Celebrating the 2025 Great Canadian Landmark Contest finalists

Organized by Municipal World, the 2025 Great Canadian Landmark Contest brought Canadians together to celebrate the places that define their communities. With 50 unique landmarks submitted from coast to coast to coast, the contest highlighted symbols of heritage, resilience, and pride. After thousands of votes were cast, three finalists stood out as icons that tell Canada’s story in powerful ways.

Congratulations to the top three finalists – the Salmon Arm Treble Clef, the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, and the Wawa Goose. From art and music to history and heritage, these landmarks represent the heart of their communities and the spirit of Canada as a whole.

The official winner will be formally recognized this October at the Communities in Bloom Symposium & Awards, in Stratford, Ont., where municipal leaders, community builders, and Canadians from across the country will come together to celebrate this outstanding national achievement.

Here’s a closer look at the top three Canadian landmarks that captured the hearts of voters.

Top Three Finalists

Salmon Arm Treble Clef – Salmon Arm, B.C.

The Salmon Arm Treble Clef is a striking 45-foot steel sculpture on Shuswap Lake that transforms the opening notes of “O Canada” into a powerful symbol of music, unity, and Canadian pride.

Rising dramatically from the shoreline of Shuswap Lake, the Salmon Arm Treble Clef is a breathtaking 45-foot steel sculpture that sings the spirit of Canada. Installed in 2019 along Lakeshore Drive, this landmark incorporates the opening bar of “O Canada”, turning Canada’s national anthem into a visual and tactile experience for all who visit.

Originally submitted by the City of Salmon Arm, the Treble Clef has become a community gathering place and a favourite backdrop for concerts, festivals, and Canada Day celebrations. It reflects Salmon Arm’s deep-rooted love of music and community, while serving as a modern-day symbol of creativity, unity, and Canadian pride.

With its soaring design and patriotic inspiration, the Salmon Arm Treble Clef is more than a piece of art — it’s a national statement that resonates with residents and visitors alike.

Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre – New Denver, B.C.

The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in New Denver stands as a unique and powerful tribute to the resilience of Japanese Canadians, preserving the legacy of wartime injustice while educating future generations about human rights and inclusion.

In the quiet mountain village of New Denver stands one of Canada’s most profound historic landmarks: the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (NIMC). Unlike any other site in the country, the NIMC preserves the memory of the more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians forcibly displaced and incarcerated during the Second World War.

Submitted by Ashraf Alam, CAO of New Denver, the centre is a powerful testament to resilience and remembrance. The NIMC preserves original internment shacks, the Kyowakai Hall, and the Heiwa Teien Peace Garden, ensuring the stories of injustice, survival, and strength are never forgotten.

While most internment camps were destroyed after the war, New Denver became the only sizable postwar Japanese Canadian community in British Columbia. Today, the centre stands not only as a place of reflection but also as a living classroom, drawing attention to global issues of racism, injustice, and human rights.

The NIMC is more than a memorial – it is a reminder of the courage and determination of Japanese Canadians and a call to build a more just and inclusive future.

Wawa Goose – Wawa, Ont.

The Wawa Goose, a towering roadside statue along the Trans-Canada Highway, has welcomed travellers since 1960 and remains a beloved symbol of community pride, curiosity, and Canadian travel culture.

Perched along the Trans-Canada Highway, the Wawa Goose has been welcoming travellers to Northern Ontario since 1960. Submitted by the Municipality of Wawa, this larger-than-life statue was originally built to encourage visitors to stop in the picturesque community of Wawa.

The current version of the iconic goose, unveiled in 2017, continues to serve its purpose: drawing travellers in, sparking curiosity, and offering one of Canada’s most photographed roadside attractions. For residents, the Goose is more than a statue – it’s a symbol of identity, resilience, and small-town pride.

Generations of Canadians have pulled over to snap a photo with the Wawa Goose, making it an enduring icon of travel and community spirit in Ontario.

✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Michael Seaman’s article: Grimsby shows the way to making heritage sites accessible.

Related resource materials:

• Mr. PG captures the Great Canadian Landmark Contest
• The gateway to placemaking
• Five tips for creating a photo-friendly town in the age of Instagram