GLOBAL AFFAIRS CANADA MEMORIAL (2021-)Ottawa, ON
In order to pay lasting tribute to those who have died while serving Canada overseas, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has commissioned a lasting
tribute to honour the dedication and recognize the sacrifices made
by these individuals and their families while serving Canada abroad.
Canadian Heritage (PCH) launched a two-stage national design competition in 2020, including design guidelines
prepared by NCC staff in consultation with the NCC’s Advisory Committee on Planning,
Design and Realty (ACPDR), and a vision statement established by GAC.
In 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the design presented by Polymetis was selected for the Global Affairs Canada Commemorative Artwork. The project is currently under construction and anticipated to open in 2026.
In astronomy, an analemma is a diagram showing the position of the sun in the sky as seen from a fixed location on earth at the same mean solar time, as that position varies over
the course of a year.
The diagram will resemble a figure eight.
Site-specific Analemma and its relationship to the artwork.
The proposed site-specific artwork is inspired by the analemma and symbolism of the figure eight, aligning each individual's name to the noonday sun on their date of death.
Competition view showing Analemma Sculpture and dedication message.Detail of current Analemma Sculpture design.The north plaza is a gathering space for presentations.
Prior to the competition, the National Capital Commission (NCC) granted land use approval for a commemorative site located
on the grounds of the John G. Diefenbaker Building located at 111 Sussex Drive in Ottawa,
designed by architect Moshe Safdie. The site is located on Green
Island at the junction of the Rideau and Ottawa rivers. The John G. Diefenbaker Building is
adjacent to the Lester B. Pearson Building, which is the headquarters of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
Competition site plan.
A 50-mm aperture is wide enough to guarantee that point-like markers are illuminated during months
near the equinoxes.
Date markers are illuminated for 6.2 minutes on the summer solstice and 2.3
minutes on the winter solstice.
First mock-up of partial concrete megablock.
Project Sponsor
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Overall Project Manager, Design Competition
Canadian Heritage (PCH)
Procurement, Construction, ApprovalsNational Capital Commission (NCC)
Landowner, Assumes ownership of ArtworkPublic Services and Procurement Canada(PSPC)
Artist / Team Lead
Polymetis
Local Architect
GRC Architects
Landscape Architect
James Lennox
Structural, Solar & Drainage Engineer
Arup
Lighting Designer
Gabriel Mackinnon
Precast Concrete
BPDL
BronzeBehrends