Uncovering London’s Canadian branches
There’s plenty to see on a walk around the city, including historical nods to our home and native land
London’s destiny has always been intertwined with the multinational identities that populate it. While Canada’s presence isn’t all that conspicuous in the British capital, its ties with Britain can be found written into a landscape of narratives.
The maple leaf does flutter in London’s West End, its presence most amply spotted outside Canada House, home to the Canadian High Commission as well as a gallery celebrating the cultural significances belonging to Canada.
A little further away, a slanted fountain that sits within Green Park lies unmarked save for a lone Canadian flag, poppy wreaths and an annotated dial — the Canada Memorial is a dedication and reminder of Canada’s role and sacrifices during the two World Wars.
Bearing the name as well as the pictograph, the Maple Leaf pub on Maiden Lane is only a stone’s throw from Covent Garden.
Amid the Canadian beer selection and hockey memorabilia on the wall, the pervasive accent inside this drinking hole indicates there’s a strong contingent of Canadians who, while living in or visiting the city, manage to find a piece of home in London.
Beside the obvious, the story of Canada is etched and sculpted into the commemorations of historical figures who contributed to the country’s conception.
Among the many statues that line the Mall, explor- ers such as Captain James Cook and Sir John Franklin are immortalized in bronze — but it’s a closer look at the inscriptions that reveals their role in discovering a then-uncharted Canada.
Once a year, London’s famous Trafalgar Square hosts thousands of revelers who attend the Canada Day celebrations, representing the unbreakable bond between the two transatlantic nations.
They may be hidden in plain sight, but with a little Canadian exploratory spirit, the city of fables will reveal its secrets and stories to you.