New exercise challenge aims to raise cash for Calgary’s Field of Crosses memorial
Calgarian Jordan Witzel’s three-kilometre bike ride on Saturday was one of the first to kickstart the inaugural Field of Crosses Memorial Project fundraising campaign.
The “Exercise Freedom Together” campaign is the first of its kind to support the memorial, which honours more than 3,500 southern Alberta soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for Canadian freedoms.
Exercising freedom together to honour fallen soldiers
Major (ret.) Kent Griffiths joins Global News Morning Calgary to talk about the Field of Crosses Exercise Freedom Campaign, encouraging people to get active and honour those who have fallen in combat.
Calgary Remembers: Remembrance Day ceremony at the Field of Crosses
Hundreds of Calgarians laid poppies on small wooden crosses in the Field of Crosses on Monday, to honour those who lost their lives fighting for Canadian freedom. Poems and prayers were recited for the crowd, wreaths were laid and the Cantare Children’s Choir led the...
Murray McCann turns Field of Crosses into a charity so it will outlive him
On New Year’s Eve, when Murray McCann turned 80, he did what many of us do on a milestone birthday — he contemplated his mortality. Unlike many of us, however, that reflection spurred the successful entrepreneur and sole founder and funder of Calgary’s Field of...
Calgary’s Field of Crosses illuminated by thousands of candles ahead of Remembrance Day
Thousands of candles were lit in front of nearly 3,500 white crosses during a sunset ceremony at the Field of Crosses in Calgary on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. Blake Lough reports. Watch the video.
𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌
Age: 20 – L/Cpl NNSH
Date of Death: 31/12/1944
Robert Murray Roland was born on August 4, 1924, in Red Deer, Alberta, he was the son of Charles Edward and Blanch Catherine Roland of Red Deer. Robert was the older brother to Percy Edward and his sister Barbara Jean.
Robert attended rural intermediate schooling near Red Deer and was active in hockey and softball. His father passed away in 1933 and Robert left school at grade 9 to maintain the farm with his mother and brother.
While farming, Robert had 2 years and 2 months of reserve military training with the 2nd 78th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery and had attended two camps at Sarcee, Alberta.
Robert enlisted in the army on July 13, 1943, in Calgary, Alberta, service number M/7557. He served in Canada through to February 13, 1944, then embarked to England for further infantry training. Arriving in France on July 3, 1944, serving through Northwest Europe, Robert was Taken on Strength (TOS) with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on September 18, and later promoted to Lance Corporal November 8.
Robert was reported missing and for official purposes presumed to have been killed in action on December 31, 1944. He is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial in the Netherlands.
The Groesbeek Memorial commemorates the names of over 1,000 servicemen along with the following inscription.
The walls bear the names of the soldiers
Of the British Commonwealth and Empire
Who fell in the advance from the River Seine
Through the low countries and into Germany
But to whom the fortune of war denied
A known and honoured grave.
30TH AUGUST 1944 - 5TH MAY 1945
Each November during the Eleven days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Lance Corporal Robert M. Roland.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
#FieldofCrosses #Canada #Veterans #CanadianArmedForces #History #Calgary #YYC
𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐁 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐀
Age: 29 – Pte PerthR
Date of Death: 22/12/1944
John Alexander Robb was born December 22, 1914, in Grass Lake, Alberta. He was the son of James and Elizabeth Robb of Calgary, Alberta. John had 4 brothers and a sister. John finished Grade Eleven in Calgary and while in high school he was part of the school cadet program for 3 years and was active in baseball, rugby and basketball. John continued his education at the Institute of Art and Technology. His father had passed away and John took on various jobs to support the family, these included, being a ranch keeper, working in an automotive accessory shop, a lumber office clerk, a shipper in a paint warehouse and owned a business for 1 ½ years as a motorcycle delivery person.
John enlisted in Calgary on September 28, 1942, with the Perth Regiment (Motor), service number M/104270. His experience working in an automotive accessory shop, involving radiator soldering, ground cables, ignition etc. and being a delivery person with his own motorcycle was considered valuable to the Perth Regiment. The Perth Regiment landed in Italy on November 8, 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division and saw action as an infantry battalion.
During the battle to cross the Munio River, Private John A Robb died of wounds received in action on December 22, 1944. He is buried at the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy.
Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Private John Alexander Robb.
#FieldofCrosses #Canada #History #Veterans #CanadianArmedForces
As Christmas approaches and we embrace the spirit of the holiday season, we extend warm wishes to everyone in our Field of Crosses family. To our incredible volunteers, participants, sponsors, donors, supporters, and the media—along with special recognition to our uniformed members and veterans—we offer our heartfelt thanks.
The memories, stories, and legacies of those who have fallen remain with us throughout the year. However, during the holiday season, we reflect even more deeply on their ultimate sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy today because of their courage. The Field of Crosses stands as a place of reverence and tribute, reminding us of our shared history and the selflessness of Southern Albertan servicemen and women who gave their tomorrows so we could celebrate our holidays in peace.
As you celebrate this festive season with your loved ones, may it be a time of gratitude and remembrance. We are deeply grateful for your continued support of the Field of Crosses and our mission to honour our fallen heroes.
Warmest holiday wishes,
The Field of Crosses Board of Directors
As the calendar turns to 2025, we will begin our fundraising efforts to ensure this project continues in the coming year. Please consider supporting us by making a donation:
Online at www.fieldofcrosses.com/donate
By cheque payable to Field of Crosses, mailed to:
84 Edgeland Rise NW, Calgary, AB T3A 4E1
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Registered Charity CRA# 74426 0084 RR0001
We leave you with this touching video linked below from this year's Field of Crosses. We hope it brings inspiration and a moment of reflection this holiday season.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=81JeWRt3As Christmas apoAs Christmas apsAs Christmas aiAs Christmas wAs C As Chrisl#HolidaySeasoneason
Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of your community and helping you all out with The Field of Crosses again this year and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🥳 and all the best for the year ahead too please 🙏 I will be seeing you all again next year
Please take time out your day and help this Veteran and his family have a Christmas. He has three children and He’s having trouble finding help in his area. Thanks to anyone who has donated Happy Holidays! Please share if you can’t help financially. https://gofund.me/71a6d00d
This #GivingTuesday, help us preserve the memory of our fallen heroes!
The past generosity of Calgarians has been invaluable in helping us honour these heroes, and today for Giving Tuesday, we are calling for your continued support of Field of Crosses. The Field of Crosses project, which transforms Calgary’s Memorial Drive into a stunning visual tribute each November, stands as a powerful reminder of the cost of our liberty, but this display would not be possible without donations from our community.
As a registered charitable organization (#74426 0084 RR0001), donations to Field of Crosses directly support the installation and maintenance of more than 3,620 crosses, the organization of meaningful ceremonies and educational programs for over 1,800 students that engage younger generations in understanding the significance of Remembrance Day.
Donations are customizable to match any budget, making giving accessible and convenient and all donations will receive a tax receipt. For more information, please visit our website at:
www.fieldofcrosses.com/donate/.
By contributing to the Field of Crosses, you ensure that the memories of our fallen heroes remain alive, their stories told, and their sacrifices never forgotten.
#FieldofCrosses #Remembrance #GivingTuesdayCA #GivingTuesday #Calgary #Canada #Veterans #CanadianArmedForces
Thank you to the many volunteers, the community and corporate donors for making this memorial tribute possible.
In 2024, Brookline was honoured to support Field of Crosses in bringing its powerful message of remembrance to life.
From media relations and influencer outreach to impactful graphic design, our efforts highlighted the over 3,500 southern Albertans and 120,000 Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
In our latest blog, Haylie and Sarah share their personal connections to this meaningful memorial, the importance of year-long commitment to remembrance and the strategy and collaboration that goes into amplifying the Eleven Days of Remembrance initiative each year. With Brookline’s efforts resulting in over 922 pieces of media coverage and a reach of over 555,291,626, this is a blog you don’t want to miss!
The Field of Crosses memorial project is a testament to the profound impact of community and storytelling and Brookline could not be prouder to support it.
Read the full blog at the link below!
www.brooklinepr.com/news/honouring-our-fallen-brookline-joins-forces-with-the-field-of-crossesfie...
#FieldOfCrosses #Remembrance #BPRCelebrate
Everything I read here was stellar!! In several ways.