VIU and community partners remember local fallen soldiers through video memorial

VIU video project acknowledges Nanaimo soldiers’ contributions to the First and Second World Wars.

A Vancouver Island University (VIU) video memorial project that tells the story of Nanaimo soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars will be displayed across the city. 

For the 11 days leading up to Remembrance Day, the Nanaimo Remembers project will display the names of more than 200 soldiers in prominent locations across the city. Stories like Private Milford Devlin, who served on the 43rd Battalion during World War One and was killed in action in September 1918 at age 24 and interred at Anneux British Cemetary in Nord, France. Before the war, his profession was listed as miner and he was a resident of Nicol Street in Nanaimo.

The names have been obtained from the Dallas Square Cenotaph in downtown Nanaimo and a special section highlights the contributions of local Indigenous soldiers, thanks to research conducted by VIU Elder-in-Residence C’tasi:a, Geraldine Manson. More of her research on Snuneymuxw veterans can be found by viewing her Honouring Snuneymuxw Veterans video.

“While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honouring veterans, we must never forget the sacrifices that many have made to defend this country and protect our families,” she said. “We, as Snuneymuxw People, raise our hands to all who so bravely fought for our freedom. Their voices will echo through us, never to be forgotten.”

The project, which launched in 2018, was spearheaded by VIU’s Strategic Communications and Brand and Marketing teams in collaboration with the Canadian Letters and Images Project and Nanaimo Community Archives.

“Nanaimo Remembers brings to life those soldiers, sailors, airmen and others who sacrificed their lives for our freedom,” said Dr. Stephen Davies, Director of VIU’s Canadian Letters and Images Project. “The project reveals details of each individual’s life, so that they become more than simply a name carved on a cenotaph. It offers a deeper understanding of what Remembrance means and why it’s so important.”

Information shared about each soldier, where available, includes their name, rank and battalion, when they died and at what age, where they were buried, their occupation and their connection to Nanaimo.

The video presentation will run continuously from November 1 to 11, 2024, on the large screen in the Welcome Centre (Building 300 at VIU’s Nanaimo campus). It will also be played on screens at several locations in the community on varying dates: 

• City of Nanaimo: Beban Park and Oliver Woods Community Centre (November 4 to 11)
• Port Theatre (on the marquee all day on November 11)
• Nanaimo Museum (November 1 to 9, museum is closed November 10 and 11)
• Vancouver Island Regional Library: Nanaimo North and Harbourfront branches
• School District 68
• Rogers tv

Check out the project at one of the participating locations above or visit VIU’s YouTube channel.

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Media Contact:

Jenn McGarrigle, External Communications Manager, Vancouver Island University

C: 250.619.6860 | E: Jenn.McGarrigle@viu.ca | X: @VIUniversity

The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.