Media Advisory: Living Tribute Being Added to Beechwood Cemetery
OTTAWA, ON - On Thursday, June 6th, a special ceremony will be held at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The ceremony will feature the ground-breaking and announcement of a Canadian Tulip Festival & Highway of Heroes Living Tribute commemorative garden. The ceremony will be hosted by Mark Cullen, Canada’s gardening guru, Campaign Chair and co-founder of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and is sponsored by Frank Cowan Company.
| Date: | Thursday, June 6th, 2019 |
| Where: | Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa |
| Time: | Media Check In: 9:45 a.m. |
| In Attendance: | Mark Cullen, Campaign Chair, Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign |
| RSVP Contact: | Laura Steen |
| Onsite Contact: | Mike Hurley Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Cell: 647.292.7794 mike@treesforheroes.ca |
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About The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign
When is a tree more than just a tree? The answer is when the tree is part of a memorial to honour Canada’s fallen heroes. We are planting 2,000,000 trees between Trenton and Toronto, one tree for every Canadian that has served during times of conflict since Confederation and including the war of 1812. 117,000 of the most prominent trees will be planted along and near the stretch of the 401 known as the Highway of Heroes, one tree for every life lost while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. This tribute offers an opportunity to tell the story of those that have served in the Armed Forces and remind travellers along the highway of the great debt we owe these courageous Canadians. It will also provide a myriad of environmental benefits for generations to come. The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is supported by Veterans Affairs Canada, the Government of Ontario, Mark’s Choice, Landscape Ontario, TD Bank, Frank Cowan Company, Tree Canada, Every Tree Counts (a partnership between Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation and the City of Toronto), Harrington & Associates, Rotary District 7070, Maple Leaves Forever, the Garden Club of Toronto, and the Canadian Tulip Festival.
To learn more, visit www.hohtribute.ca.
About Frank Cowan Company
Frank Cowan Company is a Canadian leader in providing specialized insurance programs, including risk management and claims services for municipalities and public service, healthcare, education, community, children’s and social service organizations across Canada.
For additional information about Frank Cowan Company, visit www.frankcowan.com.
About The Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival was established to celebrate the historic Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians immediately following the Second World War as a symbol of international friendship. The Festival preserves the memorable role of the Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe, as well as commemorates the birth of Dutch Princess Margriet in Ottawa during World War II—the only royal personage ever born in Canada.
This festival is governed by a non-profit charitable organization Board of Directors chaired by Mr. Grant Hooker. The Canadian Tulip Festival has been celebrating the tulip, an international symbol of friendship and peace, since 1953. The first Canadian Tulip Festival was led by the Ottawa Board of Trade (now the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce), at the suggestion of world renowned photographer Malak Karsh. (www.tulipfestival.ca)
About Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood is the National Cemetery of Canada and is the home of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces, National RCMP Memorial Cemetery, the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery, the CSIS Cemetery and many more organizations and religious groups. Beechwood has been proudly serving our community since 1873.
Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services is owned by The Beechwood Cemetery Foundation and operates on a not-for-profit basis. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, it is the only organization of its kind in Ottawa.