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Beechwood National Memorial Centre Grand Opening - News Release   The Governor General Opens the Beechwood National Memorial Centre:  ‘A National Place of Tribute’   OTTAWA, April 7, 2008 – Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, opened the new Beechwood National Memorial Centre today.  Assembled for the occasion at historic Beechwood Cemetery were national and local dignitaries; community and business leaders; military, RCMP and police officials; distinguished guests; families and friends. The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation dream of fulfilling Canada’s longstanding need for a facility designed to serve the memorial needs of all Canadians was made a reality today. “Canada and Beechwood Cemetery have come of age, and the time is right to create a national place of memorialization for Canadian families of all faiths and backgrounds,” said Grete Hale, Chair of the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation. The Beechwood National Memorial Centre, designed by Ottawa’s Robertson Martin Architects, was created to meet the requirements of large and small memorial services for the community, both local and national. The 14,000 square foot facility consists of a magnificent nine-sided Sacred Space, a Hall of Colours that features the laid-up colours of Canada’s army, air force and naval regiments, and a beautiful memorial window to honour Canada’s Military Chaplains as well as two large reception rooms. “Today, with her Excellency in attendance, we are opening more than a facility, we are opening a hallowed place where all will feel welcomed as they deal with the grief over the loss of a loved family member; a place where the healing can begin,” said Padre Gerry Peddle, the former Chaplain General of the Canadian Forces and Vice-Chair of the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation.To ensure that Canadians of all faiths and backgrounds feel at home and welcome in the Centre, extensive consultations were held with major faith leaders. As a result, the Beechwood National Memorial Centre can accommodate different observances. The Sacred Space and reception rooms can be configured to suit the memorial needs of each individual family. This multi-faith facility is believed to be the first of its kind in the world and is already gathering national and international attention. “The Beechwood National Memorial Centre is a unique, national place where we can honour our military men and women, our RCMP, our police, our veterans, our Canadian leaders as well as our everyday heroes. The facility, alongside Beechwood Cemetery, will serve the memorial needs of all Canadians, as well as serving as an educational tool where children, their families, the community and the country can learn our rich history, culture and common heritage. Here life, in all its diversity and splendour, will be celebrated,” said Sylvia Ceacero, the Executive Director of the Beechwood Cemetery and Foundation. Beechwood Cemetery celebrates its 135th anniversary this year. Since its establishment in 1873, more than 75,000 Canadians from all of walks of life, including many prominent Canadians such as Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden, Senator Maurice Lamontagne, Tommy Douglas, Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn, General Andrew McNaughton, Sir Sanford Fleming and poet Archibald Lampman, have found their final resting place at Beechwood. Beechwood Cemetery obtained designation as a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 2001. In the same year it became the official National Military Cemetery of Canada and in 2004 it became an RCMP National Memorial Cemetery. Today’s opening of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre is an additional milestone in the illustrious history of Beechwood. These dreams have been achieved thanks to the Foundation’s vision of a cemetery of national relevance and importance. The next milestone is to obtain designation as the National Cemetery of Canada. “Establishing a national cemetery in Canada’s capital would serve as a symbol of Canadian unity and pride, and as a means of preserving and promoting Canada’s rich history and diversity,” said Sylvia Ceacero, Executive Director of Beechwood.Beechwood is owned and operated by The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation, a not-for-profit organization and registered Canadian charity. Media contacts: Lisa Robertson  (613) 739-7032 Susan Wright    (613) 730-2020