Ad Astra Monument by Marlene Hilton Moore

CFB Borden recently hosted an unveiling for a new monument entitled, Ad Astra, commissioned to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the RCAF. Designed by Hillsdale resident and artist Marlene Hilton Moore, it represents the motto of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Sic Itur Ad Astra – Such is the pathway (this is the way) to the stars. At twenty-one feet, the shiny blue surface, punctuated by small circles or “stars”, succeeds at provoking a sense of vertical thrust.

This project is the latest in a series of significant monuments by Hilton Moore including two in the City of Barrie’s Public Art collection. The Vimy Urn Wall was installed in Memorial Square in 2018 and the Column of Valour has marked the site of Barrie’s original Fire Hall, at Mulcaster and Collier Streets, since 1998. Others can be found in Ottawa, Waterloo, and Vimy, France. Notably, the The Vimy Centennial Bugler in France is a twin of the Borden Centennial Bugler, part of the Borden Legacy Monument created to mark the 100th Anniversary of CFB Borden in 2018.

Ad Astra is a departure from previous monuments designed by Hilton Moore, as it successfully marries contemporary materials and technology with the deep meaning and significance. Constructed of high-grade aluminum, the interior of the monument is filled with LED lights. The selected shade of blue combines the blue of the Air Force uniforms and the blue of the sky. Looking up at the monument, especially at night, the circles representing the stars guide one’s view along the pathway upwards and beyond. It is a sight one must experience in person.

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