War of 1812 Monument - National Capital Commission

Submission
DECISION
For:
Public
No.: 2014-P23e
To: Board of Directors
Date: 2014-01-22
1. TITLE
War of 1812 Monument – Design Approval
2. PURPOSE OF THE SUBMISSION
The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) is proposing a new
monument to commemorate the War of 1812 on the occasion of its upcoming bicentennial. The monument is
to be located on Parliament Hill to the south-east of East Block.
To obtain the approval of the NCC’s Board of Directors with regards to the design of the War of 1812
Monument and associated landscape elements.
3. AUTHORITY
National Capital Act, section 10 (2) and 12
NCC By-laws, section 3.2.19
Canada’s Capital Commemoration Strategic Plan, 2006
4. RECOMMENDATION
THAT the PROPOSED DESIGN for the War of 1812 Monument and associated landscape elements located
on Parliament Hill to the south-east of the East Block BE APPROVED.
5. ISSUES, IMPACTS AND RISKS

This project responds to and supports key strategies identified by the National Capital Commission,
notably:
o
o
Build the Capital by ensuring federal lands are used to their greatest potential in a way that
contributes to the significance and heritage of the Capital.
Support the commemoration of nationally significant events and achievements.

A War of 1812 monument in the Capital was part of the initial ideas proposed in 2009 by the Federal
Government in the preliminary planning phases of the Bicentennial. Given the Government’s
objective of also creating permanent legacies related to this anniversary, the project was later put
forward by PCH as part of an overall Memorandum to Cabinet and received approval in the spring of
2011. In addition, this project also supports PCH’s goal to highlight the significance of the War of
1812 nationally as well as regionally.

Several sites were examined for the War of 1812 Monument, and the Departments of Public Works
(PWGSC) and PCH indicated that a site in the east end of the parking lot south of the East Block,
and west of the statue of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, on Parliament Hill was the preferred site. The Land
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Use Approval was approved in June 2012. There are several considerations that relate specifically to
the design and installation of a monument in this location, including:

The site is located on Parliament Hill, a National Historic Site of Canada, and is located adjacent
to the East Block building, which is a Classified Federal Heritage Building. The grounds of
Parliament Hill have also been listed as Classified by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review
Office (FHBRO). The heritage considerations around the site have influenced the design of the
monument. Some examples include the use of noble materials for the monument, and the lack of
360 degree universal access around the monument itself.

The site possesses a clear visual link to the National War Memorial, which was a factor in the
selection of this site for the War of 1812 Monument. One figure in the monument group has
been designed to be gesturing towards the National War Memorial.

The 1999 Plan for Canada’s Capital supports the protection of views towards the Parliament
Buildings to ensure visual integrity and symbolic privacy. The preferred site falls within the
foreground area View Protection in an area identified as Landscape Design Control. Design
guidelines for the project were developed that allowed for a monument that would enhance
views towards Parliament Hill. The guidelines limited the height and mass of the monument so
that it would not detract from the design of the East Block or overshadow other monuments on
Parliament Hill. The replacement of parking stalls with the monument will greatly improve
views to this part of Parliament Hill.

FHBRO participated in the development of the design guidelines and provided recommendations
at key stages of the design development. FHBRO emphasised the need for a base for the
monument, the use of noble materials and the importance of integrating into the heritage
landscape.

The site is located between the East Block and the South Drive to the north and the historic
grassed slope to the south, with a parking lot to the west and the Laurier monument to the east.
As a result, the site is prevented from hosting large gatherings and ceremonies. The site is
however appropriately scaled to the proposed monument design.

The site is described in the NCC approved Parliament Hill Landscape Plan (2000) as the location
of a pedestrian walkway south of the South Drive. This walkway has been incorporated into the
design of the monument, as has the choice of materials proposed in the Parliament Hill
Landscape Plan.

