Barry's Bay - Zurakowski Park

 

Location: Renfrew County  N 45 29.314  W 77 40.664
On Highway 60, at Kelly Street.
 


Welcome to the home of Janusz Zurakowski, the lead test pilot for the incredible Avro Arrow.  This memorial park is dedicated to both Mr. Zurakowski and the Arrow.  Most of us know the history of the Avro Arrow, so I will not delve into the ill-fated story here, we all have our own tears to bare.

Janusz Zurakowski led a busy and glorious life by all accounts.  Born in Poland in 1914, he lived in many countries, fought gloriously in the Second World War, and retired to Barry's Bay after his test pilot years.   More of his illustrious life and history can be found here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_%C5%BBurakowski

The memorial features a statue of Mr. Zurakowski, a replica Arrow, a Spitfire weathervane, and several story boards to explain his story and that of the Arrow.  This is an excellent and well-done display, a must see for all travellers and lovers of the Avro Arrow.  The park opened July 26, 2003, shortly before he passed away in 2004.

An excellent website to visit can be found here:  http://www.zurakowskipark.ca

 

Alsfeldt

 

Location:  Grey County   N 43 59.736  W 80 54.658
In the pioneer cemetery, on the Minto-Normanby Townline at Grey Road 3.
 

This was a special surprise, completely unexpected.  I came here originally to photograph the remains of the pioneer cemetery and was pleased to find a World War I memorial as well.  The memorial is dedicated to the men lost from the community of Salem, which no longer exists.  Alsfeldt is the nearest community of any sort in the area.  This is a rural farming area, the community of Salem no only existing in this pioneer cemetery, and in the spirit of the locals.  The cemetery and Methodist Church were established here in 1894, and the church closed and torn down in 1968. 
After extensively searching other nearby towns for memorials, places like Neustadt and Ayton, and coming up empty, this was a bonus find.  The community of Salem should be proud of the men who where lost in the Great War.
 

Marker text:
ERECTED BY THE
SALEM COMMUNITY

IN MEMORY OF
THEIR HEROIC DEAD

1914     1918

C.R. ADAIR
C. BAKER
A.H. ELLIS
D.E. HOWES  M.O.
B. KENNEDY
S. LAWRENCE

M.A. MATTHEWS
C.J. MATTHEWS
W.T. REEVES
E.H. SCASE
J. SLINGER
B. SMALL

F. SMALL
W.I. ADAIR

Sturgeon Falls

 

Location:  Nipissing District   N 46 22.063  W 79 55.998
Behind the Legion, on the west side of River Street.
 

A wonderful memorial featuring two large stones dedicated to the brave souls who have given their lives for their country, in the World Wars, Korea, and Peacekeeping.
The first stone was erected by Branch 225 of the Royal Canadian Legion, listing the names of the dead of the major conflicts.  A centre flagpole also has a small plaque dedicated to one of our peacekeepers who lost his life in Cyprus in 1983.
The second stone was originally located near the Abitibi Power Dam, and was dedicated by the Abitibi Power and Paper Company, in honour of its employees who fought and died in the Second World War.  Their names engraved on this attractive brass plaque.  The stone was moved recently to its new location, beside the Legion.  The company and the town suffered great loss during the World Wars, as indicated by the long list of lost men.



Marker text:
Legion stone:
ALL THESE WERE HONOURED
IN THEIR GENERATIONS AND
WERE THE GLORY OF THEIR
TIMES
ECCLESIASTICUS 44.7

TOUS CES HOMMES FURENT
HONORES PAR LEURS
CONTEMPORAINS TOUS ONT ETE
LA GLOIRE DE LEUR TEMPS
L'ECCLESIASTIQUE 44.7

1914 - 1918

R. ARMITAGE
T. CHARBONNEAU
H. DOLAN
G. DOIGE
H. DEROCHE
G. DOLE
A. DUBE
C.H. EVANS
G. FLANNIGAN
J. GARROW
J. KIDD
F. LEVESQUE
F. LARIVIERE
E. LONEY
J.W. MACINNIS
J.W. NORTH
F. NIPHON
H.E. PIERCE
J. RATCHFORD
A. STILLAR
H.S. TILLEY
W. WILSON

1939 - 1945

S. ARMITAGE
E. AUBIN
G. AUBIN
R. AUBRY
A. CLARK
I. CLARK
W. CLARK
G. COCKBURN
J. COMMANDA
E. DUCLOS
A. DUVAL
G. FORTIN
O. GALIPEAU
G. GALLAGHER
G. GAMMELL
G. GOULAIS
R. HOLDER
A. LABELLE
E. LANSDOWNE
G. MERCHANT
B. MCCOOL
R. PELLAND
Q. PERRY
O. PRIMEAU
R. QUENNEVILLE
P. RESTOULE
R. ROBINEAU
L. ROCHON
R. SERRE
R. SPOONER
L. THERIAULT
A. TURPIN

KOREA CORÉE
1952

H. PRUD'HOMME

LEST WE FORGET
 



Abitibi Stone:
THIS PLAQUE IS ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF THE MEN
OF ABITIBI POWER AND PAPER
COMPANY LIMITED AND
SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
1939 1945

G.H. ANDERSON
R.H. BETTS
J. BOYD
B.E. COLUMBUS
J.E. COOPER
G.S. CYBOLSKY
R.J. D'ARCY
E.A. DAWSON
G. DEAN
F. DEWAR
G.J. DOYLE
B.G. FOY
D. GOLD
E.W. GOLD
H. HAIDER
R.R. HALFORD
J.E. HORVATH
V. HUGLI
M. KALIK
W.J. KASUBECK

W.F. KNIGHT
A.J. LABARRE
F.H. LALOR
T.E. LAVALLEE
O.J. LOCKE
D.S. MACLEAN
J.G. NAULT
H. NEWLOVE
R. NICHOLAS
R.D. POE
J.G. ROACH
W.T. ROBINSON
A.J. RONHOLM
F. SABOURIN
J. SEMENVIK
S.H. SMITH
L.A. TOURAND
E. VAILLANCOURT
W.N. WOLF
W. YURINCHUK

THEY GAVE THEIR ALL IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM
 


Flagpole plaque:
IN MEMORY OF
DUANE WILSON PVTE
2ND BATT. P.P.C.L.I.
CYPRUS
1983

Bond Head

 

Location:  Simcoe County   N 44° 05.257 W 079° 40.534
On the west side of Highway 27, south of Highway 88, at the community centre.


 
The gates to the Bond Head Community Centre and Park, display the names of those from this small rural village who gave their live in the World Wars.  The number of names on these gates, although seemingly small, is astounding, given the size of the village at the time of war.  The two stone gates each display a granite plaque, engraved with the names from each World War.
Beside the gates are also two Ontario Historical Plaques, each of famous gentlemen born in Bond Head.  Neither have any relation to the memorial or the wars, but history buffs might like to see the contributions of the village of Bond Head.



Marker text:
Right gate:
IN MEMORIAM

SGT. JAMES EDWARD CASSELLS
ROBERT EVERETT CARTER
LEONARD AVERILL
WILLIAM J.M. WOOD

WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
 



Left gate:
IN MEMORIAM

HAROLD WILSON
LAURIE MELBOURNE
ROSS RUTHERFORD
WALTER AELICK
WALTER ANDREWS
EARL SLACK
ROBSON JEWITT

WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Dunchurch

 

Location:  Parry Sound District   N 45 37.045  W 79 53.183
In front of the Legion, on Highway 124, west of town.
 

A very simple memorial, resting beside the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 394.  This branch of the Legion was amalgamated with the one in Michipicoten, although both villages have their own memorials.  I am always so pleased to see even the smallest of villages, like Dunchurch, make the effort to support a Legion, along with a memorial, no matter how small.  Makes me wonder why some of the larger towns neglect to honour those who fought for freedom.


Marker text:
'LEST WE FORGET'

1914  1918

1939  1945

1950  1953

Shallow Lake

 

Location:  Bruce County   N 44 36.847  W 81 05.076
On the south side of Highway 6, at the bend in the road.
 

This memorial, found in Veterans Park, has been recently re-done.  Originally it consisted of a field stone stele with a granite stone depicting the names of the dead.  The new memorial, dedicated in 2009 by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 282 and community donors, now has a marble stele with the same granite stone of names.  The new park is much more appealing, with four accompanying flagpoles and faced with a low stone wall catching the eye of those passing by, with the words "Shallow Lake Veterans Park" in large bold letters.  There are also two new plaques dedicated by those responsible for the new memorial park, to honour themselves.  I have always believed it is the duty of local council and citizens to maintain these memorials without any questions or self promotion.  I praise the new memorial and thank all who contributed, but the important names are those carved into stone, who died for our country.


Marker text:
IN MEMORY OF OUR HEROIC DEAD

1914 - 1918

E. BAILEY
A. BISHOP
G. BLYTHE
J. BLYTHE
A. BROWN
D. BROWN

J. HALL
DR. D. HOWES
G. MALLOY
G. MC DONALD
G. PARTRIDGE
G. SUTHERBY

1939 - 1945

J. DONALDSON
A. MATCHES
H. MONAHAN
E. NOBLE
H. PRUDER
 

Merritton - R.C.L. Br. 138

 

Location:  Niagara Region   N 43 08.356  W 79 12.939
On the corner of Hastings Street and Chestnut Street.
 

A simple yet attractive memorial in front of the Merritton Branch 138 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The memorial consists of a brass plaque on a stone stele, the grounds nicely manicured and flower pots on either side kept in good condition.  A very nice memorial for the members of this Legion branch.  The initials B.E.S.L. on the memorial stand for the British Empire Service League, an early part of the Legion.  This memorial if reminiscent of the patriotic views towards to the British Empire during the World Wars.
 

Marker text:
ERECTED BY
MERRITTON  BRANCH 138
CANADIAN LEGION B.E.S.L.

DEDICATED
TO ALL EX-SERVICEMEN
FROM MERRITTON
WHO SERVED IN ANY OF
THE WARS OF OUR EMPIRE