Canada is set to join its Second World War allies in commemorating the victims of the Holocaust with a permanent memorial due to open in spring 2017. Ottawa is the only capital city of the former allied countries in the western world without a Holocaust memorial, which will soon change as a result of an initiative spearheaded by the Government of Canada. 

The National Holocaust Memorial resembles the Star of David, image courtesy of Studio Daniel Libeskind

Toronto-based Lord Cultural Resources and famed international architect Daniel Libeskind's winning design was chosen from a list of six finalists. Their vision features a large gathering space that is bordered by strategically-placed concrete walls which form a shape reminiscent of the Star of David. Mesh placed throughout the monument will reflect barbed wire, a stark reminder of the environments in which millions of people lost their lives. The high concrete walls will be embedded with images of concentration camps by artist Edward Burtynsky. Landscaping by Claude Cormier will include coniferous trees surrounding the monument, reflecting the dense forests of Eastern Europe. 

The gathering space of the monument, image by Studio Daniel Libeskind

With a budget of $8.5 million (CAD), the monument will be located directly across from the Canadian War Museum at Booth and Wellington Streets in downtown Ottawa. The National Holocaust Monument Development Council has raised $4.5 million (CAD) with another $4 million (CAD) contribution from the Government of Canada. The opening of the memorial was initially scheduled for May 2016, but delays have pushed the date back to Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on April 24, 2017. 

The monument includes a sightline to Parliament's Peace Tower, image courtesy of Studio Daniel Libeskind

While this will be the largest monument in Ottawa since the National War Memorial was unveiled in 1939, some elements of the design have been axed in an effort to keep the project on budget. The wall near the entrance has been reduced in size to create a more welcoming entryway and plans for underground heating throughout the site have been reduced by 50%. The high costs associated with winter construction have made working in the snow and cold unfeasible, also contributing to the revised opening date. 

The exterior of the monument, image courtesy of Studio Daniel Libeskind

Libeskind's signature angular design follows his previous notable works, including the Jewish Museum in Berlin and Toronto's Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum. 

Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase listing for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Visit the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.