The presence of a parking lot directly to the west of the commemoration site is addressed in the
Parliament Hill Landscape Plan to maximize the experiential value of the setting for the War of
1812 monument. Potential safety risks are also posed to visitors of the monument by the
movement of vehicles in and out of the parking lot and along South Drive. This risk would be
minimised by the removal of the remaining parking and the implementation of the pedestrian
walkway envisioned in the Parliament Hill Landscape Plan.

The approach to the site will be universally accessible and the monument itself is designed to be
relatively close to the ground and easy to interact with. The viewing plaza allows for a clear
universal accessibility around three sides of the monument. The relatively confined space
available for the monument precludes implementation of an ideal universal accessibility circuit
around the monument.
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The open, uncluttered nature of the site allows for the construction of a monument that will take
into account public safety, potential security concerns, durability and resistance to vandalism.

The NCC has completed an Environmental Decision Record for the War of 1812 Monument as of
October 28, 2013. It was determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse
environmental effects as long as the mitigation measures specified in the environmental effect
analysis report, including the implementation of a monitoring and/or follow-up program, if required,
are effectively implemented. See the Appendix for Details.

The general public has very little previous knowledge of this conflict and therefore the significance
of the War of 1812 will have to continue to be communicated.

The NCC is managing this project on behalf of PCH. The fall of 2014 has been set as the unveiling
date.
6. NEXT STEPS





Continue Design Development
Board Federal Design Approval
Fabrication of artistic elements
Site preparation and construction of monument
Monument unveiling
Dec. 2013 to Feb. 2014
January 2014
Aug. 2013 to Aug. 2014
Aug. 2014 to Oct. 2014
Fall 2014
7. STRATEGIC LINKS
NCC Corporate Plan 2013-2017
Canada’s Capital Commemoration Strategic Plan, 2006
Canada’s Capital Core Area Sector Plan, 2005
Canada’s Capital Views Protection, 2007
8. BACKGROUND
June 2012 marked the beginning of the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812, an important
milestone in the lead-up to the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation in 2017. Over a four year period
(2011-2014), the Government, through the Department of Canadian Heritage, will invest significant funds to
increase Canadians’ awareness of this defining moment in our history.
A War of 1812 monument in the Capital was part of the initial ideas proposed in 2009 by the Federal
Government in the preliminary planning phases of the Bicentennial. Given the Government’s objective of
also creating permanent legacies to this anniversary, the project was later put forward by PCH as part of an
overall Memorandum to Cabinet and received approval in the spring of 2011.
In June 2011, a visioning workshop was held with PCH, Parks Canada, representatives from the Canadian
Commission for UNESCO, Algonquins of Ontario, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada,
and NCC staff to identify the project commemorative objectives and interpretive requirements. Given the
NCC’s past experience with the Valiants Memorial and the Canadian Navy Monument, PCH has asked the
NCC to manage this project on their behalf. All NCC incremental staff costs linked to the undertaking of this
project will be covered as part of the project budget provided by PCH.
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A two-phase national design competition (Phase I – request for qualification / Phase II – concept proposal)
was held, the result of which is to be a major work by a team consisting of a Canadian artist and design
professionals. To provide guidance and set parameters for the design competition, the NCC developed
design guidelines that formed part of the terms of reference for the competition. The NCC’s Advisory
Committee on Design, Planning and Realty and FHBRO both provided comments to assist staff in finalizing
the guidelines. The winning entry selected by the Jury was entitled Triumph Through Diversity, by Sculptor
Adrienne Alison while the integration of the monument into the landscape was to be the work of IBI Group
working in conjunction with the artist.
“In its essence, the monument consists of a circle of bronze figures in dynamic poses on a central, roughhewn stone plinth flanked by two granite boats. The sculpture can be studied and appreciated from all sides,
as it is designed in-the-round, and can be equally appreciated from Wellington Street as from the South
Drive. The cluster of figures in a central mass echoes the existing sculptural style on Parliament Hill and the
adjacent National War Memorial, while providing a fresh, contemporary perspective.” Further description of
the monument concept and technical details can be found in the appendix. Throughout the design
development process, some changes to the design of the monument were proposed, including the addition of
a female figure, a change of pose to the first nations figure and the addition of a small cannon to the group.
The landscape setting for the War of 1812 monument is intended to strike a balance between providing an
appropriate and dignified site for the commemoration while integrating into the historic landscape of
Parliament Hill and implementing a small portion of the Parliament Hill Landscape Plan (2000) where it will
enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of the monument. The monument itself will sit on a
rectangular granite plaza of varying subtle finishes meant to evoke overlapping themes of water and land,
where the War of 1812 was fought. Granite paving bands will extend both to the east and west into planned
limestone sidewalks providing a transition to the typical walkway materials envisioned for this part of
Parliament Hill. The landscape plan also provides space for the future planting of trees described in the
Parliament Hill Landscape Plan. Additional description of the landscape design for the monument can be
found in the appendix.
9. ANALYSIS OF OPTIONS
N/A
10. CONSULTATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS


