1914
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Section R Lot 21
On May 29, 1914, the RMS Empress of Ireland embarked on what should have been a routine voyage from Quebec City to Liverpool. Just hours later, tragedy struck in the fog-shrouded waters of the St. Lawrence River. The ship collided with the Norwegian collier Storstad, and within minutes, the proud liner slipped beneath the surface. Of the 1,477 passengers and crew aboard, 1,012 lives were lost, leaving only 465 survivors, a staggering toll that marks the tragedy as one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Canadian history.
The loss reverberated across the nation. Among the victims were 167 members of the Salvation Army, travelling to London for an international congress. Their mission of faith and service ended abruptly, leaving numerous families and communities in mourning. In Toronto, 16 victims were laid to rest in the Salvation Army plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, later joined by six more. To honour their memory, a monument was commissioned and unveiled in 1916, a collaboration between designer Major Gideon Miller and sculptor Emanuel Hahn.
The Empress of Ireland Memorial stands as a tribute to the courage and resilience of those who dedicated their lives to helping others. Its inscriptions speak of hope and remembrance, ensuring that their story is never forgotten. Each year, commemorative services gather people to reflect on the impact of this tragedy. More than a century later, the memorial remains a powerful symbol, a reminder of the fragility of life, the strength of community and the importance of preserving history.
Sources:
• Wikipedia – RMS Empress of Ireland
• Canadian Museum of History – RMS Empress of Ireland Overview
• Wikipedia – Emanuel Hahn (sculptor)
• Salvation Army Canada – History of the Empress of Ireland Loss
Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant Group
