Waverley Park Cenotaph turns 100 years old
In 1925, the Waverly Park Cenotaph was erected with funds raised by Georgia (Mrs. W. Russell) Brown, president of the Women’s Canadian Club of Port Arthur.
A century later her grandson, Ian Pattison, was there to celebrate the 100th anniversary in a Sunday morning ceremony.
“The coalition for Waverley Park, together with the Branch 5 Royal Canadian Legion of Port Arthur, wanted to recognize the centennial of the cenotaph today,” Pattison said.
“They decided that they would gather with the armed forces and invite some people with knowledge of the cenotaph to speak about it. I was very proud to do so on behalf of my family and my grandmother,” he added.
Speakers at the ceremony explained the history of the cenotaph and its importance.
“It’s heartwarming to see a ceremony such as this, because this cenotaph in this lovely park is such a central part of the former city of Port Arthur and now of Thunder Bay,” Pattison said.
A Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the Waverley Park Cenotaph each year in Thunder Bay, and saw about 1,000 people in attendance last year.
“I’m always proud, and I admire the members of the Legion who come up here every November 11th, despite November’s weather, and mark the service of remembrance with hundreds of people who come to do it.
“To mark the centennial of the cenotaph, which is the central part of the ceremony, is important. 100 years ago, it was built, and it still stands here, and people are proud of it. I certainly am,” he said.
Pattison said his grandmother was a very quiet and modest woman.
“I know that she would be extremely proud. I can just picture her standing here.
“She was a lovely lady, very much a lady, and she would be very, very proud to see what happened here today, as with my grandfather. He’s also a historian in Port Arthur, in Thunder Bay,” he said. – tbnewswatch.com
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This explains what I saw happening at the cenotaph on Sunday
Why was it publicized more? There were very few people there.
