ISSUE 143 BEVERLY CENOTAPH OCTOBER 2012

Every , I make my pil- to be put to a great test. At the onset of the grimage to Edmonton`s oldest Cenotaph - Great War, shortly after being officially rec- the Beverly Cenotaph - to pay my respects ognized as a town, Beverly responded with- out hesitation to a call for men to fight for to those who served and who paid the ulti- their country in the First World War. Beverly mate price to ensure a strong and free Can- contributed 170 of its finest men to the war ada for future generations. effort. After the war came to an end in 1919, 27 of those men did not return home, as they paid the ultimate sacrifice for their be- Remembering the services and sacrifices loved country. that our soldiers have made, and continue to make, is an important undertaking in our so- The surviving troops returned home to Bev- ciety. Memorials both erly with a mindset new and old can be and determination of found from coast-to- building a better com- coast as reminders of munity. It is with this where we are as a na- sentiment that a tion, and what it has group of war veter- cost to get us here. ans got together and The oldest cenotaph founded an associa- in Edmonton, the Bev- tion based on the no- erly Cenotaph, pro- tion of assisting sol- vides us with perhaps diers who had re- the best example of a turned from war in re- society banding to- adjusting themselves gether to remember in to civilian life. This the face of tragedy. Residents gather at the Beverly Cenotaph on act of kindness and Remembrance Day in 1933. has solidarity gave birth In 1914, the coal min- become a Remembrance Day staple in Beverly. to the Beverly Veter- ing community of Bev- ans’ Association, erly was incorporated which was registered as a town, and it did not take long for this under the Companies Act, April 9, 1920. town – like many others across the country – ISSUE 143 BEVERLY CENOTAPH Page 2 OCTOBER 2012

The Beverly Veterans’ Association wasted their soldiers. The cenotaph also holds a very little time in giving their fallen brothers sketch of a heavy artillery cannon. What the proper thanks and remembrance they felt many passers-by would assume was simply they deserved. Within the first months of the an appropriate decoration for the stone sur- formation of this association, they had made face actually had a much more significant plans to erect a Memorial to their comrades meaning for the townsfolk of Beverly. Dur- who had lost their lives in the Great War. A ing the First World War, military gun barrels fund was immediately set up in order to raise were cast in a local foundry in their town. As the necessary money to make this Memorial such, the memorial became not only the a reality. The community answered the call symbol of Beverly’s sacrificed sons of the swiftly, as not only First World War it be- was the money raised came a symbol of the in a matter of months, war effort put forth by but a local citizen and the whole town. The war veteran, Thomas Beverly Cenotaph Dando, also donated represents the unity two plots of land for a a small town showed Memorial Park on in the face of a big which to erect the threat, and the bonds Cenotaph. that were forged in that time of uncer- On October 17, 1920, tainty. the marble and con- crete to the With time, the Ceno- Peter Goldring and his wife, Lorraine, pose for a fallen was erected on photograph with recently deceased former taph transformed ap- the land donated by Edmonton East MP and war veteran Bill Lesick in propriately to keep Mr. Dando in what is front of the Beverly Cenotaph. up with what was go- now Beverly Heights, ing on around the Edmonton. The grand ceremony was well world. After the conclusion of the Second attended, most notably by the Lieutenant World War, the town of Beverly doubled the Governor George Brett, Brigadier-General size of the Memorial park with the addition William Griesbach, Edmonton Mayor Joe of two adjoining lots. The Cenotaph was Clarke, and Beverly Mayor Fred Humber- moved accordingly to a more central loca- stone. tion in the park. The beautiful monument bears the names of On October 5, 1958, more than 1,000 peo- the lost servicemen in etched ple turned out for the re-dedication ceremo- onto its surface. However, the cenotaph had ny of the Beverly Cenotaph. Sadly, but inev- a deeper connection to the town of Beverly itably, the scope of the Cenotaph also grew than just the brave war efforts put forth by in size that day. A plaque that was inscribed ISSUE 143 BEVERLY CENOTAPH Page 3 OCTOBER 2012

