Legislature cenotaph, flag pole improvements ready next month
A new flagpole and a larger base for the cenotaph on the B.C. legislature lawn are scheduled to be in place next month.
The old concrete slab is being replaced at the statue of the unknown Canadian soldier. The base will be slightly larger for Remembrance Day ceremonies and other events, said Randy Spraggett, facilities manager for the legislature.
The previous slab had settled and was a tripping hazard, he said.
Four new lights are being installed to illuminate the statue at night. Similar lights are in place for statues on the other side of the legislature.
The unknown soldier was unveiled on July 12, 1925. A granite plinth supporting the statue holds plaques honouring Canadians who served in the First World War, the Second World War, Korea, and as peacekeepers.
A new 30-metre-tall steel flagpole will be erected nearby. It is being manufactured in Vancouver and will arrive in sections, which will be welded together.
A powdered-white paint will cover the pole, to mimic the original wooden pole, Spraggett said. It is expected to installed by mid-September, he said.
Unlike the previous pole, it will be free-standing and guy wires will not be needed to support it. The wires were seen as a hazard for people using the lawn.
Created from a Douglas fir tree found on the Dallas Road beach, the original pole was taken down this year because some portions were rotting. It had been standing for almost 120 years. The pole has been saved and parts of it may be reused in the future, Spraggett said.
The original pole had been 150 feet tall when erected. It was found and maintained by Victoria resident Thomas Harman, who for many years, would climb the pole to paint it twice a year.
The province is paying for the the new base and pole, but did not disclose a price.