Call for Indigenous Designers

During the planning phase for the 100^th Anniversary of the Aurora War Memorial (commemorated in 2025), a gap in the Town of Aurora war memorials was identified. Missing from the landscape is a memorial dedicated to Indigenous community members who have served in Canada’s military and made the ultimate sacrifice. Indigenous service has often been overlooked in public commemoration. This project helps to address that absence by creating a space that acknowledges this history and invites ongoing reflection and learning.

The creation of an Indigenous Veterans Memorial will integrate Indigenous history and memory practices into Aurora’s commemorative landscape, reflecting the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #79. By creating a space that honours Indigenous veterans, this memorial will foster understanding, respect, and reconciliation among Aurorans and Indigenous communities.

Aurora is part of both Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties, and this memorial will honour Indigenous Veterans from these communities who have served with courage across generations and through war, conflict, and peace. It will stand as a lasting tribute to their leadership, service, and enduring contribution.

This memorial is dedicated to honouring the courage, sacrifice, and service of Indigenous Peoples who have served Canada in times of war, conflict, and peacekeeping. It recognizes the significant military contributions of Indigenous communities, specifically those whose traditional territories include the lands covered by Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties.

The memorial acknowledges participation across major global efforts, including:

• World Wars I and II – Recognizing the many Indigenous people who volunteered despite systemic barriers, discrimination, and the lack of full citizenship rights.
• The Korean War – Honouring the Indigenous service members who took part in this pivotal international conflict.
• Peacekeeping Missions – Acknowledging Indigenous veterans’ contributions to Canada’s role in United Nations peacekeeping efforts around the world.
• Modern Conflicts – Including service in Afghanistan and other contemporary military operations.

This memorial will:

1. Feature inscriptions and interpretive elements that reflect the collective sacrifice of all who served, with a deliberate focus on Indigenous service members whose contributions have historically been overlooked.
2. Create a reflective and ceremonial space that welcomes community members, veterans, families, and visitors to engage in remembrance, learning, and gatherings throughout the year.
3. Integrate culturally significant design elements, guided by the selected Indigenous designer’s  cultural knowledge, lived experience, and  practice. While the design should honour diverse Indigenous perspectives, including those communities connected to Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties, formal consultations are not required.

Guided by the designer  or design team’s vision, the memorial will give overdue recognition to veterans from Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties.

Aurora War Memorial Peace Park is located at 14659 Yonge Street. It is six acres in size and rectangular in nature. The first memorial to be unveiled at this site was the Aurora-Whitchurch-King War Memorial, which was constructed in 1925 in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War. Originally, 71 trees were planted on the site by the relatives, one for each man who fell in the First World War. These are replaced as necessary. In 2008, the Aurora War Memorial and Peace Park were designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest. This park has been a site for the community to gather in memorialization and remembrance for over 100 years.

In total, there are four war memorials on site that the Indigenous Veterans Memorial will be in conversation with. See image gallery below.

Within Aurora War Memorial Peace Park there are three areas that have been identified as possible locations for the new Indigenous Veterans Memorial. The final location selection is subject to change. I would add a caption/alt text to the map below. Something like: Location map identifying three possible locations for the Indigenous Veterans Memorial.

The application process is open to all designers who:

• Identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, or Inuit);
• Have successfully completed the design of a similar scope, on time, and within budget; and
• Have a proven ability to produce an original design.

Artists and design teams interested in submitting a design must complete an application form that includes the following:

• Proposed Concept: a high-resolution rendering in colour (JPEG, PNG, or PDF) that effectively communicates the proposed concept.
• Ideal Location and Size: identify which of the three location options are preferred and the approximate size (height, width and length) of the finished memorial.
• Designer or Design Team Statement: No more than 500 words in length that describes the interest in the project, experience with similar projects, and any other comments that will differentiate you as a candidate.
• Examples of Past Work: between 3-5 images of past projects.
• References: provide up to three references from individuals familiar with your work, including contact information.

Designs may be disqualified because of the following:

• The Application Form is incomplete or does not meet submission requirements.
• The resolution of the submitted design is too low and details cannot be clearly viewed when enlarged.
• The design includes imagery taken directly from another designer’s work or from any copyrighted work. Submissions must be original.
• The design is inappropriate for display in an outdoor public space.
• The design contains direct advertisement of a product or company name associated with any designer, artist or third party, any libelous or slanderous expression, or any obscene or pornographic content.
• If the design is shared before a final decision has been made and the winning design has been announced by the Town.

The memorial must be constructed from durable, weather-resistant materials appropriate for long-term outdoor installation in Aurora’s climate and should consider future maintenance, life-cycle sustainability, and overall longevity. The memorial will be located in a public, unsupervised outdoor space, and while not intended for physical interaction, the design must anticipate the possibility of intentional or unintentional contact. Designs must therefore avoid hazards such as head, finger, or limb entrapment points; sharp edges; protrusions; or features that encourage climbing or unsafe interaction.

The design should embody cultural integrity, respecting Indigenous cultural protocols and appropriately honouring Indigenous veterans. Symbolism, stories, and teachings included in the design should be meaningful, accurate, and consistent with the designer’s traditions and intentions.

Proposals must also incorporate accessibility considerations, including ensuring that the design and its immediate surroundings are approachable and perceivable to a wide range of visitors. This may include accessible viewing distances, consideration for people using mobility devices, tactile or high-contrast interpretive elements (where appropriate), and avoidance of barriers or obstructions around the installation area.

Text inscriptions need to appear in Anishinaabemowin, English and French. Letters and numbers should, where possible:

1. be sans serif (i.e. Helvetica, Univers 55, Verdana, Arial);*
2. have Arabic numbers;
3. have a width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1; and
4. have a stroke-width-to-height ratio between 1:5 and 1:10.

The total budget for the design and fabrication is $45,000 CAD, exclusive of taxes, which must cover all costs associated with the project, including:

• Design fees
• Design development
• Fabrication and materials
• Transportation and delivery
• Travel and accommodations
• Installation (designer-led/designer-supported)
• Photographic documentation
• Conservation plan
• Attendance at up to 3 committee meetings (virtual option)
• Preparation of design documentation for signage
• Insurance and all other project-related expenses‑related expenses

Some support from the Town’s Parks Division is expected for site preparation; however, all remaining installation components must be included in the designer’s  budget. Town Staff have capacity to assist with the budgeting, coordination, development of conservation plan, sourcing, and supervision of the memorial installation.

A Selection Committee comprised of representatives from the Town’s Indigenous Relations Committee and the Indigenous community will evaluate all submissions based on the following criteria:

• Overall merit of the proposed design (0-30 points)
• Designer’s experience and applicability of past work (0-30 points)
• Responsiveness and appropriateness of the design to the topic and setting (0-30 points)
• Quality of references provided (0-10 points)

Below is a detailed list of key project milestones and expected dates of completion:

• Call for Indigenous Designers released: March 9, 2026
• Virtual Information Session: March 24, 2026
• Submission Deadline: April 10, 2026
• Selection Period: April 13, 2026 to April 24, 2026
• Designers Notified of Selection Results: Week of April 27, 2026
• Design and Fabrication: May 2026 to October 2026
• Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony: November 8, 2026