Tom Sasvari
The Recorder
PARRY SOUND—The Sheshegwaning First Nation will have $31,969 to put towards its memorial honouring veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The funding was announced by Parry Sound MP Tony Clement, on behalf of MP Steven Blaney, the minister of Veterans’ Affairs, as part of a three-memorial funding package totalling $114,863.
The Sheshegwaning First Nation will receive the funding through the Community War Memorial Program, with Belvedere Heights receiving $50,000 and Hearst taking the remaining $32,900.
“It is our sacred duty to remember and honour our veterans and the brave men and women in uniform who serve Canada so selflessly,” Mr. Blaney stated in a media release. “The memorials we build today will forever reflect our nation’s gratitude to the generations of Canadians who allow us to live in peace and freedom. Our government is proud to support projects that help honour the sacrifices of our veterans and our service men and women.”
“Our community war memorials serve as lasting reminders of the courage and achievements of our veterans and the men and women who serve Canada today,” said Mr. Clement. “Our government applauds Belvedere Heights, the Sheshegwaning First Nation and the Town of Hearst for taking the initiative to build these memorials to preserve the memory of our veterans and Canadian Forces members.”
Sheshegwaning First Nation will construct the Sheshegwaning First Nation War Memorial in honour of those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars or in Vietnam. This project will involve the construction of a new memorial inscribed with the names of 14 band members who served, some who lost their lives. It will be located in a park area that includes a walkway and seven benches to represent the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers—a set of teachings about human conduct toward others: love, respect, humility, honesty, wisdom, bravery and truth.
Belvedere Heights, a long-term care facility that is home to veterans, will build the Belvedere Heights Veterans Memorial in a park overlooking Georgian Bay. The Town of Hearst is making major additions to a monument located in the Soldiers Memorial Monument Park commemorating local fallen soldiers.
Applications to the Community War Memorial Program can be submitted at any time during the year and are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Interested non-profit groups and other organizations may be eligible for funding to build new memorials or to make major additions to existing ones. For more information, you can visit www.veterans.gc.ca.