PWGSC, RCMP and PCH’s final review of the design
War of 1812 monument’s unveiling
End of Jan. 2014
Fall 2014
PWGSC, PCH and the NCC are jointly responsible for communications.
11. LIST OF APPENDICES
 Appendix 1 – War of 1812 Monument – Landscape Design
 Appendix 2 – NCC Environmental Decision Record
12. SUBMISSION AUTHORS
Fred Gaspar, Acting Vice President, Capital Planning and Environmental Management Branch
Jason Hutchison, Landscape Architect, Design and Land Use
Carole Crossan, Project Manager, Landscape Architect, Real Estate Management, Design and Construction
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Appendix 1 – War of 1812 Monument – Landscape Design
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Appendix 2 – Environmental Decision Record - War of 1812 Monument
Provided by NCC Environmental Services Staff
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WAR OF 1812
MONUMENT
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL
NCC BOARD PRESENTATION // JANUARY 2014
INTRODUCTION
The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage
(PCH) is proposing a new monument to commemorate the War of 1812 on the
occasion of its upcoming bicentennial. The monument is to be located on
Parliament Hill to the south-east of East Block.
We desire to obtain Design Approval from the NCC Board of Directors for the
Proposed Design of the War of 1812 Monument and associated landscape
elements.
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
PREVIOUS APPROVALS AND AGREEMENTS
A War of 1812 monument in the Capital was part of the initial ideas proposed in 2009 by the
Federal Government in the preliminary planning phases of the Bicentennial. Given the
Government’s objective of also creating permanent legacies related to this anniversary, the
project was later put forward by Canadian Heritage (PCH) as part of an overall
Memorandum to Cabinet and received approval in the spring of 2011. In addition, this
project also supports PCH’s goal to highlight the significance of the War of 1812 nationally
as well as regionally.
PCH has asked the NCC to manage this project on its behalf. The NCC has been
compensated to recover the incremental staff costs required to undertake the national
design competition, oversee the detailed design development and construction of the
monument and its site. The fall of 2014 has been set as the unveiling date.
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
SITE CONTEXT
Located on Parliament Hill, a
National Historic Site of Canada
Proximity and thematic link to the
National War Memorial
Adjacent to Confederation
Boulevard
High visibility (vehicular and
pedestrian)
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
DETAILED SITE LAYOUT
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
PARLIAMENT HILL – Landscape Plan Overlay
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
Triumph Through Diversity – Competition Maquette
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
Triumph Through Diversity – Final Design Sketch
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument – Interim Design with Parking Intact
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument
– Renderings of Interim Design with Parking Intact
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument
– Renderings of Interim Design with Parking Intact
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument – Interm Design with Parking Removed
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument – Long Term Design
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
War of 1812 Monument – Renderings of Long Term Design
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the PROPOSED DESIGN for the War of 1812 Monument and
associated landscape elements located on Parliament Hill to the southeast of the East Block BE APPROVED.
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT
QUESTIONS ?
JANUARY 2014
FEDERAL DESIGN APPROVAL // WAR OF 1812 MONUMENT

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