April 16, 2026

First World War Memorial Statue Rededicated at Brookside Cemetery

A First World War memorial that once stood at the corner of Portage and Main has found a permanent new home in Brookside Cemetery’s Field of Honour (National Historic Site) at 3001 Notre Dame Avenue.

The bronze soldier was rededicated on April 9, 2026, chosen deliberately to coincide with the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The ceremony drew representatives from the City of Winnipeg, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the Royal Canadian Legion, the Bank of Montreal, and members of the public.

The statue dates back to December 5, 1923, when it was unveiled outside the Bank of Montreal’s building at 335 Main Street, taking the place of a temporary cenotaph that had stood there since 1920. The bank commissioned the piece to honour 231 of its employees from across the country who died in the war. The sculptor, American artist James Earle Fraser, based the soldier’s likeness on Captain Wynn Bagnall, a Winnipeg bank employee who had served with the 58th Brigade of the Canadian Field Artillery.

The move traces back to 2020, when the MMF bought the old Bank of Montreal building with plans to turn it into the Red River Métis National Heritage Centre. As the Portage and Main intersection reopened to foot traffic and redevelopment moved forward in the area, the Federation took on responsibility for the monument and eventually gifted it to the City of Winnipeg to secure its future.

Its new location is fitting, Brookside’s Field of Honour is one of the country’s oldest and largest military cemeteries, holding the graves of more than 10,000 veterans and service members. The statue now stands among the very people it was built to honour.

At the ceremony, Shawn Nault, the MMF’s Minister responsible for Red River Métis Veterans, said the monument belongs “to the people, to history, and to those who served,” adding that transferring it to the City would guarantee its lasting care and public accessibility. (Tavi Dhillon, “WWI Memorial Statue Relocated in Winnipeg, Rededicated to All Who Served,” Global News, April 9, 2026.)

Mayor Scott Gillingham echoed that sentiment, saying the memorial’s mission hasn’t changed even though its address has. He noted that surrounded by fellow veterans at Brookside, the statue’s story of service and sacrifice carries even greater weight.

What began as a tribute to 231 fallen bank employees has grown into a monument that now honours all Canadians who served. In its new setting, this piece of Winnipeg history will keep that legacy alive for decades to come.

Featured Image: The First World War Memorial Statue, 2026. Source: Heritage Winnipeg.