A University of Guelph building steeped in history will mark its 100th anniversary ahead of Remembrance Day.
The origins of War Memorial Hall, which still operates as a lecture hall today, can be traced back to the Ontario Agricultural College in 1919. Following the end of the First World War, students were looking for a way to honour the 109 college men who had lost their lives. They identified where they’d like to build the memorial and felled a section of trees, hand-digging the foundation and hosting a series of fundraisers to bring the memorial to life.
“It was a product of love,” says Dr. John Walsh, director of the School of Languages and Literatures (SOLAL) in the College of Arts. “As a student-directed project, it recognizes how students wanted to memorialize the people who were lost in the war.”
Officially opened in June 1924, the Hall features two bronze tablets in Memorial Chapel that list the names of those killed in the First and Second World Wars. The Hall has also hosted Remembrance Day ceremonies dozens of times in the last century.
Honouring military ties at U of G
Walsh is the co-founder of the Serving Scholars program, which helps U of G student-reservists balance the demands of military service while attending U of G. There are around 45 reservists currently enrolled in the program.
Sgt. Darren Sargent, a reservist who is also academic program assistant in SOLAL, says many members of the Canadian Armed Forces attending school can feel like those two aspects of their life are very separate. Working with the Serving Scholar Program helps bridge that gap.
The 100-year legacy of War Memorial Hall also helps maintain ties between the University and the Canadian Armed Forces.
“It speaks to the incredible power of young people to pivot and take on an incredible responsibility to maintain a better world,” Walsh says.
“War Memorial Hall is a reminder of service above self,” Sargent says. “Seeing a building in their honour really commemorates that sacrifice.”
War Memorial Hall anniversary event
U of G will mark one century of War Memorial Hall with an event ahead of Remembrance Day, on Nov. 9. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with programming scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The University has received letters from several dignitaries that will be read aloud at the event, including greetings from the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Governor General and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Many Serving Scholars will be in attendance to mark the occasion and accept a ceremonial sword in honour of the anniversary.
“We deeply respect and value the people who lost their lives for their decision to take up arms,” Walsh says. “War Memorial Hall stands as a stark reminder that we have to be careful that we don’t need to add another plaque one day.”
Anyone interested in attending the event can register for a free ticket online.