THE BEECHWOOD CEMETERY

The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation was created in 2000 for the purpose of safeguarding the cemetery’s future, and increasing public awareness of the cemetery and the important events of Canadian history associated with persons buried within it. Since then, Beechwood has grown in national significance, first becoming the home of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces, then being recognized as a National Historic Site in 2001 and finally by becoming the home of the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery in 2004. This culminated in 2009 with Beechwood’s designation as the National Cemetery of Canada by way of Bill C-17, an Act of Parliament that received all-party support in the House of Commons. In 2011, Beechwood became the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery.