Beechwood Cemetery — the National Cemetery of Canada: A community of communities in the heart of Ottawa
Beechwood Cemetery has been an integral part of the diverse community fabric of Ottawa since 1873, and is the final resting place for nearly 87,000 Canadians of all denominations and from all walks of life. Originally perceived to be the Anglo-Protestant cemetery of Ottawa, Beechwood is today a full reflection of Canada’s identity as a multicultural, multi-faith society.
Across the picturesque 160 acres of open spaces and tree-shaded groves of this National Historic Site — designated by Parliament in 2009 as the National Cemetery of Canada — special sections have been set aside to meet the interment needs of many of the nation’s religious and ethno-cultural communities. Not all of them are shown here in this guide, but each community is important in its own right, and together make Beechwood Cemetery the cultural meeting place it is today.