1. World War Two Canadian Memorial Project
Sheffield Park Garden
World War Two Canadian Memorial Project

2. Background SPG was home to over 6,000 Canadian troops throughout WW2
The foundations of an entire WW2 camp can still be found throughout the garden and park
Nowhere was the wartime story of SPG being told
The 70th anniversary of VE day this year gave us the opportunity to tell that story

3. Objectives
To create:
A lasting memorial to commemorate the presence of Canadian forces at SPG
An exhibition that tells the wartime story of SPG to our visitors in an engaging way
An interpretation space where we can tell our visitors stories about the garden and park

4. Parameters
Budget: £7,500
Time: to be delivered to coincide with VE day celebrations (on or around May 8th)
Exhibition to run for 5 years and be modular in nature
Legacy of a permanent exhibition / interpretation space

5. Phase 1: Research Little information to start with. Mostly anecdotal.
Conducted two reminiscence workshops with local people
Contacted Regimental museums and associations
Advert placed in Canadian ‘Legion’ magazine
Visit to ‘The Keep’
Conducted extensive internet and book research
Aldersmith album
Built up picture: who was here, where from, where to, what they did, what SPG was like

6. Phase 2: Design Wartime look and feel Interactive and multi sensory
Using all the space
Modular
Telling a human story

8. Phase 3: Build Planted Canadian Maple, Acer Rubrum ‘Red Sunset’
Installed memorial stone boulder and plaque
Horticultural work around Shant – tidy and open up area
Installation of exhibition
Launch event

9. Results and lessons learnt
Objectives achieved!
Unintended benefit: community engagement
But:
Over budget
Over time
Earlier engagement with stakeholders. Form a project team.
Plan well. Factor in more time particularly for external contractors
Vision vs reality. Constructive challenge. ‘Mission creep’
Doesn’t end here – ongoing story