War Memorial Honour Guards?

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
14,845
507
113
The Keebler Factory
Does Canada have continuous honour guards at any of its war memorials? I know the US does at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but does Canada, or do we only have continuous guards on special occasions (like today)?
 
To the best of my knowledge the answer to your question is no. there was talk of instituting this when those 3 weasels pissed al over the National War Memorial in Ottawa a while ago but i don't think anything ever came of that.

However, that being said, in the Parliament buildings, where the Books of Rememberance are kept, (link to folllow) the Sargeant at Arms is posted daily, and one of his functions is to turn the page of each book everyday so that on every day new names of the fallen are on display.

If you have a relative who died in service you may request to have a copy of the page where their name is sent to you. I have done this, there is no charges or fees, the page is a high quality 8x10 glossy photo of the page where your relatives name is. In addition, you receive a letter from that states...

"On behalf of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Peter Milliken, I am pleased to enclose a copy of page (your page number here) from the Book of Remembrance of the Second World War.

Inscribed on this page is name (of your relative here, and branch of the service). A grateful nation recognizes his sacrifice every year on (the date the page is displayed to the public) when this page is displayed for public viewing in the Memorial Chamber of the Parliament of Canada.

In the same sense of gratitude, this page is sent to you with the sincere hope it will remain a source of pride for your family."

When my packaged arrived I was astonished at and moved to tears at the thoughtfulness. I now have my own personal memorial to my relative figured prominently on my living room wall along side other memorabilia from his life.

I highly reccomend that everyone look in to this....
 
At the cenotaph of National War Memorial in Ottawa, an honour guard is posted throughout the summer months. This was in response to the Canada Day pissing incident.

And, to clarify about the Memorial Chamber in Ottawa, the Sergeant-at-arms is not posted there. However, every day at 11:00am, a member of the House of Commons Security Services turns the page in each book so that each page will be displayed for one day each year. This been going on since 1942.

Lots of info on the Memorial Chamber here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/memorial/main-e.htm
 
We have the Ceremonial Guard.

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/LF/English/3_3_2_1.asp

The Ceremonial Guard, formerly known as the Public Duties Detachment, is a composite of attached companies from the Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG) Ottawa and The Canadian Grenadier Guards (CGG) Montreal, the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, and a Headquarters Company providing supply, transportation, training, administrative and medical support to the unit.

Public Duties by the Ceremonial Guard include the mounting of Guards at the Residence of Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada; performing the daily ceremony of Changing the Guard on Parliament Hill at 10:00 a.m.; the mounting of Guards of Honour for visiting Heads of States or other dignitaries; participating in official public or military functions in the Capital; and the performance of public concerts or other ceremonies to promote the Canadian Forces.