The Government of Canada Honours Korean War Veterans

OTTAWA, September 22, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Senator Yonah Martin today attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs and His Excellency Sung-Hwan Kim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, to pay tribute to Canadian Veterans of the Korean War.

"Today our Government honours the sacrifices and contributions of our Canadian Veterans, in particular those who served in the Korean War, one of Canada's most significant military engagements of the 20th century," said Minister Blaney. "We must preserve the legacy of our Veterans, especially among our younger generations."

"Although Korea is half a world away, the friendship between Canada and South Korea has been growing stronger for more than half a century," said Senator Martin. "I am very pleased to know that the contributions of Canadian Veterans are so well respected and honoured in Korea. The ultimate sacrifices Canadians and the achievements of every soldier in Korea will not be forgotten."

"The Korean War had profound regional and global ramifications that still resound today," said Minister Baird. "Our Government proudly honours the swift and strong contribution of our Veterans. We do this to ensure that this key event in our history is never forgotten and that such a conflict is never repeated."

More than 26,000 Canadian men and women served during the Korean War. Approximately 7,000 Canadians continued to serve between the signing of the Armistice in 1953 and the end of 1955, with some Canadian troops remaining until 1957. Of those Canadians, 516 gave their lives.

More information on Canada's participation in the Korean War is available on Veterans Affairs Canada's Web site at veterans.gc.ca.

Guelph Historical Society 2012 Lecture Series

GUELPH Ontario September 15, 2012 - Guelph Historical Society Release - The first lecture of the 2011 – 2012 "Evenings With History" series will take place on Tuesday October 2, 2012 in the hall of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Suffolk and Norfolk streets in Guelph, Ontario), starting at 7:30 p.m.

The presenter will be Bev Dietrich.

The topic: "Sitting Pretty: The History of the Toilet".

Bev Dietrich is the Curator of Guelph Museums which includes the brand new Guelph Civic Museum and McCrae house, birthplace of WWI poet John McCrae of “In Flanders Fields” fame. Bev was the curator of the travelling exhibit “Sitting Pretty: The History of the Toilet” that travelled to museums across Canada and around Ontario for over eleven years. Bev has compiled the research and photographs, and developed an interesting and somewhat humorous talk about the history of not only the toilet, but outhouses, public washrooms, chamber pots and toilet paper.

Provincial plaque commemorates Dale Estate in Brampton

BRAMPTON, Ontario, September 12, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, the Ontario Heritage Trust, the City of Brampton and Friends of the Dale Estate unveiled a provincial plaque to commemorate the Dale Estate.

"The Dale Estate began the greenhouse industry in Peel Region and encouraged the industry's growth. It created many jobs, gave Brampton status in the global market and strengthened the community's economic viability. The Dale Estate forms an important part of Brampton's heritage, and I am pleased to be able to commemorate their history in the Flower City." - Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"The Ontario Heritage Trust is delighted to celebrate Brampton's floriculture heritage. The Dale Estate is a remarkable story, a business that started with Edward Dale's home garden and, at its peak, produced millions of flowers for admirers around the globe. The Dale Estate and its flowers were world-renowned and encouraged the growth, prosperity and fame of the City of Brampton." - Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust

The unveiling took place at the Rose Theatre Brampton in Brampton, Ontario.

The plaque reads as follows:

The Dale Estate The Dale Estate nurseries played an instrumental role in the development of Brampton, establishing its reputation as "The Flower Town of Canada." The business began in 1863 with its founder Edward Dale selling vegetables from his garden and it soon expanded to include the cultivation of greenhouse roses. By the early 20th century, the Dale Estate employed a quarter of Brampton's population and was among the largest greenhouse flower producers in the world. International success stemmed, in part, from the production of new varieties of roses and orchids, and from the famous "Autographed Rose" technique. The Dale Estate continued to prosper through the first half of the 20th century and its numerous greenhouses and great chimney became iconic features of the local community. In the 1960s, the Dale Estate was sold and merged with another local grower, becoming the Calvert-Dale Estates. Gradually, production slowed and the firm closed its doors in 1980.

"For over 100 years, the family-run Dale Estate blossomed with international recognition for Brampton. Significant to our Flowertown heritage, the Dale Estate was one of the largest growers in the world and their roses renowned. Brampton - Canada's Flower City - is proud to celebrate the Dale Estate's history of success and distinction as inspiration for our city's future." - Susan Fennell, Mayor, City of Brampton

"The Dale Estate, once the third-largest greenhouse operation in the world, sold world-renowned roses and assorted flowers for over a century. It gave rise to Brampton's reputation as "The Flower Town of Canada" and dominated the fabric of life in the small town. Today, this floral heritage continues in Brampton's annual Flower Festival, corporate logo, beautiful parks and branding as the Flower City. By this plaque, we commemorate that great floral giant, the Dale Estate, and its founder, Harry Dale, whose love of roses put the small town of Brampton on the worldwide stage." - Dale O'Hara, author of Acres of Glass and member of Friends of The Dale Estate

Quick Facts

The provincial plaque will be permanently installed in Duggan Park - near the intersection of Vodden Street East and Centre Street North - in Brampton.

