The New Custom Carved Granite Cenotaph in High River, Honouring Heros:
Remembrance Day 2025 holds special meaning for the community of High River, Alberta. This year, the town gathered around a stunning new custom-carved granite cenotaph—a timeless tribute to the brave men and women who served our country. For the High River Legion Branch 71, this moment marks the culmination of years of dedication and collaboration to replace their aging memorial with something truly extraordinary.
The Request: A Vision for Renewal
In the spring of 2024, our team at Sunset Memorial & Stone was approached by the committee lead and representative for the Legion to begin planning the creation of a new cenotaph. While we’ve had the privilege of designing numerous veterans memorials and civic monuments across The Continent, this project was particularly meaningful—it was our first granite cenotaph commission, and we were eager to rise to the challenge.
From the very first meeting, the Legion made it clear that they wanted a memorial that not only honored the fallen but also reflected the strength and pride of the High River community. Together, we set out to create something that would stand the test of time, both in craftsmanship and symbolism.
The Process: Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Our design team immediately began developing concepts that captured the Legion’s vision. Every detail was carefully considered—from the scale of the monument to the precise contours of its shape. Our design team created multiple renderings and 3D visualizations to ensure the committee could see exactly how the monument would look once complete.
Decisions were made thoughtfully and without pressure. At Sunset, we believe that a memorial of significance deserves time, attention, and respect. Through open communication, design revisions, and a shared sense of purpose, we built a strong and trusting relationship with the Legion.
Each modification brought us closer to perfection, ensuring that every element carried meaning and respect.
The Details: Symbolism in Stone
The final design is both powerful and elegant—a granite cenotaph that embodies remembrance, honour, and unity. Our team paid meticulous attention to granite color, form, and granite finish. The red granite poppy and flame were thoughtfully designed and finished to embody the symbolism behind this significant memorial.
The recessed plaques feature detailed inscriptions that mark significant dates and conflicts, honouring those who served in past wars. Every letter, every etched symbol was placed with intention. The Legion’s feedback was instrumental in guiding these details, ensuring the cenotaph truly represented their community and its heroes.
The Event: A Community United
Installation was completed just weeks before the November 11 deadline, allowing the community to unveil their new cenotaph in time for the annual ceremony.
On Remembrance Day 2025, residents, veterans, and dignitaries gathered around the monument to pay tribute to Canada’s fallen soldiers.
The ceremony was a moment of great pride—not only for the High River Legion Branch 71, but for the community and everyone who contributed to the project. CTV News covered the unveiling, capturing the emotion and meaning behind this powerful community effort.
🎥 Watch the CTV News story here
Lasting Impressions
We are deeply honored to have played a part in creating this meaningful landmark for High River. Our team takes immense pride in knowing that this custom-carved granite cenotaph will serve as a gathering place for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude for generations to come.
We were equally touched to receive a five-star Google review from the Legion’s Representative, praising our dedication and craftsmanship:
“The team at Sunset Stone was very helpful and responsive from design development of the new High River Cenotaph, project completed on schedule, within quoted price, and an excellent finished product.”
Tim Whitford
For us, this testimonial means as much as the finished monument itself—it reflects the trust, collaboration, and shared respect that brought this project to life.
If you’d like to learn more about our custom granite memorials, cenotaphs, or memorial walls, contact our team at Sunset Memorial & Stone. Together, we can help you design a tribute that truly stands the test of time.
