The Mission
The mission of the Atlantic Memorial Park project is to create a seaside journey of remembrance that brings Canada’s military history home.
The location of this purposed park is at the entrance to Sydney Harbour, an area which is steeped in military history dating back to the late 1800’s. The project area is intended to span over a 120 acre area, and see multiple projects constructed in phases over a 5-year time period.
Park components will include a restored Chapel Point Battery, a family park, a First Nations encampment, walking trails in a large woodland area, a beautiful ocean beach, and a feature monument on a spectacular cliff side setting overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Funding will be handled through a combination of government funding, private donations, community contributions, crowd funding, and other special events. The estimated cost is in the range of $15-$25 million. The Park will be completed in phases, over a 5 year period beginning with the restoration of the Chapel Point Battery.
Donor Recognition Program
The AMP Society has created a Donors Recognition Program. Please refer to the Donations Section of the Website where the program is described and a list of current donors is provided.
THE TIME IS NOW!
WE NEED YOUR HELP
TO RAISE $75,000
THE AMP SOCIETY
PROPONENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF
THE ATLANTIC MEMORIAL PARK
FOR
CAPE BRETON AND CANADA
NEEDS THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE
AND CORPORATE DONORS NOW!
TO HELP US RAISE
$75,000
TO AUGMENT OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDING
WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP MAKE THE PROPOSED
ATLANTIC MEMORIAL PARK BECOME A REALITY.
The project has the endorsement of Mayflower Mall, Destination Cape Breton, Port of Sydney Development Corporation, Membertou First Nation, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and the Dominion Command Royal Canadian Legion, N.S./ Nunavut Command Royal Canadian Legion, as well as many other agencies and local Service Clubs.
PLEASE DONATE AS EXPLAINED IN THE DONORS SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE.
Important AMP Society Annoucement
Today, May 27 2019 Northern Contracting Ltd began the restoration of the Command Post of the historic Chapel Point Battery – Phase 1 of the development of the Atlantic Memorial Park.
The completion of the Atlantic Memorial Park at the entrance to Sydney Harbour will provide visitors with an educational experience unlike any other. The mission statement resonates with Canadians; “to create a seaside journey of remembrance that brings Canada’s military history home”. The proposed park is located in a spectacular ocean side setting. It will provide a unique opportunity for Canadians and other visitors to learn about Canada’s military sacrifices overseas and the role of Sydney Harbour during the Battle of the Atlantic. It will represent a gesture of national closure for the approximately 115000 personnel lost during the wars-none of whom could be repatriated to Canada. It will operate as a focal point for commemoration of Canada’s veterans. The educational materials will not glorify war nor shy away from its tragedies. The message “never again” will be prominent .The Park also provides a unique opportunity for First Nations reconciliation through recognition of their military and cultural contributions. Outstanding tourism and economic benefits will be realized
The 120 acre Park will be comprised of an unmatched combination of features that will include:
Phase 1
-
The restored historic wartime fortification known as the Chapel Point Battery. - the subject of the current announcement
Phase 2
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A Mi’kmaq encampment and annual veterans pow-wow
Phase 3
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A family playground and beautiful beach centrally located in the Park.
Phase 4
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A feature monument facing Vimy and a replica Vimy battlefield
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An Arch Of Remembrance at the Park entrance displaying the coats of arms of Canada’s provinces and territories
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A modern visitor education centre containing the latest methods for displaying and communicating information
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Provincial Books of sacrifice
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Memorials to Canada’s overseas military sacrifices and the historic Sydney Harbour contributions
The Command Post restoration is on schedule for completion by Dec 2019 and will be open to the public in 2020. Future tenders will be issued for fencing, signage, welcome centre and an engineered walking trail from the beach to the Command Post. For further information contact Brian Ferguson at 902-322-8509 or Cyril Aker at 902-577-7577.
