Elmwood Cemetery, along the Red River, is one of Winnipeg’s oldest and largest cemeteries. It is a non-denominational cemetery. Included in the cemetery is a small section historically designated for military graves. This is marked with a Royal Canadian Legion flag.
We visited Elmwood Cemetery to pay respects to my maternal grandfather who is buried in the military section. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War I, serving with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). He remained in active service with the PPCLI after the war, stationed in Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg. He died in Winnipeg in 1922.
Grandfather Ager, a Warrant Officer 2, is in good company, lying beside a Lieutenant Colonel, and a decorated Staff Sergeant. The fourth grave here is a Captain. All distinguished soldiers in this group. The simple granite slab headstones are used for military graves which have no permanent marker. My grandfather had a ground marker many years ago, but that was replaced with the slab marker more than a decade ago. This was an initiative of the Last Post Fund which, although not part of Veterans Affairs, administers the Funeral and Burial Program for that government department.
Elmwood Cemetery is a beautiful park-like setting. Mature trees, mainly oak, create shade for the visitors. The Red River flowing adjacent to the cemetery adds an eternal dimension to the location. Although I was there with specific purpose, a walk around this cemetery was a peaceful interlude in our busy trip west. It was quiet and restful in Elmwood. I can understand how, in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it was popular to take a picnic to the cemetery and enjoy the ambience while visiting the relatives who had moved to another realm.
Leave a Reply