A PLACE TO REMEMBER A MESSAGE FROM THE TASK FORCE CHAIR WELLAND CANAL FALLEN WORKERS MEMORIAL The Welland Canal is referred to as an engineering marvel that has stood the test of time. The great link between two Great Lakes was built by men who toiled in extreme conditions to connect Canada and the United States to the growing global economy. The Fallen Workers were fathers, brothers, uncles and friends and now, their efforts will never be forgotten. As Chair of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial, I would like to acknowledge the many people who have come together to build this important monument. Through the efforts and cooperation of various levels of government, labour, the marine and shipping industry, local media and community, and led by campaign chair Greg Wight, the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial is a testament to the dedication of a small group of people who came together to ensure that those lives lost so long ago, finally received their long overdue memorial. Memory slowly fades with time, but now the Fallen Workers of the Fourth Welland Canal will be remembered for generations to come. Walter Sendzik Mayor, St. Catharines Task Force Chair Mayor Walter Sendzik @WSendzik City of St. Catharines @wsendzik /MayorSendzik www.mayorsendzik.ca Welland Canal WELLAND CANAL FALLEN WORKERS MEMORIAL PB 1 Fallen Workers Memorial A PLACE TO REMEMBER MONUMENT DÉDIÉ AUX OUVRIERS DÉCÉDÉS À LA CONSTRUCTION DU CANAL WELLAND Le canal Welland est reconnu comme un chef-d’œuvre d’ingénierie ayant résisté à l’épreuve du temps. Cette connexion a été bâtie par des hommes œuvrant dans des conditions extrêmes dans le but de rapprocher le Canada et les États-Unis de l’économie mondiale en croissance. Ces ouvriers décédés étaient des pères, frères, November 12, 2017 oncles et amis, et maintenant, leur contribution ne sera jamais oubliée. En tant que président du Groupe de travail sur le monument aux ouvriers décédés à la construction du canal Welland, j’aimerais profiter de l’occasion pour reconnaitre les efforts des nombreuses personnes qui se sont regroupées Dear Friends: pour ériger cet important monument. Grâce aux contributions et à la coopération des différents niveaux de gouvernement, des groupes syndicaux, I would like to offer my warmest greetings to everyone attending de l’industrie du transport maritime, des médias locaux et de la communauté, the unveiling of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial. et sous la direction du président de la campagne de financement, Greg The Welland Canal, which opened in 1932, is an incredible feat of engineering. Wight, le Monument aux ouvriers décédés à la construction du canal Welland Linking Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, the canal plays a crucial role in Canada’s témoigne du dévouement d’un petit nombre de personnes qui se sont prosperity, generating an annual economic impact of $222 million in the Niagara mobilisées pour s’assurer que les vies perdues il y a si longtemps soient enfin Region alone. honorées convenablement. However, this remarkable endeavour was not completed without great loss. Between Avec le temps, les souvenirs s’estompent, mais à 1913 and 1936, 137 workers lost their lives in the construction and dredging of the partir d’aujourd’hui on se souviendra des ouvriers canal. This monument will ensure that the sacrifices of the Welland Canal workers qui sont décédés lors de construction du canal are never forgotten. I am honoured to join you in the unveiling of this memorial, and in paying tribute to all whose lives were lost. Welland pendant encore des générations. I would like to commend the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force, and everyone who contributed to the creation of this monument, for their dedication and generosity. Please accept my best wishes for a memorable day. Sincerely, Maire Walter Sendzik Président du Groupe de travail sur le monument aux ouvriers décédés à la construction du canal Welland Mayor Walter Sendzik @WSendzik City of St. Catharines The Rt. Hon. Justin P.J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P. @wsendzik Prime Minister of Canada /MayorSendzik www.mayorsendzik.ca Welland Canal WELLAND CANAL FALLEN WORKERS MEMORIAL 2 3 Fallen Workers Memorial A PLACE TO REMEMBER Regional Chair Alan Caslin and Niagara Regional Council honour the dedication of the fallen workers of the Welland Canal and their commitment to building a thriving Niagara region. The Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial honours their legacy for future generations. Le 12 novembre 2017 Chères amies, chers amis, Je tiens à présenter mes salutations les plus chaleureuses à celles et ceux qui assistent au dévoilement du Monument commémoratif en hommage aux travailleurs morts à la construction du canal Welland. Le canal Welland, ouvert en 1932, est un brillant exploit