Beechwood Cenetery Irish Connections
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Many Irish born and the descendents of Irish immigrants are buriewd at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. Nick McCarthy, the Director of Marketing, Communications and Community Outreach provides an insight into some of those people and their historical impact on Ottawa and Canada.Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery & Cremation Services was founded in 1873 just fourteen years after Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the capital of the Dominion of Canada. At that time, city council had decreed burials were not permitted within the city limits, so Beechwood was located beyond what were then Ottawa\\u2019s boundaries. Stretching over 160-acres of land, Beechwood now resides on part of the original McPhail farm (100 acres) and the MacKay/Keefer estates. It became a prime example of the type of rural cemetery that emerged in the United States and Canada in the 19th century characterized by winding roads, picturesque vistas, wooded groves, unique landscaping, as well as monuments and markers of considerable architectural and historical interest.The original shareholders of The Beechwood Cemetery Company of Ottawa were prominent residents, led by Joseph M. Currier. After his death, Currier\\u2019s home became the official house of Canada\\u2019s Prime Ministers.Originally perceived to be the Anglo-Protestant cemetery of Ottawa, today Beechwood is a reflection of Canada\\u2019s identity as a multicultural, multi-faith society with sections reserved for religious and ethno-cultural communities. This shift began in the 1920\\u2019s when the Chinese community wanted to have a section within the cemetery. Beechwood, being one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in Ottawa, naturally was the perfect fit to be the final resting place for their community. It is designed according to Chinese religious principles, and distinguished by a Pagoda to honour the community\\u2019s ancestors.
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