Bring on the pipers, colours, and the dignified military veterans.

The cenotaph site at the corner of Vedder and Keith Wilson Roads has been lovingly refurbished, and a public rededication ceremony is slated for the morning of Saturday, Nov. 7.

Steeped in the rich history of Canadian military engineers, the large monument dedicated to “sappers” will become the focal point of the renamed All Sappers’ Memorial Park.

Construction on the $1.5 million project by Canada Lands Company is just wrapping up on the city-owned property.

“I think it’s a dream come true for everybody,” said Randy Fasan, CLC’s director of planning and land development.

They’re hoping some of the cutting-edge design elements — like the diverted sidewalk that takes pedestrians through the park — will lend the park new relevance for the 21st century.

Fasan called the ambitious project both “a gift and a legacy” from Canada Lands.

“And it is a very welcome gift!” chimed in Sgt.-Major (retired) Jim Harris.

The momentum for the changes started with the City of Chilliwack’s long-term plans to widen both Vedder and Keith Wilson Roads.

“That was the catalyst,” Fasan offered.

But the very idea of major change alarmed local veteran reps at first.

“This site, in its entirety, is considered sacred ground by many, and there was a sense that the cenotaph site should never be disturbed,” Fasan explained.

The reason is that at least eight families are known to have surreptitiously spread the ashes of deceased sappers on the grass around the memorial, added Harris, and consequently every effort has been made to protect the “sanctity” of the space.

New sod, benches and walkways are in place, and young maple trees have been strategically planted. A black, ornamental grass will surround the cenotaph.

When the topsoil was being removed during the renovation earlier this summer, the contractors were keenly aware of the “sacred” nature of it and the concerns expressed by veterans’ families, said Harris.

“They really took it seriously and were very respectful,” he added, noting they took special care to gingerly reintegrate all the topsoil around the cenotaph, ensuring it wouldn’t be stepped on or marched over.

Canada Lands consultant Greg Smallenberg worked closely with local military veterans throughout the process, soliciting their input during the effort to revitalize the memorial park as part of the Legacy Walk winding through Garrison Crossing. Smallenberg is known for his work on the Vimy memorial in France, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.

Storyboards will be installed along the concrete wall to tell the story of the cenotaph and how it came to be.

The attention to detail on the project is impressive and impeccable, Harris noted.

“Canada Lands really stepped up big for this one. And speaking for the retired military in this area, we are so very grateful,” he said.

The cenotaph was sandblasted and cleaned, and stunning fibre-optic lighting has been installed.

“The whole thing will glow like it’s floating,” Fasan said.

The area has been completely opened up visually with the new design, with the removal of the boxwood hedges, as well as Caroline the Tank, which was relocated.

The monument was originally the brainchild of Lt.-Col. Coulson Norman Mitchell, who wanted a way to honour all the sappers in the Commonwealth who made the ultimate sacrifice, said Harris. Mitchell was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the First World War and later became the base commander at Camp Chilliwack. The cenotaph was first dedicated in a ceremony in 1946, which attracted thousands of bystanders and the attendance of the Governor General.

A couple of years ago the city originally took over the centotaph and park from DND and it was transferred to the city’s park inventory for a dollar.

“This rededication ceremony we’re planning is a call to all active and retired Canadian military engineers to return to the site, and to pay homage once again to the memory of all the fallen sappers,” Harris said.