The Cape Breton Highlanders and the Shaping of Canada: Conference on Military and Social History
Call for Papers
Cape Breton Highlanders Association / Cape Breton University / Atlantic Memorial Park September 30, 2021 at Cape Breton University,Sydney, Nova Scotia
On 13 October 1871, the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry was officially organized and headquartered at Baddeck, Victoria County, Nova Scotia. The battalion, known today as the Cape Breton Highlanders, drew from settler and immigrant communities to Cape Breton Island in the 19th century – largely Highlanders of Scottish origin whose families had arrived in the previous decades. One hundred and fifty years later, in October of 2021, the Cape Breton Highlanders are again coming together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their organization. In recognition of this most august event, Cape Breton University in conjunction with the Cape Breton Highlanders Association and the Atlantic Memorial Park are hosting a one-day conference (30 September 2021) on the history and influence of the Cape Breton Highlanders, the military history of Canada between 1871 and the present, as well as related areas of social history. This conference will commence a three-day schedule of events relating to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Cape Breton Highlanders, culminating with a formal Presentation of Colours on Saturday, 2 October 2021.
The conference will bring together scholars from a variety of disciplines as well as members of the Canadian military, policymakers, representatives of heritage organizations and museums, and community-based projects involving military and social history in Canada. We encourage the submission of individual papers or full panel proposals. Possible themes include any aspect of the history of the Cape Breton Highlanders, First Nations and Mi’kmaq contributions to Canada’s military, life on the home front (broadly considered), and Heritage and Commemoration of Canada at War.Papers will also be considered for inclusion in a special journal issue or edited collection. The Cape Breton Highlanders and the Shaping of Canadais being co-organized by Cape Breton University (www.cbu.ca), the Cape Breton Highlanders Association, and the Atlantic Memorial Park (www.ampheroes.ca). Presenters should plan to cover their own travel and accommodations, although the organizers will be applying for a grant that may help to defray some of these costs.
Proposals should include a 250-word paper abstract and a CV.
We ask that you submit your proposal by email to (highlandersconference@gmail.com) by 28 February 2020
Events
[ecs-list-events cat='Events']News
Chapel Point Battery News Release, Nov 2018:
The Atlantic Memorial Park has received support for the Chapel Point Battery Click here to read the statement.Statement by Jane Cordy
Nova Scotia Senator Jane Cordy has issued a statement regarding the Sydney area, and the proposed Atlantic Memorial Park. Click here to read the statement.Other Project related news:
- The Web Development class of Nova Scotia Community College Marconi Campus have designed the AMP Society website as a special class project.
- Business students from the Cape Breton University MBA class are working with the AMP Society on a business case analysis of the Atlantic Memorial Park project.
- Several articles, and letters to the Editor have appeared in the Cape Breton Post.
- A senior staff officer from Veterans Affairs Canada has provided advice, and assistance in linking the key partners for the initiative.
- The Dillon Consulting Group. will complete the plan for the restoration of the Chapel Point Battery by Nov 30, 2017, and a subsequent presentation will be made to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council.
- Applications to government agencies to assist in funding the restoration of the Chapel Point Battery are underway. A funding strategy to reach corporate, and private donors is being developed. It will be initiated by the beginning of 2018
- Active Consultations are continuing with key partners, and supporters mentioned Also various foundations including the Vimy Foundation.
Letters of support/endorsements have been received from:
- Destination Cape Breton.
- Business Cape Breton.
- The Port of Sydney Development Corporation.
- CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke, and Councillor Clarence Prince.
- Branch 008 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- MLA Eddie Orell.
- Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command Executive.
- Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Hundreds of supporting signatures from local community members.
Presentations have been made over the past several months, including to the following organizations, and individuals:
- The Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
- Staff of the former Minister of Veterans.
- Several Legion branches in the Cape Breton Region.
- The Provincial Convention of the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.
- Several community, and volunteer groups.
- Federal Member of Parliament, Mark Eyking.
- Provincial MLA Geoff Maclellan.
- Federal Member of Parliament, Rodger Cuzner.
- Former Provincial MLA Dave Wilton.
- Representatives of the Cruise Ship Industry.
Updated Funding Information (March 2018):
- A plan for the restoration of the historic Chapel Point Battery has been completed and fund raising is underway.
- Donations would be appreciated to help with the funding. Please make cheques payable to the AMP Society. Tax receipts will be provided. Please mail cheques to Robert Blinkhorn, Treasurer, 60 Mae Ave. Sydney Mines N.S B1V1A8. Payment by credit card is also available in the Donations section of this website.
- The restoration plan was presented to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Executive Council and was very positively received.
- The Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian legion has communicated its endorsement of the Atlantic Memorial Park project to its 1430 branches across Canada. This is an important indication of the wide spread support for this initiative.