HRM Monument #33 - Wolf on the Rocks

Located in the middle of the cobblestone pedestrian street, Granville, in front of Gallery Page and Strange, this lone wolf was designed and produced by Ontario College of Art graduate, John McEwen.

Especially known for his use of naturalistic objects flame cut from massive slabs of metal, McEwen has produced art out of his blacksmith shop since before the '80s, and has exhibited his works across Canada as well as in Australia, Germany, and England. In 2007 he was honoured with a Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge.

This particular sculpture is more than meets the eye. The two rock cliffs on which the wolf is walking (buried in the snow) are actually pieces of marble from Cape Breton Island.

HRM Monument #32: Norwegian Soldiers Monument

This sharp looking monument was erected in memory of the Norwegian sailors and soldiers who gave their life in WWII, and who were buried in Nova Scotia or who were lost at sea around Nova Scotia. It has a few practical uses as well, especially when I need to check my hair in my reflection, or when I have to get a few inches higher to take a nice picture of Sackville Landing (the open area in which the monument is located) or the Harbour, both of which you can see in the reflection in the monument.

It's been nearly a year since I originally stepped off the train and dropped my bags off here - in Halifax - during my cross Canada adventure. Although I became a little busy this winter collecting more funds with which to go exploring in the upcoming months, looking at this photo I took last summer I was reminded again about just how strongly Halifax's sometimes sad, but always important history has been largely effected and shaped by war.

HRM Monument #31: WWII Lost Ships

Perhaps the newest monument in Halifax, this large stone slab located at the start of the Halifax Waterfront board walk was dedicated in 2010 by the Atlantic Chief and Petty Officers Association to, "commemorate the ships and men of the Royal Canadian Navy who failed to return through enemy action, stress of weather and accidents during the Battle of the Atlantic and to remind future generations of the price of victory."

On the backside of the monument is a list of all the names of the Canadian ships lost from 1939-1945.

(Notice EP Dan to the right of the monument. For the trivia buffs out there, this is the earliest taken photo on EPTN that includes him.)

HRM Monument #30: North Is Freedom

This 20-foot structure located in front of the Halifax North Memorial Library is one of the newest Public Art pieces to have been unveiled in Halifax, having been publicly dedicated in 2007.

The sculpture's artist, Doug Bamford says that the idea for the piece is that "we can achieve on the strength of our shared experience, and that 'knowledge is power.'" Engraved into the side of the monolith, along with images illustrating North End Halifax' history, using a method called surface water jet cutting, is the poem "North Is Freedom" by the award winning poet, playwright and essayist, not to mention native of North End Halifax, George E. Clarke.

(The figures climbing the structure were actually modelled after students from a local school using plaster casting.)

HRM Monument #29: Swami Vivekanada

I'm not sure if it counts as an official HRM Monument, but in the interest of multiculturalism I thought I should include this statue of Swami Vivekananda outside a Hindu Temple near my home.

Swami Vivekananda was a 19th century monk and philosopher who preached in North America from 1893 to 1900, and is widely regarded as the father of the Hindu revival in modern India, as well as being the driving force behind Vedanta and Yoga's spread to Europe and North America.

HRM Monument #28: Welsford-Parker Monument

This rare pre-Confederation war memorial was erected in 1860 to honour the memories of Major A.F. Welsford and Captain W.B.C.A. Parker from Halifax. Both Parker and Welsford perished in 1855 in an assault on the Great Redan - part of the Eastern Defenses of Sebstopol - during the Crimean War. This memorial, in the Old Burying Ground, was constructed by George Laing through public subscription and a grant from the Nova Scotia Government.

HRM Monument #27: Boer War Soldier

The Boer War in South Africa (from 1888 - 1902) marked the first time in Canada's history that it sent companies of volunteer troops to fight in a foreign war. From what I have read, it appears as though Canada sent two contingents to fight in South Africa - the first consisting of Nova Scotia's own H Company and numerous men from the 63rd Halifax Rifles and the Princess Louise Fusiliers. Later, the people of Halifax bid farewell with a huge reception at the Armouries for 1 32o more field artillery and cavalry men.

In honour of those brave volunteers who helped stabilize that region of the world, along with playing a significant role in announcing Canada's newly formed nationhood, the citizens of Halifax erected this monument next to Province House (Nova Scotia's parliament building) on October 19, 1901. The stone at the base of the monument was actually dedicated and laid by the Duke of Cornwallis and York during his Royal Visit to Halifax.

HRM Monument #26: Donald Saunders Wing

Wing Commander Donald W. Saunders was an instructor with the Halifax Flying Corps during WWI, and worked as an instructor for the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII. From 1931 to 1987 Wing Commander Donald W. Saunders was the manager of the Halifax Municipal Airport. To commemorate Mr. Saunders' contributions to the development of aviation in Halifax, the citizens of Halifax erected this statue in Saunders Park, which was named after Donald Saunders, and is located on a section of the old Halifax Municipal Airport.

HRM Monument #25: Memorial To John Cabot

In 1497 John Cabot landed at Newfoundland making the "discovery" of Canada. This piece of art was erected by the District of Venice, Italy, in 1997, to mark the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Cabot. While Cabot later sailed down the coast and found Cape Breton Island, I cannot think of any reason why this relief exists on the Halifax Waterfront near Sackville Landing, and not somewhere closer to Newfoundland.

HRM Monument #24: Humagination

"Humagination" (a combination of "Human" and "imagination") is another piece of "Public Art" which graces Halifax beautiful downtown section. It was sculpted by local artist Adrien Francescutti in 1979, who also sculpted "Orzo" (or "The Kiss" as it is commonly known). The title for "Humagination" was picked by the artist's roommate from a contest the Francescutti held to "name this rock".

