What a beautiful day ! A parade and a ceremony to dedicate Chip Kerr Park ! The city today had the official ceremony to dedicate Chip Kerr Park, formerly Century Park, amalgamated with the new park area dedicated from the 2900 block of Jane Street. The 2900 Jane Street park dedication was the result of many hours of work by area residents after the city had proposed a housing development on this property, and it was certainly gratifying to see this come to completion, and my special thanks to Guy Black for his dedication to seeing this through to a ceremony appropriate for a bona fide Port Moody hero. An earlier article from the Tri City News.
The Tri-City News
Jun 14 2006
PM war hero to be honoured
A parade befitting a national hero will wind its way through Port Moody June 25 before a formal ceremony dedicating the parkland behind the Legion Manor as Chip Kerr Park.
The ceremony will honour John Chipman Kerr (1887-1963), Port Moody's only Victoria Cross recipient and one of only 94 Canadians to have received the Commonwealth's highest honour for bravery.
"It's going to be good, it's going to be a big event," said Guy Black, the local historian who initiated the process to rename Century Park in recognition of Kerr's heroics and who set in motion plans for the parade.
The ceremony will begin with a parade by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #119, including veterans, local cadet corps, the fire and police departments, and a pipe band. The procession will leave from St. George and Moody streets at 11:30 a.m. and travel east along St. George Street, turn right at Hugh Street, then left at Hope Street, finishing at the park entrance.
An official park dedication ceremony will begin at noon with Lieut.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo in attendance. Black has been in contact with Kerr's family and believes several members plan to attend the ceremony as well.
Mayor Joe Trasolini said Kerr's bravery exemplifies his dedication and service to Canada. "The dedication of the park in his name is a fitting tribute to the sacrifices he and thousands of other veterans have made for Canada's freedom," Trasolini said.
Kerr was awarded the Victoria Cross on May 2, 1917 by King George V for his bravery in battle at Courcelette, France during World War I. He captured 230 metres of enemy trench and 62 German soldiers after his hand was injured in a bomb blast.
Born in Nova Scotia, Kerr settled with his family in Port Moody after serving in World War II and passed away here in February 1963. He was a member of the PoMo Legion Branch #119 and, in honour of the park dedication and the Legion's 80th anniversary, it is hosting a barbecue after the ceremony.
All are welcome to attend both the park dedication and barbecue
WAR HERO HONOURED
By Sarah YoungThe Tri-City News
Jun 14 2006
PM war hero to be honoured
A parade befitting a national hero will wind its way through Port Moody June 25 before a formal ceremony dedicating the parkland behind the Legion Manor as Chip Kerr Park.
The ceremony will honour John Chipman Kerr (1887-1963), Port Moody's only Victoria Cross recipient and one of only 94 Canadians to have received the Commonwealth's highest honour for bravery.
"It's going to be good, it's going to be a big event," said Guy Black, the local historian who initiated the process to rename Century Park in recognition of Kerr's heroics and who set in motion plans for the parade.
The ceremony will begin with a parade by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #119, including veterans, local cadet corps, the fire and police departments, and a pipe band. The procession will leave from St. George and Moody streets at 11:30 a.m. and travel east along St. George Street, turn right at Hugh Street, then left at Hope Street, finishing at the park entrance.
An official park dedication ceremony will begin at noon with Lieut.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo in attendance. Black has been in contact with Kerr's family and believes several members plan to attend the ceremony as well.
Mayor Joe Trasolini said Kerr's bravery exemplifies his dedication and service to Canada. "The dedication of the park in his name is a fitting tribute to the sacrifices he and thousands of other veterans have made for Canada's freedom," Trasolini said.
Kerr was awarded the Victoria Cross on May 2, 1917 by King George V for his bravery in battle at Courcelette, France during World War I. He captured 230 metres of enemy trench and 62 German soldiers after his hand was injured in a bomb blast.
Born in Nova Scotia, Kerr settled with his family in Port Moody after serving in World War II and passed away here in February 1963. He was a member of the PoMo Legion Branch #119 and, in honour of the park dedication and the Legion's 80th anniversary, it is hosting a barbecue after the ceremony.
All are welcome to attend both the park dedication and barbecue
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