South African War Memorial

The South African War Memorial is a war memorial located at the intersection of University Avenue and Queen Street West in Toronto. The structure features three bronze figures positioned at its base and a winged figure holding a golden crown atop the column.

The memorial was commissioned in 1910 to honor Canadian soldiers who served and died during the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902. The initiative to build it emerged from the community's desire to create a lasting tribute to those who participated in that distant conflict.

The memorial takes its name from the Battle of Paardeberg, a pivotal moment in the conflict that visitors can encounter here through its design. For decades, this location served as a gathering point for remembrance, reflecting how communities connect with military history through shared ceremony.

The memorial sits at a busy street corner in downtown Toronto and is easily accessible for visitors to approach and view. The location offers open access, allowing people to stop by and observe the structure at any time throughout the day.

Around 30,000 school children contributed their pennies to fund this monument, revealing how widely the community participated in its creation. These contributions came from young people with no direct personal connection to the war experience itself.