HRM Monument #23: Waverly Legion War Memorial

Erected on November 5, 1967, the Waverly Legion War Memorial is yet another monument dedicated to those brave souls who fought and died while in the service of their country. This monument specifically pays tribute to those deceased individuals who came from the communities of Fall River, Waverly, Lakeview, and Windsor Junction.

HRM Monument #22: The Sailor

This monument at Sackville Landing on the Halifax Waterfront is a representation of the brave service of all the valiant Canadians who have served in the Canadian Navy during war time and in peace. It was erected by the Atlantic Chief and Petty Officers' Association.

HRM Monument #21: General Cornwallis

General Edward Cornwallis established the town of Halifax in 1749 under instructions to found a colony of Protestants which would act as a buffer between New England to the south, and Acadia to the north. That is about all that can be said nicely about Cornwallis. General Cornwallis' British Protestants, much like Cornwallis himself, were pathetic and useless. They were such poor workers, that German Protestants had to be brought in to keep the town from falling apart (more on that in another post).

Edward's rich, royal daddy enrolled him at Eton College for Boys at the age of 13. That, and one look at his picture (above) should tell you that he was a massive prick. Later, as Governor of Nova Scotia, he ordered a bounty on the heads of Mi'kmaq warriors. This escalated the tensions between the English and the Mi'kmaq, and caused numerous atrocities to be committed on both sides (prick). Even in the 18th Century, with its different cultural norms, this action and his treatment of the Mi'kmaq in general were questioned and criticized.

Cornwallis' other life failures include his defeat at the Battle of Fontenoy and his failed amphibious attack on the French coastline during the Raid on Rochefort.

(Note: The black and white picture of Cornwallis is in the public domain.)

HRM Monument #20: Halifax Memorial

Dedicated on November 11, 1967, the Halifax Memorial stands in memory of the men and women of the Navy, Army, and Merchant Navy who lost their lives and have unknown graves. On the panels around its base, are written the names of 274 casualties of the First World War, and another 2847 casualties from the Second World War. The monument is located in Point Pleasant Park.

HRM Monument #19: Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower

On December 6, 1917, the French munitions ship, S.S. Mont Blanc, collided with the S.S. Imo, a Norwegian ship carrying war supplies, near Pier 6 in Halifax Harbour. The resulting explosion killed 2 000 people, as well as leaving many more injured and/or homeless. The Halifax Relief Commission supplied funds to create Fort Needham Memorial Park, overlooking Richmond Street which leads to Pier 6.

Today the park is still a popular recreation area, and contains this memorial bell tower, designed and dedicated in 1985 to look like the jagged ruins left after the explosion. The tower includes a distinctive upward thrust which represents hope for the future, and contains a set of church bells that formerly hung in the United Memorial Church - once shared by both Methodists and Presbyterian congregations after both of their churches were destroyed in the Explosion. The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower stands as memorial to all those who lost their lives or suffered injuries in the Halifax Explosion, and to the survivors who helped rebuild the city.

HRM Monument #18: Halifax Explosion Unidentified Dead Monument

This monument to those who died in the Halifax Explosion, is on display in Fairview Cemetery. The inscription on the top of the monument says: "To the memory of the unidentified dead. Victims of the Great Disaster, December 6, 1917."

HRM Monument #17: Grand Parade Cenotaph War Memorial

Located on the Grand Parade, and unveiled on July 1 1929, this giant monument commemorated all those Haligonians who fought and died in The Great War. Later, special mentions of WWII and the Korean War were added.

On either side of the monument are the names of the battles in WWI in which Haligonians fought and died: Amiens, Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, Somme, Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Hill 7O, and of course Passchendaele. On the back of the monument are inscriptions giving special mention to those battles in which Canadians fought and died in WWII: the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Sicily Landings, the Battle of Ortona, the Gothic Line, the Normandy Landings, the Battle of the Falaise Gap (Pocket), the Battle of the Sheldt, the Battle of the Rhinland, and the Crossing of the Rhine. There is also a message stating that the names of all 1 360 men and women of Halifax who sacrificed their lives in these battles is kept on record in the City Archives.

HRM Monument #16: Celtic Cross

This monument at the bottom of George Street, near the Halifax Waterfront, is dedicated to the original Irish settlers of 1749 and to the contributions of the Irish community to Halifax, to Nova Scotia, and to Canada. It was officially unveiled on March 17, 2000, by the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax, a charity established in 1786.

HRM Monument #15: Canadian Peacetime Sailors Memorial (Bonaventure Anchor)

The anchor in the Canadian Peacetime Sailors Monument came from the HMCS Bonaventure, a Royal Canadian Navy aircraft carrier from 1957 to 1970 and Canada's last ever aircraft carrier. It was turned in to a monument in 1973, and dedicated by Rear Admiral Robert Timbrell, "To commemorate the personnel of the Armed Forces of Canada who lost their lives at sea in the performance of their duties and for whom there is no known grave." It is currently located in Point Pleasant Park.

HRM Monument #14: S.S. Mont Blanc Anchor Shaft

On December 6, 1917 one of the most horrific disasters in Canadian history took place when the French munitions ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Belgium relief ship, the Imo, just outside of Halifax Harbour. The spark from that collision caused an explosion, the equivalent of 3 kilotons of TNT, inside of the Mont Blanc blew it apart and destroyed a good portion of Halifax too.

This event that killed 2 000 people, left 6 000 completely homeless and 25 000 without adequate shelter, would come to be known as the Halifax Explosion. As a result of the magnitude of this explosion, a piece of an anchor shaft from the SS Mont Blanc, weighing 1140 lbs, flew 2.35 miles over Halifax and the Northwest Arm to a small park just behind Regatta Point Trail. It was relocated 200 metres and set in stone as the monument you see here.