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Manitou Cenotaph

Manitou, Manitoba, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2010/12/09

Principle view of the Manitou Cenotaph, Manitou, 2011.; Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism, 2011
Principle View
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Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1921/01/01 to 1921/12/31

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2013/02/27

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Manitou Cenotaph is a large and impressive
war memorial, topped with a larger than life-size sculptural figure of a soldier that stands on the west
side of the Town of Manitou's primary thoroughfare, Main Street. The municipal designation applies
to the structure and the small fenced grounds in which it stands.

Heritage Value

The Manitou Cenotaph is
an exceptional example of the kind of affecting tributes that small Manitoba towns put up after World
War I to honour those who gave their lives during that conflict. Manitou's memorial is an especially
fine example of the type, topped with a sculptural figure of a soldier at ease, staring forever into
the distance. Erected in 1921, the frontispiece lists the names of battles, including Ypres, The Somme,
Lens and Hill 70. And the three sides grimly identify the scores of young men from Manitou and the Rural
Municipality of Pembina who never came home. Flanking black tablets feature the names of those who lost
their lives in World War II. Marked by an elegant wrought iron fence, the memorial is a major feature
on Manitou's prime thoroughfare.

Source: Town of Manitou By-law No. 8/2010, 15 October 2010.

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define
the site character of the Manitou Cenotaph include:
- the highly visible and strategic situation on the
west side of Main Street towards the very middle of that thoroughfare and across the street from the
Manitou Town Hall
- the small grassed plot, in which the memorial is centrally sited, ringed by an elegant
wrought-iron fence
- the wide paved path leading from the street to the wrought-iron gates of the site

Key
elements that define the physical character of the cenotaph include:
- the overall formal composition,
featuring a base of Manitoba limestone, consisting of five large steps with rough-cut edges, a tall black
granite block with crisp edges, and culminating in a large sculpted military figure
- the opening inscriptions,
names of battles and names of the local dead from World War I inscribed on all sides of the black granite
block
- the two flanking tablets, facing the street, of black granite and inscribed with the names of
local dead from World War II

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Manitoba

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (MB)

Recognition Statute

Manitoba Historic Resources Act

Recognition Type

Municipal Heritage Site

Recognition Date

2010/12/09

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Governing Canada
Military and Defence

Function - Category and Type

Current

Community
Commemorative Monument

Historic

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Town of Manitou Box 280 261 Main Street Manitou MB R0C 2E0

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

M0359

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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