Monument to Aid Workers
Backgrounder
The inspiration ...
On November 23, 1996, Tim Stone - a PATH Canada Director with expertise in developing low-cost health options for communities overseas-boarded a plane in Ethiopia that was hijacked shortly after takeoff. The plane later ran out of fuel and crashed. Tim was not one of the survivors.
Just three weeks later, Nancy Malloy - a nurse on her fifth international mission for the Canadian Red Cross since 1990 - was murdered in her sleep at a hospital compound in Chechnya. Losing the lives of both these extraordinary individuals in such quick succession prompted members from PATH Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Canadian Nurses Association to begin searching for ways to honour their colleague's contributions and sacrifice.
The vision ...
Once the search began, it was quickly discovered that there was no existing public tribute to those who die carrying out development and humanitarian work. It was important to find a way to highlight Canada's long-standing leadership role in the international development field, and honour the commitment and dedication displayed by individual Canadians aid workers. It was then that the idea for a Monument to Canadian Aid Workers was conceived and quickly grew into a major undertaking. Key benchmarks in making this dream a reality include:
The Canadian International Development Agency committing 50% of the funding required to complete the project.
The National Capital Commission donating the land and assuming responsibility for maintaining the monument at the site of the Canada and the World Pavilion by Rideau Falls Park, in Ottawa.
A national competition to find a design for the monument resulting in dozens of impressive submissions including the final selection entitled 'Reflection' by John Greer, an award-winning professor of sculpture from Halifax.
The development of a permanent record of Canadian aid workers who died while working overseas which will eventually accompany the Monument at Rideau Falls.
The result ...
After four years of hard work the combined efforts of many different organizations and individuals have made the dream of a tribute to Canadian Aid Workers a reality. The Monument was unveiled on June 28th, 2001 and serves as a daily reminder of the courageous spirit and open hearts of all Canadian aid workers. It can be viewed by the public any time at 50 Sussex Drive, by Rideau Falls, in Ottawa.
For more information please contact:
Red Cross media line
613-740-1928
Susan Brennan
Media Relations
Canadian Nurses Association
Tel: (613) 237-2159 ext. 312
E-mail: media@cna-aiic.ca
Sian Fitzgerald
Executive Director
PATH Canada
Phone: (613) 241-3927 x314
E-mail: sfitzgerald@pathcanada.org
|
