Bringing the Unknown Soldier Home

Supplemental Archival Record

 

This document preserves additional historical, procedural, and planning details related to the creation of Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 2000.


It complements the public-facing webpage by documenting aspects of the project development, coordination, decision-making, and planning that are not fully detailed in the main narrative.

Early Development and Approval (1997–1998)

An exploratory meeting was held on 25 February 1997 with representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) and the National Council of Veterans (NCV) to discuss the possibility of creating a Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

It was determined that the scope and cost of the initiative would be significant and would require formal endorsement from The Royal Canadian Legion’s Dominion Executive Council (DEC). This endorsement was granted in November 1997.

Following approval, Dominion Secretary Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Duane Daly chaired a series of meetings with government departments and agencies.

Consideration of the South Africa War

Early discussions considered selecting an Unknown Soldier from the South Africa War, as it was the first war involving Canadian forces in the 20th century.

A meeting on 12 March 1998 involving representatives from Veterans Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Canadian War Museum led to a shift in direction. Major-General Roméo Dallaire strongly supported selecting a soldier from the First World War at Vimy Ridge.

Newfoundland Consideration

During discussions, it was noted that Newfoundland was not part of Canada during the First World War. As a result, selecting a soldier from Vimy Ridge meant the Unknown Soldier could not represent a Newfoundlander.

Despite this concern, it was agreed that Vimy Ridge remained the most appropriate symbolic location.

Working Group Operations

A multi-agency Working Group was established in 1998 and met eleven times over the course of the project.

The Working Group was chaired by The Royal Canadian Legion and served as the central coordinating body for all aspects of the initiative.

Order in Council 1965-688 assigned responsibility for “Remembrance Ceremonies in connection with the war dead outside Canada” to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. As a result, responsibility for developing the ceremonies at Vimy evolved to Veterans Affairs Canada.

Design and Construction Details

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was constructed as a granite sarcophagus placed over the steps of the National War Memorial.
  • Designer: Maurice Joanisse
  • Bronze work: Mary Ann Liu
  • Stone source: Lac Rivière-à-Pierre Quarry (same as the National War Memorial)

Funding and Scope Decisions

The project was funded by participating government departments and organizations. No separate public fundraising campaign was undertaken.

A broader national program, including lying-in-state ceremonies across Canada, was considered but estimated at approximately $20 million. A reduced plan, focused on Vimy Ridge and Ottawa, was adopted at an estimated cost of $3 million.

Timeline Adjustments

The interment date was revised multiple times due to logistical and scheduling challenges, including:
  • Conflicts with Ottawa’s Tulip Festival
  • Objections from clergy regarding Sunday morning services
The final interment date was set for Sunday, 28 May 2000.