Service, parade celebrate centennial of cenotaph

Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell’s arrival Saturday in Niagara-on-the-Lake was greeted with appropriate pomp and circumstance. 

In town to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NOTL clock tower and cenotaph, and to help mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, Dowdeswell was chauffeured onto Queen Street and met by Lord Mayor Betty Disero and members of NOTL council at the side of the cenotaph. 

Dowdeswell then walked amongst the Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band, who played God Save The Queen and O Canada at the start of the ceremony. The Queen’s representative in our province extended greetings to a number of band members, before moving on to do the same for the gathered local branch members of the Royal Canadian Legion, first responders, Canadian Navy members and veterans on parade. 

Resplendent in her feathered red hat, Dowdeswell spent additional time speaking to 100-year-old veteran John Wikabrod before taking her seat next to Disero. 

The Lord Mayor began the proceedings with the land acknowledgement, then welcomed local dignitaries before turning the spotlight to Dowdeswell. 

“I’d like to extend a very special and warm Niagara-on-the-Lake welcome to Her Honour Madame Dowdeswell,” she said. “We are thrilled to have you join us today for this celebration.” 

Disero introduced historian Ron Dale next, who regaled the crowd gathered on a perfect Saturday morning with details of the military history of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and its relationship to the 100-year-old cenotaph. 

“There were 10 town of Niagara-on-the-Lake deaths during the (Great) War,” Dale explained. “Almost immediately after the war, resident George Rand pushed for a unique memorial for the fallen. Leading citizens supported the idea and a soldier’s memorial committee was formed.”

A number of ideas were bounced about by three subsequent town councils, including a memorial hospital, high school, athletic park or a traditional statue. Eventually, a plebiscite was held and the clock tower cenotaph idea won out. 

It was returning soldiers from overseas who swung the vote.

“The clock tower got 316 votes, the hospital 237, a traditional monument 72, an athletic park four votes, and a high school three votes,” outlined Dale. “Perhaps it was prophetic and they saw that eventually the high school and the hospital would both be closed, but the clock tower would still stand.”

Dale explained that veterans were also adamant that the clock tower stand in the centre of town, not in an alternate location in Simcoe Park. Designed by Toronto architect Charles Willmott, the cenotaph was funded through the sale of Victory Bonds and unveiled on June 24, 1922.

Dale went on to speak of NOTL residents lost in later conflicts, before turning the service over to councillor Gary Burroughs, chair of the cenotaph committee. Burroughs spoke of the need for fundraising efforts to restore the cenotaph to its former glory. 

“It’s a landmark that is so unique to this town,” said Burroughs, “As we mark this century, it is amazing to see how well the cenotaph has been preserved. Still, the persistence of weather and time have begun to leave their marks. Moving forward, the plan is a full restoration.”

The 29th Lieutenant Governor stepped to the podium after Burroughs to a standing ovation from the crowd that lined both sides of Queen Street. 

“One hundred years ago this memorial was unveiled by my predecessor, the Honourable Henry Cockshutt, who himself had been a veteran in the Great War,” said Dowdeswell. “The fact that this memorial occupies such a prominent place in your community is a testament to how important that war really was.”

“Some of the dead that we honour today barely made it out of their own childhood,” she continued. “Private Robert Follett Best was aged 18, Gunner William Perry Currie only 19. The world is perhaps indeed a happier place. But we know there are still so many dark clouds.”

Dowdeswell urged the adults of today to consider what kind of world they want to leave for the children of tomorrow, and to think about what they could do to lessen their burden. She went on to speak of service, both in the military and other forms, such as that of front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, before turning her focus back to the structure behind her and what it represents. 

“This clock tower is a place of solemnity, but also a place of beauty,” said Dowdeswell. “The flowers arranged around it every spring signify and embody continued renewal. In honour of those who came before us, and with their stories in our minds and their names in our hearts, let us commit to upholding the values of loyalty and caring that they fought for. They will not be forgotten.”

A prayer was read, Last Post was played, and the names of the fallen were then listed. Following Reveille, Dowdeswell was then invited to place a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph to honour the fallen.

The band and parade then led Dowdeswell and Disero, riding along in the car with the Lieutenant Governor, to Queen’s Royal Park, where a tree planting ceremony was held to recognize the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. 

There, Disero reflected on the many visits to the town by the royal family over the years, and remarked on the numerous accomplishments of Queen Elizabeth over seven decades. 

“Her reign is longer than that of her four predecessors put together,” marvelled Disero. “What an outstanding milestone. Nationwide ceremonies have also been held to mark her Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees. Reaching the age of 96 is also unprecedented for a monarch.”

“To some here in Canada it might seem quaint to continue observances of the British crown,” Disero continued. “But in many ways it remains the historical backbone of our nation and is entrenched in many of Canada’s institutions.”

Disero then handed Dowdeswell a shovel, and the Lieutenant Governor distributed soil at the base of the tree planted earlier last week to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

Following the tree planting ceremony, Dowdeswell and the dignitaries moved on to the Prince of Wales for tea.