Stories of Alberta: Wainwright Memorial Clock Tower
Celebrating 100 years as Wainwright's most notable structure
Photos are generously supplied by the Town of Wainwright and the Wainwright and District Museum.
The first time you drive into Wainwright, it catches you off guard. You’re cruising down Main Street when the road suddenly splits – and there it is. Rising up in the middle of the street, the Memorial Clock Tower stands tall, its four faces watching over the town and the heart of the community.
The clock tower was first unveiled on September 13, 1925, as a tribute to the local soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. The project was brought forward by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, who requested the memorial be placed right in the center of town.
It was a true community effort. Crafted by a local stonemason from fieldstones gathered by schoolchildren and farmers, the tower also featured a bronze plaque designed in Edmonton bearing the names of the fallen. It was crowned with the finest clocks imported from England. For a century now, through triumphs and tribulations, that same clock has stood the test of time.
The first great test came only a few years later. In 1929, a devastating fire swept through the center of town, destroying 70 businesses and eight homes. Yet, the tower endured, quickly becoming a symbol of resilience. Nearly 20 years later, in 1947, its role as a memorial deepened when a second plaque was added to honour those who lost their lives in the Second World War. Subsequently, additional plaques have been added to recognize those that have served in Korea, Afghanistan and peace keeping missions around the world.
As the years went on, the tower became more than just a landmark – it became part of Wainwright’s story. One of its most notable moments came in July of 1959, when Queen Elizabeth II visited the site, placing both the town and its clock tower firmly on the map.
From that day forward, it’s been hard to imagine Wainwright without it. “It’s been symbolic of Wainwright for as long as I can remember,” says Carley Herbert, Economic Development Officer for the Town of Wainwright. “You drive down Main Street, and there it is. There aren’t many monuments like it.”
Today, the tower remains a gathering place for Remembrance Day ceremonies, its presence made even more meaningful with CFB Wainwright nearby. “With the base here, it means even more,” says Carley. “We know the people who have served, and we honour them right here in the middle of our community.”
To ensure that the legacy continues, the town recently undertook a restoration project to strengthen and preserve the structure for future generations. Specialists carefully repaired the brickwork, refreshed the mortar and removed later additions to return the tower to its original form. “We wanted it to last another hundred years,” Carley says. “Now, it looks as beautiful as it did in 1925.”
The refreshed clock tower gleams at night with new uplighting, its four faces illuminated as a beacon at the center of Main Street, all in preparation for the centennial celebration on September 13, 2025, exactly 100 years since its original unveiling.
The town has planned a ceremony to mirror the original unveiling, complete with a military march led by the Battle River Pipes and Drums, the Strathcona Mounted Troop, CFB Wainwright personnel, cadets and local Legion members. Representatives from the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire will return, as will 18 descendants of Mayor Earl Cork – the town’s mayor when the clock was first presented in 1925.
Whether 500 people attend or 2,000, the celebration will be about more than marking time. It will be about honouring sacrifice, celebrating community, and remembering that some landmarks are more than just brick and mortar. “It’s meaningful in that it’s a tie to history,” says Carley. “It’s also a very meaningful and unique memorial to honour our community spirit.”
Learn more about the September 13, 2025 Centennial Clock Celebration at wainwright.ca
