures to serve, including a variety of faith, cultural, social, and political communities. For example, the grounds include the National Military Cemetery, the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery, Veterans and War Dead, and the Ottawa Police Service Memorial, with a historical “who’s who” finding their final resting place amongst Beechwood’s spectacular gardens and landscaping.  At the same time, the cemetery has met the internment needs of the various communities that have fostered the Ottawa area’s cultural mosaic; various sections offer distinctive characters that reflect the Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Lebanese, Muslim, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean communities.

It’s the historical people buried within the grounds and the importance of their stories to the ongoing history of Canada that truly distinguishes Beechwood Cemetery. Prime Ministers, Members of Parliament, Supreme Court Justices, and political leaders are found alongside the innovators and trailblazers whose lasting impact on Canada continues to resonate today. According to McCarthy, this is a primary reason why Beechwood Cemetery is as important as any library for offering a chance to study Canada’s history.

“Recently we unveiled a plaque celebrating the Honourable Bertha Wilson, who is a good example of someone who is lessor known outside of the judicial system,” said McCarthy. “Now everyone can walk by her burial space and learn how she broke the glass ceiling as a former Supreme Court Justice, and also helped interpret the Charter of Rights to establish rights for women, for partners, and for reproductive rights in Canada. She helped build the framework that helps support the under-represented. Celebrating these kind of formulative moments really helps us to establish the whole history of Canada.”

According to McCarthy, over 200 tours, large and small,  are conducted annually through the cemetery grounds, with everyone from school groups to Haunted History Walks discovering the stories of the people and the roles they played in local and national history.

“Being a foundation, storytelling is our priority, and we like to tell the tales of Canada’s history through the people who actually shaped it,” he said. “We’re celebrating different communities, from sports heroes to artists to pillars of the community. It’s all these small stories that tell the story of how Canada came to be Canada. It’s also helped to shape who we are as a national cemetery.”

To learn more or to book your guided tour, visit Beechwood Cemetery online at https://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en.

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