New: Remembering the North-West Resistance Through Beechwood’s History

The year 1885 marked a defining moment in Canada’s development—a confrontation on the Prairies that tested the limits of Confederation, challenged government authority, and reshaped relations with Métis and First Nations communities. Known historically as the North-West Rebellion, it is now more respectfully and accurately referred to as the North-West Resistance, recognizing the agency and rights of those who stood in defence of their land, culture, and autonomy.

Beechwood Cemetery, National Cemetery of Canada, holds a unique and enduring connection to this chapter in our nation’s past. We are proud to announce the release of a new eBook that explores the lives and legacies of the individuals buried here who were directly involved in the events of 1885, from soldiers and officers who served on the field, to policymakers who shaped the country’s response.

This eBook provides more than just historical facts, it serves as a reflection on how memory, identity, and reconciliation intersect. Each biography included tells part of the larger story of how the conflict unfolded, how it was understood at the time, and how it continues to echo in our national consciousness.

Among those profiled are:

• William Osgoode and John Rogers, Ottawa Sharpshooters killed at the Battle of Cut Knife Hill and buried with full military honours at Beechwood.
• Sir Donald A. Macdonald, the Quarter-Master General responsible for outfitting Canadian troops during the Resistance and later during the First World War.
• Rev. Harold Horsey, who served both in the North-West Resistance and in Europe as a military chaplain.
• Samuel Maynard Rogers, who remained a key figure in Canadian military life for decades after 1885. T

his publication supports Beechwood’s ongoing mission to honour all facets of Canadian history, even the complex ones, through inclusive remembrance. As we continue our national journey toward truth and understanding, this eBook offers a way to revisit history through the lens of those who lived it, and are now part of the very landscape of memory we preserve.

Download the eBook now and take a step into the stories of those who helped shape Canada during one of its most turbulent chapters.