Veteran’s Cemetery in Esquimalt, BC

Esquimalt Veteran's Cemetery

It was a big day for one of LEES+Associate’s flagship projects!

The Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, Lawrence MacAulay was at the Veteran’s Cemetery (previously known as God’s Acre) in Esquimalt, BC to celebrate the completion of significant upgrades to this sacred burial ground.

Originally a burial ground for Canadian Navy men and women, God’s Acre has been the burial ground for Canadian Army, Navy and Air Services personnel for decades. The first burial at the cemetery was in 1868.

The expansion includes 1400 new columbaria, a scattering garden and room for burying cremated remains. As well, new paving, curbs and signage have been installed with finishing touches expected by the end of March.

LEES+Associates is honoured to be the landscape architects on the God’s Acre expansion project; we are proud of our work for Canadian veterans over the last two decades.

Official opening of the cemetery will take place on May 28th, during the annual Candlelight Ceremony honouring veterans and serving members.

God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery, a national historic site, is located off Colville Road inside Gorge Vale Golf Course.
Esquimalt Veteran's Cemetery
Esquimalt Veteran's Cemetery

Esquimalt Veteran's Cemetery
Esquimalt Veteran's Cemetery

Walk Through Kelowna Legacy Gardens, [Video]

Last month LEES+Associates attended the annual British Columbia Funeral Association (BCFA) Conference and Exhibitor’s Showcase in Kelowna, BC.

While in Kelowna, our staff took the opportunity to visit the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery to check out the more than 150 year old cemetery’s newest section for cremated remains and above ground crypts.

In 2014, LEES+Associates completed a master plan for the cemetery and was retained by the City to assist with the burial expansion strategy outlined in the master plan. Work began in 2016 with the preparation of construction documents for the new area dubbed the Legacy Gardens.

In the video above, Richard Cook walks through a section of the garden; the Legacy Garden area offers columbaria niches and mausolea crypts in a picturesque landscape setting. Visit the project profile page for more on the project.
kelowna legacy gardens

Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery

We couldn’t resist sharing these sunny snowy day shots of the Legacy Gardens at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery.
In 2016, LEES+Associates undertook the preparation of construction documents for this new precinct of the cemetery.

The Legacy Gardens design provides additional cremation niche and mausolea crypt inventory by transforming an existing service road around the Bennett Memorial into a premium cremation garden.

Legacy Gardens at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy Gardens at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy Gardens at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy Gardens at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: David Gatzke, Cemetery manager, Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery