At the top of the stairs is a platform overlooking the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. Commissioned during the First World War, after a fire destroyed much of the House of Parliament, the Peace Tower is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers who died defending democracy. It remains an iconic symbol of Canadian democracy.
One of the lessons of the Holocaust is that democracy is fragile. It is our duty as Canadians to guard our democracy by engaging in civic life to ensure hate and violence are not tolerated and that our democratic institutions are not weakened.
The Gardens at the Top of the Stairs
Inspired by the northern Boreal Forest, this garden surrounding the Monument was created by Quebec-based landscape architect, Claude Cormier (1960-2023). Featuring dwarf coniferous trees that cover more than half of Canada, the landscape is a powerful symbol of the strength and adaptability of the survivors who came to Canada.