Alliston, ON – The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Kellie Leitch, Member of Parliament for Simcoe–Grey and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and to the Minister of Labour, announced today $50,000 in Government of Canada support for a project in Alliston, Ontario, to honour Veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"It is our duty to remember and honour the brave men and women who have served Canada, and cenotaphs such as the one in Alliston help us do just that," said Minister Blaney. "Our government is proud to support projects like this one, which serves as a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by Canada's Veterans."
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #171 is receiving a maximum of $50,000 to construct a new memorial to commemorate local citizens who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, peacekeeping missions and in Afghanistan. The project will include construction of concrete pads, concrete sidewalks and ramp and an interlocking stone walkway with stone walls that form two planters leading up to the main cenotaph level. There will be a landscaped area for flagpoles and three separate granite stones will be installed on cement bases to form the cenotaph.
"The Alliston community and the Legion have worked tirelessly to make this project possible," said Ms. Leitch. "This contribution will ensure that the Alliston Cenotaph will be a place of remembrance and reflection for future generations."
Through the Community War Memorial Program (CWMP), Veterans Affairs Canada is partnering with communities across the country to build memorials to commemorate the achievements and sacrifices of those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace.
Applications to the CWMP are accepted throughout the year and reviewed quarterly. Interested non-profit groups and other organizations may be eligible for funding to build new memorials or to make major additions to existing ones. The next application deadline is July 29, 2011.
Please visit veterans.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122 to learn more or to apply for funding.
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