25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Royal Canadian Legion joins Veterans Affairs Canada at the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

On May 28, 2025, The Royal Canadian Legion joined Veterans Affairs Canada in Ottawa to mark the 25th anniversary of Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, first interred that same date in 2000. 

Key Points

• The Legion shared how the memorial came to be: its conception, the careful design process (using the Legion’s template based on the Vimy Memorial altar), and the extensive collaboration between government, the Legion, and the community that made the tomb possible. 

• Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Larry Murray (then Deputy Minister with VAC) spoke of the teamwork and diligence behind the project. Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Duane Daly (formerly the Legion’s Dominion Secretary and project director) also recalled early challenges and how public and governmental support helped overcome them.

• The commemoration included wreath-laying by dignitaries such as the Governor General, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and others. Students participated by sharing the story of one unknown soldier from World War I whose grave remains unknown. 

• Ceremonial elements included the placing of poppies at the tomb, a Remembrance torch, and a fly-past by a CH-147F Chinook helicopter. 

• The tomb continues to be a space for reflection year-round: visited by students and citizens, and it remains central to Remembrance Day observances.