The Myth of Closure Few concepts have shaped modern expectations of grief as powerfully, and as inaccurately, as the idea of closure. beechwoodottawa.ca/the-myth-of-...

Why Grief Looks Different for Everyone Grief looks different for everyone because people are different. This is not a comforting generality; it is a practical reality that must be acknowledged if grief is to be understood rather than managed. beechwoodottawa.ca/why-grief-lo...

Don’t throw away a Canadian flag 🇨🇦 Through the Under the Maple Leaf – Respecting the Canadian Flag program, flags are honoured and respectfully retired at Beechwood Cemetery, the National Cemetery of Canada. #Canada #CanadianFlag #RespectTheFlag #Remembrance #Ottawa

Marking 35 Years Since the End of the Gulf War On March 3, 2026, the National Military Cemetery of Canada at Beechwood Cemetery served as the national gathering place to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/mark...

Eulogy – Quick tips for writing and delivering If you have been asked to write and give a loved one’s eulogy—a speech honouring their life—at a funeral or memorial service, you probably have mixed emotions about it. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/eulo...

In the Quiet of Winter: Stewardship, Memory, and Continuity at Beechwood Winter settles differently at Beechwood. The pace slows. Sound softens. Pathways become places of reflection rather than passage. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/quie...

New Edition of the Beechwood Way! Dear Beechwood Community, As we step into a new year, we do so with optimism, purpose, and a clear line of sight on the transformational work ahead. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/new-...

Aider les enfants à parler du deuil - Mon cahier d’accompagnement au deuil (11 ans et moins) Lorsqu’un enfant perd une personne qu’il aime, de nombreux parents craignent de dire la mauvaise chose. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/fr/blog/aide...

Helping Children Talk About Grief - My Grief Companion Workbook (Ages 11 and Under) When a child loses someone they love, many parents worry about saying the wrong thing. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/help...

The Cross of Sacrifice: Architecture, Meaning, and Memory at Beechwood Few memorial forms are as instantly recognizable, or as enduring, as the Cross of Sacrifice. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/cros...

Holding Space for Grief Amid the Holidays The holiday season is marketed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. Yet for many, it is one of the most emotionally complex periods of the year. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/hold...

Honouring Service and Heritage: The Second Annual Lebanese-Canadian Military Remembrance Ceremony www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/hono...

What Remembrance Day Means at the National Military Cemetery Every year on November 11, the National Military Cemetery becomes a place where silence carries a depth of meaning no words can reach. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/what...

The Act of Remembrance: Why These Words Endure “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.” www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/act-...

Why Reconciliation Matters at Beechwood Every September 30, we opens its gates not just as a place of rest, but as a place of learning. On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we dedicate an entire day to education, reflection, and dialogue. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/why-...

Reconciling History Tour For over a century, until 1996, the Canadian Government removed at least 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children from their families to place them in Indian Residential Schools created by and run by Christian churches. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/reco...

The Great Canadian Profiles plaques bear a brief bilingual biography on a person of historical interest who is buried nearby. The plaque program was started in the late 1990s, and there are now over 70 plaques in place, with more being added each year. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grea...

New - The Grief Companion Workbook Grief is love with nowhere to go. This workbook is here to give it a place. Whether your loss is recent or old, whether your grief feels sharp or quiet, there’s room for you here. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grie...

Grief Across Cultures: Diverse Ways to Honour and Remember (Part 5) Grief, while deeply personal, is a universal experience that transcends borders and cultures. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grie...

The RCMP Veterans' Legacy Pathway is more than a landscaped path, it’s a symbolic journey through Canada’s history, values, and the enduring service. Each tree, shrub, and perennial has been chosen not just for beauty, but for the meaning it carries. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/gard...

New: Remembering the North-West Resistance Through Beechwood’s History www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/new-...

In the Gardens: Maackia amurensis: A Subtle Jewel Next to the Memorial Cross Building at Beechwood Cemetery stands an understated yet captivating presence: the Maackia amurensis, or Amur Maackia. Learn more: www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/gard...

Grief and Growth: How Loss Can Teach Us About Living Fully Grief is an inevitable part of life. At some point, we all experience the pain of losing someone we love. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grie...

Canadian Business Leader, Senator, Philanthropist, and Education Advocate: The Honourable Norman McLeod Paterson www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/cana...

Section 29 of the National Military Cemetery: A Place of Honour and Remembrance Section 29 stands as one of the oldest and most significant military burial grounds in Canada’s capital. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/sect...

From Battlefield to Senate Chamber: The Journey of J. Gordon Fogo Q.C., Senator As a young man, Fogo answered the call of duty and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/batt...

A Final Honour: The Last Post Fund Field of Honour at Beechwood Cemetery Tucked within the quiet grounds of Beechwood Cemetery, Canada’s National Cemetery, lies a section of solemn dignity and enduring gratitude - The Last Post Fund Field of Honour. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/fina...

