Beaumont approves design and location for Memorial Cenotaph

BEAUMONT -- Beaumont City Council has approved the design and location for its planned Memorial Cenotaph.

The Cenotaph is expected to act as a centrepiece during the City of Beaumont's future Remembrance Day ceremonies. Throughout the planning process, the municipality has conducted extensive engagement with the Royal Canadian Legion in determining an ideal location and design. At their regular meeting this week, it was concluded that the Cenotaph will be built at the Beaumont Sports and Recreation Centre. Mayor Bill Daneluik says the veterans he's spoken to are highly in favour of the location.

"They were all for it, with the biggest reason being the fact that it will be highly visible, and many people will see it," said Daneluik. "They'll see it, they'll think about it for a moment, that's a big part of why it's there... I'm happy with the location based on the report and the feedback from veterans."

Beaumont staff note in their report that the Memorial Cenotaph will be located on the traffic circle near the entrance of the BSRC. They say that the location's strategic proximity to traditional memorial event areas ensures continuity and offers the City an opportunity to enhance its well-attended Remembrance Day activities.

Meantime, the design for the Cenotaph has also been approved in collaboration with the local Legion Branch #108. The choice deemed the most appropriate is a raised monument with a sword at the back, and two sides with the Canadian Commonwealth war emblem. Beaumont staff say that this design provides space for future inscriptions or plaques to be added, and was also deemed to be the most resistant to vandalism.

The production and installation of the Cenotaph is expected to require four to six months to complete, which means it's not currently known if it will be ready in time for Remembrance Day 2025.