A cenotaph was erected at the corner of boulevard Maloney Est and rue Notre-Dame in 1965 to commemorate the soldiers from Gatineau and its surroundings who had given up their lives for their country. This monument was a joint effort between Gatineau and the Royal Canadian Legion’s Norris Branch (Quebec no 227).

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On November 18, 1963 Gatineau’s Municipal Council offered to pay for the plans and specifications for a cenotaph. A year later, the Royal Canadian Legion’s Norris Branch (Quebec no 227) took on the responsibility for raising $16,000 towards this project.

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On May 3, 1965, the Municipal Council commissioned architect Jean Ouellet to prepare the plans and specifications. On October 4, Gatineau accepted the submission by Gatineau Construction ltée to build a cenotaph in Gatineau at a cost of $29,418. On May 15, 1967, Gatineau’s Municipal Council accepted the submission by Bélec Asphalt Paving for the paving of the area around the cenotaph. The new cenotaph’s inaugural Remembrance

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Day ceremony took place on November 11, 1968. In 1985, the Royal Canadian Legion installed three plaques on the cenotaph with the names of the soldiers killed in the three wars.

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The three cement blocks represent the three wars: the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War. They also symbolize the three armed forces: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. These three components are brought together on a single foundation to form a harmonious complex that is in tune with the modern Canadian military concept of unified armed forces. These elements rise in salute to the air force, are anchored to the ground in honour of the army and are surrounded by water in tribute to the navy. The enormous dimensions of the three pillars accentuate the importance of this trio in modern times, and express our eternal gratitude to those who gave up their lives for our country.

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The goal was to have a monument that would be a modern structure in line with Gatineau’s progressive mindset, and that would, together with the surrounding park, become a historic site displaying the names of Gatineau residents who gave their lives in defence of our country. This goal has been achieved. As the trees grow, this site becomes increasingly more attractive.

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The monument is located at the corner of boulevard Maloney Est and rue Notre-Dame, in the Gatineau sector.