Memorial South Park in Vancouver
Memorial South Park in Vancouver is a large park that is popular with local sports teams and residents. The park is situated near Mountain View Cemetery and offers visitors a few pitches for a variety of games. It is also home to the city’s first Cenotaph.
During the war, a number of monuments were built to honour the Canadian soldiers who died. These include memorials to the First World War and the Second World War. In fact, there are more than 6,000 memorials in Canada dedicated to the Canadian Armed Forces and their supporters. Most of these commemorate the wars that took place in 1914-18 and 1939-45. Some memorials note subsequent conflicts as well.
If you are looking for a quiet, scenic spot to enjoy nature, the park provides a pond with a formal tree-lined entry and a peaceful place to watch wildlife. Across the park, there is a track that is used by both students and local athletes for a variety of exercises. A soccer and lacrosse field are available as well. There is also an oval inside the track that is used by ultimate teams.
Memorial South Park is also home to the Air Force Garden of Remembrance. This garden features plaques with the insignia of various air forces. The park is also close to the Stanley Park Pavilion.
Originally called Wilson Park, the site was originally part of the South Vancouver Municipality before it became a part of Vancouver in 1929. It was later renamed to honor the World War I dead. Since the war, several memorials have been added to the park. One of these is the Japanese Canadian War Monument.
There is also a cenotaph in the park. It is made of granite and was dedicated to all Canadian military members in 1983.
The park is located in the Sunset neighbourhood of Vancouver, and is bound by Prince Albert Street, E 41st Avenue and Ross Street. There are four soccer fields and a lit synthetic turf field for lacrosse. Hundreds of people use the park every day, and there are reports of pedestrians being hit in crosswalks.
At night, the pitches in the park are illuminated. Many of the pitches are used for grass volleyball, watching green ducks, and other exercises. The park is also a good place to see dragonflies.
Several memorials were erected in Vancouver after the war. The Japanese Canadian War Monument, for example, is a stone column with a Japanese-style lamp that is positioned above the base of the monument. It was originally designed to be a permanent fixture. However, in 1942, the light was extinguished. With the help of a VHF grant, the monument was restored.
The park is also home to the Chinese Railroad Workers and Chinese Veterans Memorial. Dedicated to the Chinese Canadians who served in the World War, this monument pays tribute to the sacrifices they made.
Throughout the year, there are numerous events that celebrate Canada Day and other holidays. The City of Surrey hosts a variety of Canada Day Fireworks, while Vancouver hosts the Singing Christmas Tree concerts. Another event in Vancouver is the Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration.