Canada's war memorial will be under heightened security during this year's Canada Day celebrations.
New security measures include more surveillance cameras and tourism guides who will educate visitors about the meaning of the sacred monument, located across from Parliament Hill.
"A lot of inappropriate acts occur because visitors don't appreciate the significance of the site. When they do, they are more likely to act with greater respect," said Janice Summerby, a spokesperson for Veterans Affairs.
This year's heightened security measures will include a ceremonial guard and increased patrols in the area.
"There will be a full barricade around the monument," said Summerby. "We generally don't like to prevent people from having access to the tomb, from being able to touch it, but once it gets to later in the day of Canada Day, we don't want to take any chances."
Ceremonial guard Pte. Brandon Adams says he generally doesn't run into problems when he advises people to respect the tomb of the unknown soldier.
"As soon as they hear that it's a fallen soldier, a lot of people are very respectful, so they immediately remove themselves from the tomb," Adams told CTV Ottawa.
The move comes after a retired military officer made it his mission to fight for increased security after catching two youth urinating on the memorial during Canada Day celebrations two years ago.
"It should be a place of respect, a place of thanks," retired Maj. Michael Pilon told CTV Ottawa on Monday.
Summerby says she hopes the new measures will encourage respect at the downtown memorial.
"A number of measures we hope will improve security and increase the odds of such incidents not happening again," she said.
But while Pilon says the new security measures are a good start, he adds more should be done to protect the monument. Changes he'd like to see include a low fence protecting the tomb of the unknown soldier.
"I think right now, we're really well on our way to the education part - which is number one. But there are still people - kids - who are not being disrespectful, just being silly," Pilon said, adding people often sit on the tomb because there isn't a barrier protecting it.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua
