The Sailors’ Memorial
At Sackville Landing on Halifax’s waterfront, a bronze sailor strides forward with a duffel bag in one hand and a rolled hammock balanced across his shoulder. Created by sculptor Peter Bustin, the figure represents a Canadian sailor of the Second World War era. His belongings give the monument an everyday character: a young man carrying what he needs as he prepares for life aboard ship.
Known as The Sailor, the memorial was erected by the Atlantic Chief and Petty Officers’ Association. Its dedication honours Canadians who served at sea in both war and peace, recognizing those who helped secure victory at sea as well as those who continued serving afterward. The figure represents generations of sailors rather than a single named individual.
Its waterfront location places the sailor within the setting that shaped Halifax’s wartime role. During the Second World War, the harbour became a major gathering point for merchant ships preparing to cross the Atlantic under naval escort. These convoys carried supplies essential to Britain and the Allied war effort. Halifax also provided repairs for ships damaged during the Battle of the Atlantic, making the city a place of preparation, departure and return.
The sculpture captures the human scale of that service. The sailor’s cap, uniform, packed bag and hammock suggest the practical preparations behind every voyage. His forward step and backward glance hold two moments together—leaving shore and looking toward what remains behind. At a harbour associated with thousands of departures, the memorial gives those journeys a familiar human presence.
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