City and Community Committee Advance Dawson Creek Cenotaph Revitalization Project
The City of Dawson Creek and the community-led Cenotaph Revitalization Committee are moving forward with plans to renew and enhance the Dawson Creek Cenotaph located adjacent to City Hall.
Originally erected in 1959, the cenotaph serves as a place of remembrance for local veterans who died in overseas conflicts and has been the site of community commemorations for generations. As the project has progressed, the Committee has focused on ensuring the memorial continues to honour those who served while creating a welcoming and accessible space for future generations.
Over the past year, the Committee has worked to explore opportunities for revitalizing the site. This work has included reviewing the history and purpose of the memorial, identifying project values, evaluating potential site improvements, and developing a draft concept plan for the surrounding plaza area.
The Committee has identified five core values to guide the project:
- Remembrance and Sacrifice
- Inclusion and Accessibility
- Community Connection
- Peace and Reflection
- Youth Engagement
The draft concept plan explores features such as improved accessibility, gathering spaces for ceremonies, seating and landscaping, enhanced flag displays, opportunities for historical interpretation, and spaces that support both formal commemorative events and quiet reflection.
In addition to site planning, the Committee has begun researching veterans' names for inclusion on the memorial. Research is being conducted using the Books of Remembrance, the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, historical records, and community sources to help ensure local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice are appropriately honoured and remembered.
The Committee is also engaging with Indigenous Nations, Métis organizations, veterans' groups, historians, community organizations, and regional partners as the project continues to evolve.
In the coming weeks, the City will share additional project information, including the draft concept plan and opportunities for community members to review and provide feedback on the veterans' names being considered for inclusion on the memorial.
Residents can learn more about the project by visiting the Dawson Creek Cenotaph Revitalization Project page at www.dawsoncreek.ca/cenotaph.