REMARKS
DEDICATION SERVICE OF DIEPPE VETERANS’MEMORIAL PARK

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING THE WATERFRONT REGENERATION TRUST TO BE A PARTNER IN THE CREATION OF THIS WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO OUR VETERANS.

THE WATERFRONT REGENERATION TRUST IS A PARTNERSHIP OF THE 35 COMMUNITIES ALONG THE CANADIAN SHORES OF LAKE ONTARIO. OUR GOAL IS TO COMPLETE, MARKET AND PROMOTE THE LAKE ONTARIO WATERFRONT TRAIL AND GREENWAY, WHICH GOES FROM NIAGARA ON THE LAKE TO BROCKVILLE, A TOTAL OF 740 KMS. THIS TRAIL IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE MEMORIAL PARK.
RECENTLY THE TRUST RECEIVED A $9.2M GRANT FROM FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO FUND CAPITAL WORKS ON THE TRAIL AND GREENWAY. TOGETHER WITH FUNDS FROM 28 PARTNERS, A TOTAL OF JUST UNDER $32M HAS BEEN RAISED TO CARRY OUT 53 PROJECTS. MY SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT TODAY WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING THIS IMPORTANT FINANCIAL COMMITTMENT TO THE LAKE ONTARIO WATERFRONT TRAIL.

TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF ONE OF THESE PROJECTS – DIEPPE VETERANS’ MEMORIAL PARK. SINCE MY VISIT TO THE NORMANDY BEACHES A FEW YEARS AGO, I HAVE GAINED A NEW AND LASTING APPRECIATION FOR THE CONDITIONS AND SITUTATIONS OUR SOLDIERS WERE PLACED IN. AT THIS MEMORIAL PARK, YOU HAVE CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY TO COME AND APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE GREAT SACRIFICE MADE BY HAMILTONIANS, AND ALSO TO QUIETLY PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

IN ADDITION, HAVING THE MEMORIAL PARK LOCATED ON THE LAKE ONTARIO WATERFRONT TRAIL WILL ALLOW THE GROWING NUMBER OF TRAIL USERS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE INCREASING TOURIST USERS TO VISIT THIS MEMORIAL AND LEARN OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT YOUR CITIZENS PLAYED IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.

I WANT TO CONCLUDE MY REMARKS BY OFFERING MY THANK YOU TO THE VETERANS’ AND THEIR FAMILIES HERE TODAY FOR THE SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION OF YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.

Vicki Barron
Executive Director
Waterfront Regeneration Trust