in Ottawa: National Holocaust Monument

According to the National Capital Commission website / NCC “the National Holocaust Monument entitled Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival, ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust, as well as the remarkable contribution Holocaust survivors have made to Canada, remain within the national consciousness for generations to come. The Holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history, was the mass extermination of over six million Jews and countless other victims. In September 2017, the Government of Canada inaugurated the National Holocaust Monument at the corner of Wellington and Booth streets in Canada’s Capital (…) When entering the monument, visitors descend into a sombre space defined by concrete walls that form six triangular volumes, creating the points of a Star of David, surrounding a central gathering space. The walls vary in height and inclination, achieving a dynamic geometry, with views that change as visitors move through and around the monument. Within the lower area, images and facts about the Holocaust are presented, including six photographic landscapes of Holocaust sites painted on the walls, as well as a 21-panel interpretive exhibit. Visitors also ascend to an upper terrace with views to the surrounding city and Peace Tower, symbolizing hope for the future. A soaring 14-metre-high triangular contemplation space features a Flame of Remembrance. Surrounding the star is a landscape inspired by the Canadian boreal forest, a harsh environment with low-growing coniferous plants and a rocky ground plane that symbolizes the adaptability and resilience of Canadian survivors.” According to the Canadian Heritage website “the interior of the monument features a large gathering area for commemorative and educational activities, an interpretive exhibit and six murals depicting contemporary photographs of Holocaust sites. There is also a space for quiet reflection, as well as a terrace with views of the Capital’s downtown core including Canada’s democratic institutions. The monument design fully integrates architecture, landscape, art, and interpretation and communicates themes of hardship and suffering while conveying a powerful message of humanity's enduring strength and survival. The members of the design team of the monument are Lord Cultural Resources (cultural planners), Daniel Libeskind (architect), Edward Burtynsky (artist-photographer), Claude Cormier (landscape architect) and Doris Bergen (Holocaust scholar).” These photos were taken in August 2022.