The Qualicum Beach Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 wants a new cenotaph site build in the community.
Originally located at the waterfront at the intersection of Highway 19A at Memorial Avenue, the cenotaph was removed when the construction of the roundabout took place and was put into storage until a new location has been determined.
The Town of Qualicum Beach has secured a 25-year licence of occupation with the Island Corridor Foundation form a 10 metre-by-10 metre area of land at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and Railway Street for the purpose of a cenotaph. Previously, the cenotaph featured a bronze plaque affixed to a large rock and a flagpole surrounded by decorative grasses and flowers.
The legion is now seeking assistance from the town to design and construct a new and improved cenotaph site on the leased land. This was presented at the committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 1.
Mayor Teunis Westbroek said the former site of the cenotaph at the waterfront was not an ideal site as there was not a lot of room between the walkway and the street for the veterans to gather on.
"Having this (new) location makes far more sense," said Westbroek. "They can walk from the legion to that place."
Westbroek also pointed out the town's plan to create a safe crossing lights near the proposed new cenotaph site.
Staff recommended setting a $40,000 budget in 2025 for the project and putting out a request for proposals to local landscaping contractors to design and build the new cenotaph. The committee endorsed staff's recommendation that will now be forwarded to council for approval.
Staff also plans to consult the legion on the design proposal to ensure it provides a meaningful replacement of the cenotaph that was previously removed.