d’ingénierie qui fait le lien entre le lac Érié et le lac Ontario. Ce canal joue un rôle essentiel à la prospérité du Canada, générant des retombées économiques annuelles de 222 millions de dollars, Commemorative Message From uniquement dans la région de Niagara. Niagara Regional Chair Alan Caslin Toutefois, cet ouvrage remarquable n’a pu être achevé sans de grands sacrifices. Entre 1913 et 1936, 137 travailleurs ont perdu la vie durant la construction et le dragage du canal. Ce monument veillera à ce que les sacrifices des travailleurs du On behalf of Regional Council, I’d like to sincerely thank Campaign Chair Greg Wight, Community Partners Canadian canal Welland ne sombrent jamais dans l’oubli. J’ai l’honneur de me joindre à vous Canal Society and Welland Canals Foundation and all the donors and volunteers of the Task Force who have come pour le dévoilement de ce monument commémoratif et pour rendre hommage à together to enrich our community through the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial. Respect for Niagara’s rich toutes ces vies perdues. history and those who built and shaped it is critical to moving toward our future, and it is truly inspiring to see Niagara come together to honour those who lost their lives creating one of Niagara’s defining and enduring features. Je tiens à féliciter le groupe de travail du Monument commémoratif en hommage aux travailleurs morts à la construction du canal Welland et toutes les personnes qui ont The construction of the Welland Canal is one of the most impressive feats in North American contribué à la création de ce monument, pour leur dévouement et leur générosité. Je infrastructure, and the continuing impact this project has had on Niagara, economically, vous offre mes meilleurs vœux en cette journée mémorable. historically and culturally, cannot be underestimated. Today, over 40 million tons of cargo Cordialement, traverses the 43 kilometres between Lakes Ontario and Erie, and none of that would have been possible had it not been for the sacrifice of those we honour through this memorial. It is important that we remember every one of the 137 men who lost their lives in the construction of the canal. To read their stories is to read our own. These were sons, fathers, brothers, husbands, who worked day-in and day-out to make Niagara a better place. As we try to do the same in our day, let us keep them always in our memory. Le très hon. Justin P.J. Trudeau, C.P., député Office of the Niagara Regional Chair Premier ministre du Canada [email protected] | 905-980-6000 ext. 3247 | niagararegion.ca Welland Canal WELLAND CANAL FALLEN WORKERS MEMORIAL 4 5 Fallen Workers Memorial A PLACE TO REMEMBER Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial A PLACE TO REMEMBER TASK FORCE CHAIR Shortly after the Veil was installed, I had the opportunity to stand between it and the Gates Walter Sendzik of Remembrance. It was a brilliantly cloudless day and I could see myself as well as the Lock Mayor, St. Catharines Gates reflected on the Veil. These images caused me to reflect on the past two and a half years in which I’ve had the CAMPAIGN CHAIR privilege to act as Fundraising Chair for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force. Greg Wight My association with the Task Force began when I was approached by Mayor Walter Sendzik shortly after I retired from Algoma Central Corporation in April 2015. The cause was compelling, COMMUNITY PARTNERS and it provided an ideal opportunity to give back to the industry and people that I worked with Canadian Canal Society for the last thirty-five years. Our goal was to raise all the funds required for the design, construction and installation of the Welland Canals Foundation Memorial and surrounding park. The Welland Canal Fallen Workers Task Force is very pleased to be able to report that the overall fundraising target has been achieved. This awe-inspiring Memorial unveiled today is the result of many donors and supporters. We are pleased to acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada, the Niagara Region and the City of St. Catharines, who together contributed more than 50% of the project’s funds. The project succeeded because of the support of labour, corporate companies, local service clubs and foundations, historical societies, individuals across Niagara, and the families of the Fallen Workers. Donations have been made by companies who operate in the Great Lakes marine industry, by Seaway workers, by the sailors working on the vessels transiting the Welland Canal, and by many more labour associations and unions. Many of our donors are in Niagara, but many are national, with ties across North America. I am honoured to have been a part of this historic initiative, fulfilling a promise made at the opening of the fourth Welland Canal in 1932. We all reflect well when we remember these men and their contributions.