The National War Memorial stands at Confederation Square, at the foot of Parliament Hill, and has been the emotional heart of Ottawa since its unveiling in 1939. The tall granite arch is surmounted by bronze allegorical figures representing peace and freedom, with a procession of twenty-two bronze soldiers, sailors and nurses marching through the arch beneath them. The monument is rarely quiet: at its base sits the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with a perpetual honour guard during daylight hours.
The memorial is the site of Canada's National Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 each year, attended by the Governor General, Prime Minister and thousands of veterans and citizens. It is also a constant informal gathering point — people lay flowers, touch the stone, and pause in the centre of a busy city. The square itself connects Sparks Street, the Rideau Canal locks, and the Château Laurier hotel, making it one of the best places in Ottawa to get a sense of the city's geography and history at once.