July 30, 2015 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada
The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons, today unveiled plans to install a bronze plaque to commemorate the life and contributions of Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Sharpe. The plaque will be placed in Centre Block of Parliament. The memorial will feature a relief of LCol Sharpe’s face designed by Port Perry artist Tyler Briley.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe was first elected to the House of Commons in 1908 and was re-elected in 1911 as the Member of Parliament for Ontario North. He was sitting as an MP at the start of the First World War, and helped raise the 116th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He commanded the 116th Battalion during its operations on the fields of Europe and was re-elected by his constituents again in December 1917, while he was fighting on the battlefields of France. His unit was present for the assault on Vimy Ridge and fought at Avion and Passchendaele. After suffering mental injuries on the front, he was hospitalized in England and subsequently returned to Canada. Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe died by suicide on May 25, 1918.
Minister O’Toole has sought to raise awareness of Veterans’ mental health issues through the LCol Sam Sharpe Veterans Mental Health Breakfast, which he co-founded with Senator Roméo Dallaire.
Martin Magnan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
