Published: December 3, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m.
On behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) Bayview Branch 22 I would like to clarify the issue regarding the decision not to hang the Christmas lights on the trees at the Veterans Peace Park this year.
First, I would like to say the decision was not made lightly or by the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield employees or Council. The Legion approached the Town regarding hanging Christmas lights on the trees this year as we continue to develop and revitalize the area into a Veterans Peace Park, a place of peace and solitude for residents and Veterans to visit to remember their loved ones or their comrades.
The Legion’s primary concern for approaching the Town was to protect the integrity of the hard work that has gone into the revitalization of the Veterans Peace Park to date. The hanging of the lights on the trees requires large equipment to enter the area. Our particular concern was the newly constructed Peace Walk which was installed in the summer of 2023. We have observed that the use of this large equipment in the past has created damage to the ground when entering the park and significant compression of the ground along side the walkway. The old walkway that was removed was cracked. The new Peace Walk is a continuous cement walkway with the words PEACE, HONOUR and RESPECT sandblasted in it. Damage to this would be devastating and come with a significant cost of repair.
The funds to revitalize the Veterans Peace Park have come from the fundraising efforts of the RCL from both Government and community partners. The RCL has successfully acquired grants and donations from your Federal Government, Provincial Government, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield, and your local community totaling close to $150K. Below is a list of these partnerships (rough figures) we have developed and want to ensure that we have used these funds respectfully and for the long-term purpose for which we promised them.
Federal Government (Veterans Affairs Canada): $25000
Provincial Government: $60000
Town of Grand Bay-Westfield: $5000 plus the cost of the Peace Sculpture.
In kind support from volunteers (digging trenches): $6000.
Crane Mountain Enhancement Inc: $35000
Royal Canadian Legion: $15000
Scholtens: $5000
Home Hardware: $5000
Pizza Delight: $5000
The Medicine Shoppe: $5000
Kiwanis of Western King: $2000
Keel Construction: $2000
Ned-A-Lift (Dwayne Brown): $1500
River Valley Lions: $1000
The Chamber: $1000
DW Carving Studio: $1000 in-kind.
Rising Tides Healing Centre: $500
Human Performance Centre: $500
Dizzy Grape: $500
Scotiabank: $200
As we continue to develop these relationships, we want to respect their decision to partner with us on this project and potentially more in the future. We cannot do this if we don’t use their donations responsibly and protect their investments in our community. We look forward to the next stage of development in 2024.
On behalf of the Legion, I would like to thank the Town for considering and supporting our request. As Vice President and Veterans Peace Park Chair, I would ask residents to please support and respect the decision of the RCL Br 22 and The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield. Let us all embrace this new tradition of the Veterans Peace Park and Unity Park.
On behalf of the RCL Br 22 I would like to wish all residents of the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield a safe and happy Christmas season.
Cory Ryan, CD
RCL Branch 22 1st VP
Poppy Chair
Veterans Peace Park Chair
