National War Memorial & Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Client

Government of Newfoundland & Labrador

Location

St. John’s, NL

Date Completed

July 2024

Project Team

CBCL Limited, Morgan MacDonald

Recognition

• 2025 Southcott Award, NL Historic Trust

• 2025 Award of Excellence, Canadian Society of Landscape Architects

• 2024 Award of Excellence, Atlantic Provinces Association of Landscape Architects

• 2024 Award of Excellence, Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador

• 2024 Atlantic Award of Excellence, Landscape NS / NB / PEI / NL

Project Summary

The National War Memorial in downtown St. John’s is a place of profound national significance. Constructed in 1924, twenty-five years before Newfoundland joined Confederation, it is the oldest war memorial of its kind in Canada and stands as a powerful testament to Newfoundland’s service and sacrifice.

As the Memorial approached its centennial, the Province undertook a deeply meaningful initiative: the repatriation of an Unknown Soldier who served with distinction for Newfoundland during the First World War. This fallen soldier was laid to rest at the Memorial, an act that both honored individual sacrifice and reinforced the site’s enduring symbolic importance.

Our team was privileged to design the tomb for the Unknown Soldier and to lead a comprehensive refurbishment of the entire War Memorial site. The project encompassed extensive improvements to accessibility, a careful evaluation of existing lighting and mature trees, and the renewal of aging infrastructure and public spaces. This work ensures the National War Memorial continues to serve as a dignified, inclusive, and contemplative place of remembrance for generations to come.