Grief Across Cultures: A World of Traditions for Healing (Part 4) Around the globe, communities have created unique mourning rituals that offer comfort, honour the deceased, and provide pathways to healing. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grie...

New Tours added during summer season If you've been eager to explore Ottawa’s own National Cemetery, now’s the perfect time. The Beechwood Stroll, a free volunteer‑led historical walking tour, has unveiled new dates !!!! www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/new-... #ottawa #ottnews

Unlock Our History: Why Free Access to Canada’s Past Matters More Than Ever A tour at Beechwood is not just a list of facts. It’s a layered, immersive experience. #UnlockOurHistory www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/unlo...

Located at the west entrance to Section 103 is the main monument was dedicated in 2001. The inscription on the back reads, “To the Men and Women of Canada’s Armed Forces Who Have Served Their Country with Distinction in War and Peace”. youtu.be/JMK2mdLpQKg?...

Bringing Children to the Cemetery for the First Time? Here's What to Expect. Read our full guide: 👉https://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/what-expect-bringing-children-cemetery-first-time #BeechwoodCemetery #FamilySupport #LegacyAndRemembrance #CanadianFamilies

The Book of Remembrance at Beechwood Cemetery Tucked within the serene halls of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre lies a powerful and enduring tribute - the Book of Remembrance. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/book...

Planning for the Future of a Loved One’s Ashes For many, keeping the urn of a loved one at home brings comfort, connection, and a sense of closeness. But what happens when the person who made that choice, the “keeper of the urn” passes away? www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/what...

🚨 Last chance to join us June 24, 6:30 PM at Beechwood Cemetery for Spies in the Cemetery 🕵️ 📖 Author David Tremain 📍 280 Beechwood Ave – Sacred Space 🇨🇦 Supports the CSIS National Memorial Cemetery 🎟 Register: www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/foundatio... #OttawaEvents #CSIS

Navigating the Journey of Grief: Finding Your Path to Healing Grief is a natural response to loss, but it is also deeply personal and often unpredictable. It can feel like navigating an uncharted path, filled with twists, turns, and obstacles. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/navi...

Beechwood Cemetery: Where Canada’s Stories Live On Canada’s identity isn’t written in a single language, culture, or faith. It’s written in stories, millions of them, woven together across generations. At Beechwood Cemetery, these stories aren’t forgotten. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/beec...

Ottawa’s First Fire Chief - William Young In 1874, William Young made history when he was appointed Ottawa’s first full-time Fire Chief, tasked with transforming a loose network of volunteers into a professional, organized firefighting force. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/otta...

Remembering the 80th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War The Second World War, a conflict that spanned continents and claimed tens of millions of lives, officially came to an end in 1945. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/reme... #lestweforget #canada #ww2

In the Gardens – Ruby Red Horsechestnut Nestled within the serene Hosta Garden at Beechwood Cemetery stands a remarkable specimen: the Ruby Red Horsechestnut (Aesculus × carnea 'Briotii'). www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/gard...

Honouring 180 Years of Service: The Lasting Legacy of the Sisters of Charity in Ottawa www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/hono...

Honouring a Proud Legacy: Official Opening of the RCMP Veterans’ Legacy Pathway RCMP Veterans, families, and supporters gathered at the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery at Beechwood for the official unveiling of the RCMP Veterans’ Legacy Pathway. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/hono...

Grief Across Cultures: Diverse Paths to Healing (Part 3) Grief is a universal human experience, but the ways in which people respond to loss are shaped by culture, tradition, and belief systems. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/grie...

Fields of Pride Red and white in solemn rows, Where quiet strength and memory grows. Around the stones, their colours blaze, A tribute cast in morning haze. #ottawa

Dawn in Pink and White #ottawa #tulips

🌷 Tulips at Beechwood – Almost Ready! 🌷 While this year’s tulips are just starting to show their colours, we hope you enjoy a look back at last spring’s stunning blooms. More beauty is on the way—stay tuned for fresh photos as the gardens come to life once again! #CanadianTulips #OttawaInBloom

Mother's Day Without Mom: Coping with the Loss of a Mother or Mother Figure Mother’s Day is a time of celebration for many, but for those who have lost their mother or a mother figure, it can be a day filled with longing, sadness, and bittersweet memories.

Un Héritage d'Action : La Biodiversité Menée par les Jeunes et la Vision d'une Réserve de Biosphère Ottawa-Gatineau www.beechwoodottawa.ca/fr/blog/un-h...

At Beechwood Cemetery, Canada’s National Cemetery, every headstone tells a story. Among them are the names of individuals who lived through one of the most formative conflicts in our country’s early history—the War of 1812. www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/reme...