The Saskatchewan government officially dedicated Room 218 of the Legislative Building as the “Hall of Valour” on April 22, creating a permanent space to honour the province’s military personnel and Victoria Cross recipients.
Read more: Treaty Learning Journey brings truth to Lloydminster
Premier Scott Moe and Provincial Military Liaison Blaine McLeod joined members of the Canadian Armed Forces and veterans for the ceremony, which marked a formal naming of the space that has housed portraits of 15 Saskatchewan Victoria Cross recipients since 2018.
“The brave men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces are deserving of our gratitude, whether they have served in times of conflict or peace,” Moe said in a statement. “The Hall of Valour stands as a lasting expression of our remembrance and appreciation for that service.”
The room features a bronze inscription at its entrance and a plaque dedicating the space to those who served with “great courage and valour.”
The dedication comes as the province continues to push for federal changes to military recognition. On April 15, McLeod joined veterans in Ottawa to present a petition calling for the creation of an Independent Military Honours Review Board to modernize the Victoria Cross award process.
“Now is the time to restore the honour of the Victoria Cross and recognize the bravery and valour in the presence of the enemy demonstrated by armed forces personnel,” McLeod said.
The Victoria Cross remains the highest honour in the Commonwealth. While approximately 100 Canadians were awarded the medal between 1856 and 1945, the Canadian version of the honour, established in 1993, has yet to be awarded.
The government said the new hall will serve as a reminder to both visitors and elected officials that democratic freedoms are preserved by the sacrifice of the armed forces.
Read more: RCMP warn Lloydminster parents of replica gun dangers