The Ontario Heritage Trust's Provincial Plaque Program commemorates significant people, places and events in Ontario's history.

Since 1956, over 1,200 provincial plaques have been unveiled.

The Ontario Heritage Trust is an agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.

Join the Royals for a Royal experience at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons

MIDLAND, Ontario, September 12, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a nationally significant historic site near Midland, Ontario, will be pulling out all the stops to make the upcoming visit by Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex a spectacular experience that will be steeped in Canada's founding heritage and culture. The Earl and Countess, better known as Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, are the youngest son and daughter-in-law of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The Ontario visit is being hosted by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor The Honourable David Onley, and this is the first time British Royalty has visited Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.

Jan Gray, General Manager of Sainte-Marie, is inviting the public to attend the memorable event on Sunday, September 16. Sainte-Marie plans an extensive, fun, and highly animated experience for the Royal couple as they tour the site from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The historic site will be resplendent with seasonal décor celebrating the onset of the Fall Harvest season. Upon arrival the Royals will be greeted by an impressive Encampment display at Sainte-Marie's front entrance, with numerous examples of "survival-in-the-bush" historic skills. They'll see traditional foods such as corn meal and maple syrup in the Cookhouse, view historic blacksmithing, learn about traditional birch-bark canoe building, and enjoy a locked waterway demonstration. Re-enactment group La Compagnie Franche will showcase the heritage of this early military unit in New France. The Earl and Countess will also see the Church of Sainte-Joseph beautifully lit with candlelight, reminiscent of Sainte-Marie's annual First Light celebrations.

Highly significant for the Royals will be their experience in Sainte-Marie's Native Area. The couple will learn about moose-hair tufting, a traditional First Nations craft, and lacrosse, Canada's original sport. The pageantry and colour of First Nations singing, drumming, and dancing will fill the air as the Red Spirit Circle Drum Group, the Christian Island Drum Group, and the Kwiikikwe Métis Women's Drum Group will perform in their spectacular costumes. Greetings will also be extended by The Beausoleil First Nation Chief and the President of the Georgian Bay Métis Council.

The Royal Visit of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones to Sainte-Marie among the Hurons will be on Sunday, September 16, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, and are encouraged to arrive early. Sainte-Marie opens at 10:00 a.m., regular site admission rates will apply.

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is operated by Huronia Historical Parks, a division of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport.

Plaque unveiled to mark original site of The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)

Dr. Alan Meek, left, and Dr. John Reeve-Newson worked with
Heritage Toronto to commission a plaque marking
the original site of the OVC on Temperance Street in Toronto.

GUELPH Ontario - September 10, 2012 - University of Guelph News - The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) celebrated its Toronto roots on Sunday with the unveiling of a heritage plaque to mark the original site of the college on Temperance Street.

About 70 people, including 35 descendants of OVC founder Andrew Smith, attended the event organized by Dr. Alan Meek, former OVC dean, and Dr. John Reeve-Newson, an OVC ’64 graduate who has practiced in the Toronto area for more than 40 years.

Ross Fair, a Ryerson history professor and member of the Heritage Toronto board, thanked Meek and Reeve-Newson for the countless hours of volunteer effort involved in initiating and fundraising for the project.

“Without them, we would not be here today celebrating this important part of Toronto’s history,” Fair said.

Smith established the Upper Canada Veterinary School in 1862. The name changed to Ontario Veterinary College in 1869 and after years of expansion on Temperance Street, OVC moved to University Avenue in 1915. It was relocated to Guelph in 1922. OVC was affiliated with the University of Toronto from 1897 to 1964, when it became one of the founding colleges of the University of Guelph.

“For some time, I’ve thought it odd that there was nothing on Temperance Street to mark the spot where OVC was established,” Meek said. “The college’s 150th anniversary gave Dr. Reeve-Newson and I the incentive to remedy the situation with a lot of help from our friends.”

On the site of what is now an underground parking garage next to a tiny green oasis called Cloud Gardens, in the shadows of the 68-storey Scotia Plaza and 70-storey Trump International Hotel and Tower, Fair asked the crowd to imagine the sites and sounds and smells of the city 150 years ago.

Back then, Toronto’s economy relied on the health of horses that were “vital to people’s ability to work and travel in the old city,” he said.

