Field of Crosses Memorial Project; supported by Global Calgary

The mission and the commitment of the Field of Crosses Memorial organization is to assure that present and future generations always remember and never forget the thousands of men and women from Southern Alberta and across Canada who gave their tomorrows for our today.

Ways to Participate:

• Walk among the crosses all day and night through the 5-acre memorial that’s lit 24/7 between Nov 1-11.
• Sunrise and Sunset Ceremonies are held each day from November 1 until November 10.
  • The public is always welcome, please arrive 15 minutes prior to sunrise or sunset.
• Night of Lights – On November 10th lanterns are placed in front of each cross and will burn from sunset until sunrise.
  •  In preparation for the Night of Lights, only volunteers will be allowed on site between 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on this day.
• A Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at the field on November 11.
  • Parking is very restricted in the parking lot adjacent to the field this day. It is recommended that people park on the South side of the river in the Eau Claire area and walk the short distance across the bridge to the field.
  • Memorial Drive, directly in front of the Field of Crosses, will be closed from 9 a.m. until after the ceremony.
  • The ceremony will be televised on Global Calgary and streamed on Globalnews.ca/calgary at 10:30 a.m.

For a full listing of event details, click here.

Each morning from November 1 to November 10, at sunrise, a moving flag-raising ceremony is held and school choirs, military pageantry, buglers, pipers, silver star families and honoured guests pay tribute to our fallen. Each evening at sunset a similar service is held and flags are lowered. Each morning, following the sunrise service, school students, veterans and special guests are hosted to breakfast at a nearby Legion where veterans and police officers sit with students and engage in meaningful conversations. On November 11 a touching Remembrance Day service is held and attended by over 5,000 and televised and streamed to 300,000 more.

Each November 3500 crosses are erected in a park along Memorial Drive, in Calgary, to pay tribute individually to the thousands of Southern Albertans who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom.  In addition, a separate part of the park is set aside, with 120 unique crosses, for a special memorial to the 120,000 heroes from across Canada who lost their lives fighting for this great country.  All day and night people walk through the 5-acre memorial, which is lit 24/7, reading the crosses and being reminded that our freedom was not free.

The Canadian Army Veterans Ypres 3 CAV, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers assist in this extensive undertaking, cleaning the crosses, installing the bases, erecting and taking down and storing the crosses.