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ENTERTAINMENT
Dorothy hopeful Stephanie LaRochelle came a close second in the CBC’s Over the Rainbow talent contest on Nov. 5. – Page 3
CITY HALL COMMUNITY EMMA JACKSON/METROLAND
Songs of remembrance Students in the Castor Valley Elementary School primary choir sing during the school’s Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 9. The service offered a mix of songs and poems, and each class laid a homemade wreath of paper poppies in the gym. The school welcomed local veterans and currently serving members of the Ottawa fire and police departments to take part in the ceremony. For the full story turn to page 2.
– Page 19
NEWS COMMUNITY
Osgoode Public School takes on a new anti-bullying program to help to stop the problem before it starts. – Page 28
Restored cenotaph unveiled in Metcalfe Emma Jackson
emma.jackson@metroland.com
EMC news - A nearly 100year saga came to a close on Nov. 5 when the names of four fallen First World War soldiers were added to Osgoode Township’s cenotaph in Metcalfe. The names have been missing since the memorial was erected in 1921. After some careful research by local amateur historian Coreen Atkins-Sheldrick, the community came together over the summer to raise enough money to correct the omissions. “The reasons for their omissions are irrelevant, but I’m so happy to be here today to see them properly remembered,” Atkins-Sheldrick told a crowd of about 30 people who gathered outside the old Metcalfe town hall for a rededication ceremony.
When “That will never happen to me” happens.
In the spring, Atkins-Sheldrick discovered that at least four names were missing from the cenotaph, and contacted Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre to see what could be done. A small team of volunteers was recruited to help fundraise about $3,500 so that Veterans Affairs would match the rest of the funds for the $7,000 project. The money was raised in less than a month. One of the four missing soldiers was Pte. Ernest Bonsall, and on Nov. 5 his great niece and her son came to the cenotaph’s rededication. Toronto resident Nicole Hendershot said her grandmother, Bonsall’s younger sister, was only 11 when he left for the war. But her grandmother told her many stories about how much she loved him, Hendershot said.
“My grandmother remembered his zest for life and his humour,” Hendershot told the crowd. Bonsall was born in 1895 in Poltimore, Que., although there is some evidence he was actually born in Ottawa. His family moved to Osgoode Township in 1902 and farmed there until 1915. Bonsall enlisted on June 3, 1916, and he left for Europe in June 1917. By June 1918 he was officially declared dead after being reported missing in action on Nov. 6, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. His remains were never located. Hendershot’s son, 18month-old Callan Lytton Hendershot, is named for his great-great uncle, after Hendershot’s grandmother made her promise that if she ever had a son she would give him Ernest’s middle name, Lytton.
In October, Martel and Sons masonry company from Vankleek Hill began to clean and restore the monuments for fallen First and Second World War soldiers, and to create a new base for the First World War memorial. Poilievre said honouring the missing soldiers on the cenotaph is the least we can do to remember their sacrifice. “After we’re gone from this earth, no matter how much good we do, the only proof that we ever existed at all are photos and names,” Poilievre said. “For three of these men, photos cannot be found. And for all four, their names have been erased from the public record. As our government launches Veteran’s Week today, I think it is fitting that we take the time to remember the brave men and women who fought valiantly for our free-
dom.” Osgoode Village Community Association board member Rob Brewster, who was a key volunteer for the project, said he was impressed at how residents and businesses rose to the occasion. “The spirit that this brought was amazing; the community came together,” Brewster said. He told the crowd he is proud of the work they’ve done, but hopes the days of war memorials are over. “I hope that we never have to build another one of these or inscribe another name, ever,” he said. Atkins-Sheldrick said there are another 10 names potentially still missing from the cenotaph, and she’s working on the research to prove their connection to the township. “I won’t be satisfied until the other 10 names are added,” she said.
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Osgoode residents and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 589 came together on Nov. 4 to honour Canadian soldiers.