Monument Honours Legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion in Ottawa

Dignitaries and descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion soldiers pose for a group photograph beside the newly unveiled monument

Saturday 26 September 2026

Monument Honours Legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion in Ottawa

by Obasola Bamigbola, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

A century after the No. 2 Construction Battalion served Canada during the First World War, a new monument in Ottawa is giving the unit’s story a permanent place in the city’s landscape. On Saturday, September 26, descendants, military representatives, community leaders and residents gathered at Veterans Park in Wateridge Village for the unveiling of a monument honouring the men of Canada’s only segregated Black battalion of the First World War.

The ceremony brought together history, recognizing the perseverance of Black servicemen who faced discrimination while seeking to serve their country. The men of the battalion came from across Canada, the Caribbean and the United States, and their service has increasingly become part of the broader public conversation about Black military history in Canada.

Master of ceremonies Gelila Geremew opened the afternoon by welcoming guests and emphasizing the significance of marking the battalion’s legacy in a public space. The program began with a territorial acknowledgement by Dania Nour, followed by recognition of dignitaries, members of Black History Ottawa and, most importantly, descendants of the battalion’s soldiers.

A reading of the poem They Trooped the Colours by Andrew Githiaka set a reflective tone before Councillor Rawlson King, who represents Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward 13, addressed the gathering. Rawlson King spoke about the history of Black Canadians in military service and the importance of ensuring that their contributions are represented in Ottawa’s commemorative spaces. He also recognized the Defence Team Black Employee Network for helping bring the history of the No. 2 Construction Battalion to greater public attention.

Ken Campbell, President and CEO of Jaku Konbit, another partner in the commemoration, followed with remarks emphasizing the importance of remembering the battalion’s work and preserving its story for future generations.

The historical significance of the monument was further explored by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Carter, a Canadian Armed Forces chaplain and military co-chair of the Defence Team Black Employees Network. Carter explained that the initiative began approximately a year and a half ago with the goal of increasing visibility for Black service members throughout Canadian military history.

For Carter, the monument represents more than remembrance. It also addresses the absence of Black faces and stories from many traditional military commemorations. He described the memorial as both a historical marker and a work of art, noting that it features Private Belfield Hall.

Carter said the depiction of Hall moving forward symbolizes the continuation of history despite the discrimination and loss experienced by Black soldiers. Ottawa, he added, carries particular significance because it was where decisions surrounding the creation and segregation of the battalion were made. Placing the monument here therefore connects a painful chapter in Canadian history with the country’s ongoing efforts toward greater inclusion and representation.

The ceremony turned toward music with a performance by Will White, a descendant of the battalion’s chaplain, Honorary Captain Reverend William Andrew White. The unveiling followed, led by Chaplain Carter alongside dignitaries and descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion soldiers.

A wreath was subsequently laid by Carter and descendants of the battalion, followed by a moment of silence in honour of the men whose service the monument now commemorates.

As attendees gathered for photographs beside the newly unveiled monument, the afternoon closed with a visible connection between generations. For the descendants present, the monument represents a physical place where family history can be remembered publicly. For the wider community, it offers an enduring reminder that Black military service is part of Canada’s national story and that those histories deserve a visible place in the country’s commemorative landscape.

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