Vancouver Island University (VIU) is putting together a video tribute project to honour the fallen soldiers who called Nanaimo home.
The ‘Nanaimo Remembers Project’ video will feature pictures of these soldiers from both the First and Second World Wars and will be displayed at several locations around town.
In the 11 days leading up to Remembrance Day, the names of 200 soldiers will be put on display to honour their memory.
The tribute shares enlightening information about each soldier, when available, including their name, rank and battalion, when they died and at what age, where they were buried, their occupation and their connection to Nanaimo.
VIU points to a specific individual as an example of what people may learn such as Private William Armstrong Syer.
He was a miner and resident of Franklyn Street, who served in the 143rd Battalion. Private Syer was 34-years-old when he died from wounds received in a battle in August 1918. He is now buried in the Crouy British Cemetery in Somme, France.
All the soldiers’ names have been obtained from the Dallas Square Cenotaph and then research was conducted by VIU faculty and students.
The project was launched in 2018 and continues to grow every year as more can be found out about the Nanaimo soldiers who laid their lives on the line.
“Nanaimo Remembers brings to life the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” said Dr. Stephen Davies, Director of VIU’s Canadian Letters and Images Project.
“The project shares details of each soldier’s life, revealing the people behind those names on the cenotaph. You get a deeper sense of what remembrance means.”
Places Nanaimo residents and passersby will be able to view the Nanaimo Remembers Project are:
- VIU’s Welcome Centre, Building 300 at the university’s Nanaimo campus
- Beban Park Community Centre (November 6 to 11)
- Oliver Woods Community Centre (November 6 to 11)
- Port Theatre
- Nanaimo Museum (November 1 to 10, museum is closed November 5,6 and 11)
- Vancouver Island Regional Library: Nanaimo North branch
- School District 68
- Rogers tv (starting Sunday, November 5)
It will also be available on VIU’s YouTube channel.
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