Reeve-Newson thanked Heritage Toronto and sponsors of the project including Veterinary Purchasing Ltd., Lifelearn, Scotiabank, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association as well as many individual donors. He also acknowledged the descendants of Smith at the unveiling, including great-great-granddaughter Dr. Angela Whelan OVC ’90 and her family.

“You have an ancestor to be very proud of, and we’re proud to honour him,” Reeve-Newson said.

Other guests at the event included Stephen Samaroo of Scotiabank, University of Guelph vice-president (research) Kevin Hall, and Grant Crack, parliamentary secretary to Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. On behalf of the minister, Crack presented a special certificate to Dr. Elizabeth Stone, OVC dean, in honour of the college’s 150th anniversary.

Meek said there was much more to the project than fundraising and working with Heritage Toronto to design a plaque. The Ontario Genealogical Society helped track down additional Smith descendants, including great-great-grandson Jeff Smith, who is working with OVC’s Dr. Peter Conlon to complete the Smith family tree. The group has also combed through city and provincial archives in search of photographs and artifacts from OVC’s first 60 years. The hunt is still on for a quality photograph of the original Temperance Street building, which was demolished in 1924.

Smith and the OVC played a vital role in professionalizing veterinary medicine in North America. By the time the Ontario government took over in 1908, the college had graduated more than 3,000 veterinarians.

Smith had a lifelong love of horses and was recognized as an expert on equine diseases, according to a citation from the archives of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where he was buried in 1910. He was a founding member of the Ontario Jockey Club, now known as the Woodbine Entertainment Group, and he established the Industrial Exhibition in Toronto, renamed the Canadian National Exhibition in 1912.

Canadian Government Demonstrates Commitment to Remembrance by Supporting Reconstruction of Rockwood Cenotaph

ROCKWOOD, Ontario, August 29, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Honourable Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington-Halton Hills, today attended the Rockwood Cenotaph rededication ceremony in Rockwood, Ontario.

"Cenotaphs and monuments across our country are solemn but powerful reminders of the sacrifices made by our nation's truest heroes," said Minister Blaney. "Our Government is committed to honouring Canada's Veterans and the brave service men and women who continue to serve today."

"This special monument honours the service and sacrifices of the local men and women who served in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War," said MP Chong. "I am very proud to be here today to rededicate this newly reconstructed cenotaph. We must preserve the legacy of our Veterans and ensure that younger generations are aware of the important contribution of Canadian Veterans to our military history."

The Township of Guelph/Eramosa has received Government of Canada funding of up to $33,060 through Veterans Affairs Canada's Community War Memorial Program, to assist with a major addition and reconstruction of the Rockwood Cenotaph in the community of Rockwood, Ontario. The project included the demolition and replacement of the stairs and the addition of fencing, retaining walls, a concrete platform around the cenotaph, and wheelchair ramps.

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, please visit veteran.gc.ca.

Reminiscence Journey at the 2012 International Plowing Match

Reminiscence Journey to showcase pillars of cultural heritage
that have played into the legacy of the plowing match

ROSEVILLE Ontario August 28, 2012 – The International Plowing Match (IPM) is proud to present The Reminiscence Journey (REM Journey); a brand new, and unique way, to showcase the legacy that has made IPM what it is today. The 800-acre family fun festival will display cultural elements of Waterloo Region by featuring entertainment from four significant cultures: First Nations, Pennsylvania German, Scottish, and German. These cultural heritages provide a means for an endless amount of events that the whole family can enjoy.

“We have over 1100 volunteers working in accordance with our dedicated committee members to bring about the cultural elements of our community. Some of the cultural events we have lined up include The KW Oktoberfest Tent & Lounge, Native Drumming performance, Highland dancing, and a traditional community Barn Raising by local volunteers,” said David Pyper, President of IPM 2012.

From September 18th – 22nd 2012, Waterloo Region’s Roseville will host the 99th edition of the plowing match. Its long and storied history returns to the region since its last visit in 1995, when Ayr played host to one of the most successful plowing matches to date. Committee members are confident that attendance will reach well over 100,000 due to the large span of activities and, in particular, the Reminiscence Journey – join the legacy!

About the International Plowing Match

The International Plowing Match (IPM) was established in Ontario in 1913 as a non-profit venture to showcase Ontario’s agricultural industry. Since then, it has grown to become one of Canada’s largest outdoor events and is executed through the dedication of nearly 2000 volunteers. IPM occurs in a different rural community each year and contributes 25 million dollars to the host community. The plowing match is reported to contribute as much as $25 million to the local economy based on a government of Ontario report. Key highlights of IPM include Education Sessions, the RV Holiday Mini Town, Artisan Exhibit, and the Plowing Competition. For ticket and general information, please visit www.ipm2012.ca.