Our Story – The First Canadian Cenotaph
“Their Name Shall Live For Evermore” – unveiled at 11:00 November 11, 1920, only five days after its creation and just 8 hours after the Cenotaph in London, England – due to timezone differences.
Source: City of Vancouver Archives – Public Domain.
In November 1920, the Great War Veterans Association South Vancouver – a small group of determined women – made a bold decision.
With Remembrance Day approaching and national attention focused overseas on the unveiling of London’s first cenotaph, they resolved that their own community would not be left without a place to remember.
In just five days, these women organized, funded, and built Canada’s first community cenotaph — a wooden monument overlooking Mountain View Cemetery, near where John Oliver Secondary School now stands.
It was simple in form but profound in meaning: a place for families to gather, to honour the fallen, and to say, “We remember.”
From Wood to Stone
What began as a local act of compassion became a lasting legacy for all of Vancouver.
A legacy preserved
Following the amalgamation of South Vancouver with surrounding municipalities in the 1930s, the original wooden cenotaph was rebuilt in granite and eventually relocated to Memorial Park South.
Today
Today, the South Vancouver Veterans Council Society serves as the steward of this historic site by preserving its story, honouring its origins, and ensuring that remembrance remains a living part of our shared community life.
Unity
It is always an honour to welcome Veterans from any global conflict or peace keeping mission where Canadians have represented the values of our nation and its communities.
Remembrance
Every Year – the SVVCC produces the Remembrance Day ceremony at this historic memorial – and have done so for many years.
Our Values
We are a community-driven organization dedicated to fostering unity, respect, and service among veterans, first responders, and citizens.
Through remembrance, education, and stewardship, we uphold the values that inspired South Vancouver’s first cenotaph more than a century ago.
Remembrance
Keeping the memory of service alive in our community.
Education
Sharing history and stories with local schools and future generations.
Stewardship
Preserve and promote the traditions and historical practices of Remembrance Day.
In the Community
(Coming Soon)
Stories of Service
A living archive of local veterans, first responders, and community members who have served.
Learning Together
Educational outreach and resources for schools in South Vancouver — beginning with John Oliver Secondary School’s archival partnership.
Community Gatherings
Future commemorative events and volunteer opportunities with the South Vancouver Veterans Council Society.