The Mural of Honour was the inspiration of Karen Storwick of Calgary, Alberta who envisioned the interactive art piece as both a fundraiser for The Military Museums and as a tribute to the many service personnel who volunteered to serve our Country in times of war. The Mural tribute began in 2006 as a Flash based project hosted on touchscreens in the Atrium of The Military Museums. This technology was well suited for image animation but had limitations in the amount of content that could be easily incorporated into individual panels on the display.
Although the mural site was initially designed to work on in-house touchscreens, in 2011 the Mural was published online on the TMM website. Not long afterwards it became increasingly apparent that accessibility would be limited due to the lack of usability on mobile-devices. This eventually became a problem for desktop displays as well when Flash began to be phased out not long after the Mural was released online.
A promising solution appeared around 2012 with the release of a product called Adobe Edge Animate which was created to address the shortcomings of Flash. This software was designed to create web compliant output that could be displayed on the in-house touchscreens and the website. Around 22 panels were built using this application between 2013 and 2018. Although web compliant, this product had shortcomings similar to Flash, including time consuming development, but most importantly, it did not produce mobile friendly output. Adobe discontinued development of this product in 2015.
To address these issues, in the Fall of 2018 it was decided to completely rebuild the Mural of Honour with a standards compliant, responsive design. This had several advantages including not only improved accessibility on mobile and desktop devices, but also more rapid development and maintenance. It was also decided at the time to include new material for individual panels where available that was not part of the original version due to limitations of the original Flash technology. To facilitate this work, the Mural project was installed on a subdomain of the TMM website, so work could progress without interfering with the main website. This changelog lists the progress made on panel updates during the Mural redevelopment.
Ian Watson, Mural developer: Oct 2020
Version 30: Installed 10 Sept 2023
- #83 Added story and photos of Women in the Air Transport Auxiliary (Rob Alexander)
- #115 Dutch resistance story added (Rob Alexander)
- #117 Added story of Women in the Services (Rob Alexander)
- #197 Expanded story on Hampton Gray (Alex Bowers)
Version 29: Installed 12 July 2023
- #221 Added 1963 Golden Hawks program
- #10 Updated HM QEII panel
Version 28: Installed 22 Oct 2022
- #26 Escape and Evasion, story updated (Rob Alexander)
- #26 The Dick Smith story added, (Rob Alexander)
- #62 New information added to B-17 Destiny's Tot
Version 27: Installed 10 July 2021
- #140 Guinea Pigs, story updated (Rob Alexander)
- #192 Harry Impey identified in Ortona Christmas photo
- #235 added photos of HMCS Clayoquot survivors
Version 26: Installed 12 Feb 2021
- #054 Escape, story updated
- #012 Howard, added audio
- #240 Christian, added photos
Version 25: Installed 25 Jan 2021
- #014 Added Barr triptych image
- #208 Added Epilogue
- Added Battle index upgrades
Version 24: Installed 3 Jan 2021
- #015 Added article by Sir Arthur Currie, Canada's Sons
Version 23: Installed 30 Dec 2020
- #240 Added article on Black-Canadians in Uniform
Version 22: Installed 4 Dec 2020
- #188 Added GM article (Rob Alexander)
- Index upgrades
Version 21: Installed 17 Nov 2020
- Added Squadrons, Ships, Medals,
Named and Numbered Indexes
Version 20: Installed 11 Nov 2020
- Added Aircraft, Battles and Cemetery Search Indexes
- #126 Afghanistan, Rotations, Objectives added
Version 19: Installed 8 Nov 2020
- Added Honouree Search Index
- #126 Afghanistan, panel update
Version 18: Installed 4 Nov 2020
- Minor upgrades
- Ready for release
Version 17: Installed 2 Nov 2020
- Added About Us, Mural docs and feedback form