with the names of five Beverly residents who Being one of the country’s older memorials, had given their lives in the Second World the impact and weight that the Beverly Cen- War was unveiled by then-Mayor John Sehn. otaph has in terms of its importance to Ca- Since then, a plaque has also been added to nadian history is felt very strongly when in the cenotaph in remembrance of the Canadi- its presence. Memorials such as this one in ans from the community who lost their lives Beverly put into perspective the over two in the Korean War. million Canadians who have served our country since Confederation, especially the In 1961, the city of Edmonton annexed the over 115,000 who paid with their lives to en- city of Beverly. Thus the Beverly Cenotaph sure the freedom of our great nation. currently residing in the city of Beverly The Beverly Ceno- Heights. Post-1961, taph helps us re- the maintenance of member the sacrific- both the park and the es that have been Cenotaph became the made by Canadians responsibility of the both at home and city’s Parks and Rec- abroad. It helps us to reation Department. remember that war- The site continues to time efforts do not be well-maintained to stop and end with the this day, as annual soldiers going over- flower beds are plant- seas, but that the ed at the site, which is constant help and extensively land- As Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, support that our Peter gets the honor of addressing the assembly scaped with shrub of some 1,500 persons which included veterans troops receive from beds and park bench- currently serving military members, and cadets. back home is of es. great importance as well. Perhaps the most important function of the Beverly Cenotaph is that it continues to re- With every year that passes, it is another main a revered site of thanks and remem- year removed that our society is from the brance to those who have served our coun- Great War, as well as the Second World try. There continues to be a Remembrance War. such as the Beverly Cen- Day ceremony held at the cenotaph every otaph cannot be praised enough for the im- year, which I am very proud to say I have portance they hold in maintaining ’s attended every year over the past 15 years past war efforts and preserving Canada’s except for 1998, when I represented the Of- proud history. ficial Opposition party on Parliament Hill. The pen of John McRae spoke out from the ISSUE 143 BEVERLY CENOTAPH Page 4 OCTOBER 2012 fields of war nearly 100 years ago. His words sure Canada is a land of freedom and are carved in the walls of the House of Com- equality. mons and are as enduring as our remem- brance of war veterans-past. The people and the city of Edmonton can- not be praised enough for the consistent “If ye break faith with us who die, we shall respect and maintenance they afford to the not sleep.” city’s oldest , the Beverly Cen- It is Canadian monuments exactly like the otaph. Beverly Cenotaph which ensure that we heed John McRae’s words. Enduring memo- rials to Canadian war veterans who have served our country over our nearly 150 year existence are of the highest importance. It affirms the pride and thanks we have for our troops and all they have accomplished to en-

UPDATE: Mr. Goldring is looking forward to being in attendance at the Beverly Ceno- taph on Remembrance Day 2012 to pay his respects to the Canadian military past and present. He looks forward to seeing many of the members of the Edmonton communi- ty there as well.

9111 - 118th Ave. Web Site: 411 Justice Bldg. Edmonton, AB T5B OT9 www.petergoldring.ca , ON K1A 0A6 (780) 495-3261 Email: (613) 992-3821 Fax: 495-5142 [email protected] Fax: 992-6898

This brochure series is intended to highlight special issues that Member of Parliament, Peter Goldring, has been involved in. If you wish to comment, please take a moment to fill out the survey below, write or call to the address above.

Your Opinion Matters... Name: ______No Address: ______Postage Question #1 Have you ever visited the Beverly City: ______Cenotaph? Postal Code: ______Telephone: ______Yes No

Question #2 Do you agree that a plaque should be added to remember all who have fallen in the Peter Goldring line of duty in Afghanistan? Member of Parliament Yes No Edmonton East House of Commons Comments:______Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 ______ISSUE # 143 October 2012