Chief Warrant Officer Dean Henley of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters rings the bell. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
November 2018
A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered at the city’s Military Heritage Park beside the South Shore Centre for the Bells of Peace ceremony.
Across Canada, bells were set to toll at sunset, ringing from churches, ships and other ceremonies such as this, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I, replicating a ceremony that happened 100 years ago when bells tolled across Europe to signal the end of the war.
The bell was rung 100 times, with everyone taking a turn, from past and present veterans, dignitaries and those who just came to pay respect to those who fought and died in the war.
Some seemed a little nervous about stepping up to ring the bell but everyone did their part; a small but meaningful gesture to our veterans.
Several dignitaries spoke at the ceremony, including Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman, Innisfil Mayor Gord Wauchope, Springwater Township Mayor Don Allen, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin and Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard. Padre Michael Cassidy gave the blessing and also related a story of growing up in Liverpool, England during WWII and seeing school-mates killed during German bombing raids on the important port town.
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- Cassandra Rogers and Warrant Officer II Derek Ornsby dressed in WWI uniforms stand guard over the bell from HMCS Barrie. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Padre Michael Cassidy giving the blessing. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Mayor Jeff Lehman addresses the assembled crowd. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Master of Ceremonies Steve Glover, public relations officer and branch historian for Barrie’s Royal Canadian Legion branch and volunteer at the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Museum in Barrie. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- A banner listing the names of the soldiers from the 37th, 76th, 157th and 177th Battalions from Simcoe County who died in WWI. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- The crowd at Barrie’s Military Heritage Park. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
