World War Two Canadian Memorial Project Sheffield Park Garden World War Two Canadian Memorial Project

Background SPG was home to over 6,000 Canadian troops throughout WW2 The foundations of an entire WW2 camp can still be found throughout the garden and park Nowhere was the wartime story of SPG being told The 70th anniversary of VE day this year gave us the opportunity to tell that story

Objectives To create: A lasting memorial to commemorate the presence of Canadian forces at SPG An exhibition that tells the wartime story of SPG to our visitors in an engaging way An interpretation space where we can tell our visitors stories about the garden and park

Parameters Budget: £7,500 Time: to be delivered to coincide with VE day celebrations (on or around May 8th) Exhibition to run for 5 years and be modular in nature Legacy of a permanent exhibition / interpretation space

Phase 1: Research Little information to start with. Mostly anecdotal. Conducted two reminiscence workshops with local people Contacted Regimental museums and associations Advert placed in Canadian ‘Legion’ magazine Visit to ‘The Keep’ Conducted extensive internet and book research Aldersmith album Built up picture: who was here, where from, where to, what they did, what SPG was like

Phase 2: Design Wartime look and feel Interactive and multi sensory Using all the space Modular Telling a human story

Phase 3: Build Planted Canadian Maple, Acer Rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Installed memorial stone boulder and plaque Horticultural work around Shant – tidy and open up area Installation of exhibition Launch event

Results and lessons learnt Objectives achieved! Unintended benefit: community engagement But: Over budget Over time Earlier engagement with stakeholders. Form a project team. Plan well. Factor in more time particularly for external contractors Vision vs reality. Constructive challenge. ‘Mission creep’ Doesn’t end here – ongoing story