- Release candidate
Version 16: Installed 25 Oct 2020
- Added Afghan Fallen Search Index
- #220 Added histories for Squadron's 401, 409, 410, 417 (Rob Alexander)
Version 15: Installed 8 Oct 2020
- Ver3 of Mural Name Search
- #126 Afghanistan, added 158 biographies
Version 14: Installed 3 Sept 2020
Panels 221 - 240
- #221 Golden Hawks, original story, more photos
- #222 Andrew Mynarski, expanded story (Rob Alexander), photos
- #223 Stan Waters, added stories by L. Leugner and Bob MacDuff, photos
- #224 John McNeill, expanded story, photos
- #225 Albert Hanson, expanded story, photos
- #226 George Diggon, original story, photos
- #227 Sid Libin, expanded story, photos
- #228 Meyer Miller, original story, photos
- #229 Brock Montgomery, original story, photo
- #230 St. Julien, expanded story, photos
- #231 Rubin Bider, expanded story, photos
- #232 Hugh Brayfield, expanded story, photos
- #233 KOCR, expanded story (Rob Alexander), photos
- #234 HMCS Haida, original story, photo
- #235 HMCS Clayoquot, original story, photo
- #236 Bruno Bobak, original story, photos
- #237 Douglas Gardener, expanded story, photos
- #238 Phil Pomerance, expanded story, photos
- #239 Neil McLean, original story, photos
- #240 Curly Christian, expanded story, photos
Version 13: Installed 24 July 2020
Panels 201 - 220
- #201 John Dick, expanded story, photos
- #202 Fred Lawson, expanded story, photo
- #203 Frank Wilkinson, original story, photos
- #204 Molly Lamb Bobak, expanded story, photos
- #205 Lorraine and Thelma Milner, original story
- #206 25lb Gun, original story, photos
- #207 R.B. Cameron, expanded story, photo
- #208 Field Ambulance, original story, photos
- #209 Bill Fowler, original story, photos
- #210 CPR Shops, original story, photos
- #211 Stan and Joe Milner, original story,
- #212 Jarvis and Thomas Milner, expanded story
- #213 Joe Milner Sr., expanded story
- #215 Bill Wilson, expanded story, photos
- #216 Paul Pineau, original story, photo
- #217 Paul Lefaivre, expanded story
- #218 Francis Lefaivre, expanded story, photos
- #219 Cold War Phone, expanded story, photos
- #220 Air Crew Association, expanded story
Version 12: Installed 10 June 2020
Panels 181 - 200
- #181 Arthur Baldwin, original story, photos
- #182 James Padley, original story, photos
- #183 Hill 145, original story, photos
- #184 Doc Seaman, original story, photos
- #185 Peacekeeping, previously completed
- #186 Queens Own Rifles, added story (L. Leugner), photos
- #187 Bob Millar, original story, photos
- #188 GM Trucks, original story
- #189 Nicola Goddard, added story (Jacqui Lane), photos
- #190 Nic Nicolay, expanded story, photos
- #192 Ernie Bagstad, original story with video, photos, telegrams and letter
- #193 Rod Middleton, expanded stories, photos
- #194 Mart Kenney, original story, photos, two audio tracks
- #195 Catalina, original story, photos
- #196 RCN Corvettes, added story (Eric Wicherts), photos
- #197 Hampton Gray, expanded story, photo
- #198 Snowbirds, expanded story (Rob Alexander), photos
- #199 Nicole Schiele, expanded story
- #200 Nursing Sisters, expanded stories, photos
Version 11: Installed 17 May 2020
Panels 165 - 180
- Ver2 of Mural Name and Mural Panel Search
- Acronym Index added
- #165 14th Service Btn, original story, photos
- #166 The Poppy, original story, photos
- #168 Boer War, added story (Barry Ashton), photos
- #169 Oscar Johnson, original story, photos and video
- #170 Everett Costello, original story, photos
- #171 Hymie Yuffe, expanded story, more photos
- #172 John Valentine, expanded story, more photos
- #173 Abandoning Ship, original story, photos
- #174 Duplex Drive Tanks, expanded story, more photos
- #175 Vimy Ridge, original story, photos, added vimy panorama
- #176 Bailey Bridge, expanded story, more photos
- #177 Convoy, added story (Adam Lajeunesse), photos
- #178 U-Boats, added story (Jacqui Lane), photos
- #179 George Maier, expanded biography, added Sunderland story (Don Norrie), photos
- #180 Vern Johnson, original story, photos
Version 10: Installed 24 April 2020
Panels 161 - 164,
