War memorials and monuments help us better understand our shared heritage and history. They provide places for reflection where we can mourn and remember. For many Canadians, they also serve as silent reminders of the selfless dedication and sacrifices of our Veterans and the fallen, and our eternal debt of gratitude.
Standing almost 2.5 meters tall, the majestic bronze caribou of the Gallipoli Newfoundland Memorial is no different. It truly is a powerful tribute to the brave Newfoundlanders who served during the First World War.
There are now six bronze caribou monuments located overseas, stretching from Courtrai in Belgium to Gallipoli in Türkiye. Together, they form what is known as the "Trail of the Caribou"-marking some of the most important sites where Newfoundlanders fought and died during the First World War. In Canada, another caribou monument stands in Bowring Park in St. John's, facing east towards Europe where Newfoundlanders so bravely served.
Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador,
participated in the dedication ceremony for the Gallipoli Newfoundland Memorial. They were joined by parliamentarians, representatives of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and other officials from Canada and Türkiye.
While in Türkiye, Canadian officials are visiting commemorative sites in the Gallipoli peninsula to pay tribute to the Newfoundlanders and Canadians, and other Allied and Turkish soldiers, who served there during the First World War.
