November 10th, 2026
Canada still mourns
More than 619,000 Canadians enlisted during the First World War. Over 66,000 never returned home, while 172,000 came home wounded. The scale of that sacrifice was unprecedented for Canada, leaving a lasting mark.
To remember that sacrifice, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial was unveiled on July 26, 1936. Its designer, Canadian sculptor Walter Seymour Allward, was chosen in 1921 from more than 160 submissions and devoted 15 years of his life to the project.
Standing on Vimy Ridge in northern France, the two towering columns represent Canada and France, united in sacrifice, while its sculpted figures symbolize mourning, peace, justice and the profound human cost of war.
This year marks 90 years since the memorial was unveiled. To recognize the anniversary, we wanted to return to this national landmark and show a side of it Canadians may be less familiar with.
Canada Bereft, also known as “Mother Canada,” depicts a saddened female, representing a nation grieving her young.
For Commissionaires’ 2026 Remembrance Campaign, we’re inviting Canadians to look a closer look.
From this angle, we see both the scale of the memorial and the emotion in its stonework. It is a quieter, more personal view; one that reminds us of the individuals, and families behind this monument that are forever changed by the First World War. Although the years have passed and new generations take up the responsibility of remembrance, the reason we remember remains the same.
Through this year’s campaign, we honour those who served and sacrificed and reaffirm our commitment to supporting veterans.
Lest We Forget. Nous nous souviendrons d’eux.
– Commissionaires