- Ver1 of Name Search Index
- #161 AFMSA, original story, photos
- #162 Night Raids, original story, photos
- #163 Fred McCall, original story, photos
- #164 Three Buddies, added story (Doc Seaman), photos
Version 9: Installed 10 April 2020
Panels 141 - 160, 113
- #113 Shattered Souls, added story (L. Leugner)
- #141 Flight Stripes, added story (Adam Lajeunesse), new photos
- #142 BMO added story (from BMO), photos
- #143 Helen Pierce, original story
- #144 Bomber Stream, original story
- #145 Mike Levy, original story, photos
- #146 Battle of Cambrai, added Cdn Tramways, story (Joe Spier), photos
- #147 14th Service Btn, added story (Lee Thompson), photos
- #148 Jeep, Added story (Ben Ngai), photos
- #149 Cecil Feldman, added new material, photos
- #150 Wallace McMullan, added story (Cilla Mcmullan), photos
- #151 Troop Train, original story, photos
- #153 Disembarkation, added story (Barry Ashton), photos
- #154 Geoff Costello, original story, photos
- #155 Navy, original story, photos
- #156 HMCS Calgary, original story, photos
- #157 HMCS Halifax, original story, photos
- #158 Sicily, added story (L. Leugner)
- #159 Canadian War Memorial, added story (Barry Ashton), photos
- #160 Dieppe, added story (Barry Ashton), more photos
Version 8: Installed 25 March 2020
Panels 127 - 140, 49
- #49 Hamilton Gault, expanded story (Rob Alexander)
- #127 Waterman, original story, new photos
- #128 Dental Corps, added new material, source unknown
- #129 Factory Women, added story (Jacqui Lane), photos
- #130 RCEME, added new material, source unknown
- #131 Roy Baker, added story (Stephanie Felesky), photos
- #132 Roy Farran, expanded story (Rob Alexander)
- #133 22nd Van Doos, added story (L. Leugner), photos
- #134 Early Canadian Navy, original story, more photos
- #135 Archibald Brown, original story, photo
- #136 Minnie Robbins, original story, photo
- #137 Strathconas Peacekeepers, original story, new photos
- #138 Art Booth, original story, photos
- #139 Peacekeeping Memorial, original story, new photos
- #140 Guinea Pigs, added new material, photos
Version 7: Installed 21 March 2020
Panels 121 - 126, 54
- #54 Escape, added names of fifty Air Force Officers
- #121 David Rosenthal, original story
- #122 Ordance Corps, added story (Barry Ashton), photos
- #123 Frank Pierce, original story
- #124 B-17, added story (Alan MacDonald), photos
- #125 Queenston Heights, added story (Barry Ashton), photos
- #126 Afghanistan, placeholders for 2002 - 2011
Version 6: Installed 2 Mar 2020
Panels 101 - 120, 93, 214
- #93 Hong Kong, added story (Ralph MacLean)
- #214 Dogs of War, expanded story (Rob Alexander), photos
- #101 Spitfire, added story (Adam Lajeunesse), photos
- #102 Bob O'Connor, expanded material
- #103 RCAF Groundcrew, expanded material, photos
- #104 Leslie Rispler, original material, photos
- #105 Avro Arrow, expanded story, more photos
- #106 Rex Binmore, original story, photos
- #107 Kingsmill Bridge, expanded story (Rob Alexander), photos
- #108 Leon Hapton, original story, photos
- #109 Sam Hapton, original story, two photos
- #110 Quebec Conference, added story (Robyn Williams), photos
- #111 Battle of Ortona, added story (Adam Lajeunesse), photos
- #112 Battle of Amiens, Added story (L.Leugner), photos
- #113 Shattered Souls, Added story about C. Dagesse, photos
- #115 Liberation of Holland, slightly expanded story
- #116 Allan Church, Expanded story, numerous photos
- #117 Women in Service, original story
- #118 Bob Lucy, original story
- #119 Lost at Sea, original story
- #120 Stanley Farrow, original story
Version 5: Installed 27 Jan 2020
Panels 65 - 100, 167
- #167 Expanded Prasow tribute, added letters, photos
- #65 Expanded story on Alfred Hotte, more photos
- #75 Gas Mask, expanded story (L. Leugner), more photos
- #76 Walcheren Causeway, slightly expanded story, photos
- #77 Moreuil Wood, expanded story and photos
- #78 Battle at Sea, minimal changes, no additional docs available
- #79 On the Beach, expanded story and photos
- #80 Aircraft Carrier, expanded story (Adam Lajeunesse) and photos
- #81 Trench Life, expanded story (L.Leugner, Barry Ashton), more photos
- #82 Polish Free Army, expanded story (Polish Combatants Assc)
- #83 Rivers, Ferry Command, expanded story
- #84 Loading Bombs, expanded story (Don Norrie), photos
- #85 Alan Crabtree, more photos
- #86 Wolf Sqn 403, expanded story (Colin Catley), more photos
- #87 Windsor Carrier, added additional material, photos
- #88 Lionel Binmore, original
- #89 Val Rimer, added additional material
- #90 Calgary Highlanders, added additional material
- #91 Wrens, expanded material (Jacqui Lane), photos
- #92 POWs, added minor addition, photos
- #93 Hong Kong, added story (L.Leugner), photos
- #94 Jim Stone, original content, photos
- #95 Clarence Gavan, original content
- #96 Sikh soldiers, original content
- #97 Ishar Singh, original content, photos
- #98 Medical Corps, expanded material
- #99 Depth Charges, original content
- #100 Harbour, original content
Version 4: Installed 12 June 2019
Panels 72 - 74
- #72 Gothic Line, more photos
- #73 Malcolm McNeill, expanded story (L. Leugner) and tribute, more photos
- #74 Thomas and John Walker, Reformatted, trench panorama included
Version 3: Installed 20 May 2019
Panels 61 - 71
- #61 Aerial support, more photos
- #62 Destiny Tot, added text
- #63 Chocolate, added photo
- #64 Leave in London, added stories, photos and updated tribute
- #65 Jump: Hotte story,
- #66 Jumpers: Added story on 1st Cdn Parachute Btn (L. Leugner) and photos
- #67 Matthew Halton: Added expanded story, more photos and eight audio clips
- #68 Maurice Crabtree: Edited story and more photos
- #69 Lord Beaverbrook: Expanded story (Barry Ashton), more photos
- #70 Back for a Rest: Expanded story (Barry Ashton or Al Judson), more photos
- #71 Percy Underwood: More photos
Version 2: Installed 16 April 2019
Panels 51 - 60, 114, 185, 191
- #51 Dawson, minor updates
- #53 East Asia, added photos
- #54 Escape, added Great Escape story and photos (L. Leugner)
- #55 VE day, added photos
- #57 Crossfields full story and photos, plus Seige of Malta (Adam Lajeunesse)
- #58 Wilson McNeill, story additions and photos
- #60 Normandy, summary (L. Leugner) and photos
- #185 Peacekeeping, added Medak Pocket (Barry Ashton)
- #191 added Calling Spirit photos
- #191 added Charles Byce story
Version 1: Installed March 2019
Panels 1 - 50, 152, 167, 191
- #01-03 original content
- #04 Billy Bishop, added content (L. Leugner), photos
- #06 BCATP, added content (L. Leugner)
- #07 GGHG content added
- #09 Remembrance, content added
- #10 QEII, content, photos added
- #11 Kapyong, content, video, photos added
- #12 Howards, content, photos added
- #13 Crabtree, photos added
- #14 Allan Barr, photos added
- #15 Arthur Currie, content added
- #16 Rockingham, content added
- #17 Giocomelli, Fritz's story added
- #19 CF-100, added documents on file
- #24 Convoys, document added (Adam_Lajeuensse)
- #25 Escape and Evasion, added stories and photos on file
- #27 Trench, added content (L. Leugner)
- #28 Feldman, added document on file
- #29 Edelson, added document on file
- #32 McDaniel, added document and photos on file
- #33 Hub Gray, expanded story (Rob Alexander)
- #34 Leonard Brooks, more story and photos added
- #35 Bannard wedding, minor additions and photos
- #36 Macdonald, story additions
- #37 Minesweeper, added John A. Alexander story and photo
- #39 Louis Street, added additional story and photos
- #40 Frederick Guest, added Nipper Guest`s story
- #41 Philip Black, added epilogue to story
- #42 Atlantic wall, added more documentation and photos
- #43 Auto industry, added photos
- #44 Dog fight, added photos
- #45 Evacuation, added photos
- #47 Hyndman, added photos
- #48 Doxsee, added story, poem and photos
- #50 Oliver, original content, added photos
- #152 Indigenous Tribute, added content (Rob Alexander)
- #167 Prasow, new material
- #191 Indigenous Blessing, added content (Rob Alexander)
Version 0: Oct 2018 - January 2019
Interactive Mural image scripts, responsive links, customized panel templates and content placeholders developed.