In 1937, the Angus Horticultural Society membership purchased the land where a vacant hotel had burnt to the ground in 1932.
The hotel was originally known as the “Graham Hotel”. When it was sold to the new proprietor, the “Graham Hotel” name was changed to the “Black Cat Inn”. The charred timber remains were an eye-sore for the village residents and for the passenger trains travelling through the community on the railway tracks that passed behind the burned-out building.
The Horticultural Society members felt a War Memorial was needed to honour the village dead who had fought so bravely during World War I. This location would be perfect to show community civic pride and observe Remembrance. The Society members asked for donations and worked diligently to raise funds for the new War Memorial.
In an original handwritten letter to the Angus Horticultural Society dated October 4, 1937, Mr. W.L. Davidson agreed to sell his property on the north side of Queen Street for the sum of fifty dollars by giving a clear deed. The cost of the Land Transfer was not to cost him more than five dollars. Once the land was purchased, it was registered at the Ontario Ministry of Government Services, Land Registry Office in Barrie, Ontario as ownership belonging to the “Angus Horticultural Society”, but “In Trust” to the Township of Essa.
S.H. Sanderson & Son in Orillia, Ontario was commissioned to build the stone cairn as it stands today. A light was placed at the top of the cairn to shine continuously to remind all residents that this was a special and respected area. This same Sanderson family business is still located and operating in Orillia today.
When the construction of the stone cairn was completed, the names of the lost lives who had fought so bravely during World War I were engraved on the War Memorial Wall for everyone to read.
During this same timeframe, in 1937, many trees were planted in the village square of Angus. Royal oak seedlings and twelve maple trees were planted around the War Memorial area and the May 12, 1937 Coronation Special Garden.
The stone cairn needed a location name where it stood. After several name submissions, it was overwhelmingly decided that the land the War Memorial sits on and the surrounding area around the War Memorial, including the Special Garden created for the May 12, 1937 Coronation, was to be named “Memorial Square”.
The residents were pleased and very proud to attend their first “Remembrance Day” service held at the new War Memorial on Friday, November 11, 1938. On November 9, 1958 a steel flag pole was commissioned and installed beside the War Memorial by Mr. Vic McMaster, garage and hardware store owner in Angus. In the following years, the Angus Horticultural Society continued to maintain “Memorial Square”. The grounds were kept neat, the grass cut and the flower beds of mixed perennials, annuals and tulips were tended to.
On May 29, 1993 an interlocking stone step-up was put in place leading to the War Memorial. On November 15, 1999 the War Memorial ownership was transferred to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 499, Angus, Ontario by The Township of Essa. The Society members continued to maintain “Memorial Square”.
On October 21, 2000, in celebration of the Millennium Year, the Angus Legion installed a metal fence around the grounds of the War Memorial. The original 1958 Flag Pole was moved onto the grassed area left of the Memorial Wall.
The Society membership had also decided the November 11, 2000 Memorial was to start the first Millennium Year with new Gardens for the service. They recreated a garden to the right of the War Memorial and planted a Bridal Spirea to the left of the Memorial and to enhance the original 1958 Flag Pole. They purchased two flower planters to sit on opposite sides in front of the War Memorial Wall and under the names of the village dead.
A larger flower planter was commissioned, purchased and placed on the cement platform that was used as the base for the original 1958 Flag Pole. The larger flower planter was specially commissioned for a special drawing to be inserted into the left and right sides of the Planter’s cement to reflect an exact image of a single Poppy that grows wild in France and is referred to “In Flanders Field”.
On November 11, 2000 the Town of Angus, with Military Personnel and Special Guests stood proud as the new Millennium Clock Tower rang out the 11th Hour. A very special proud moment was when a new Canadian Flag was raised. For the first time in two years, it replaced a Canadian Flag that had been stolen from the War Memorial in 1998. The Cenotaph with its new Gardens and Planters were photographed by several newspapers during and after the November 11, 2000 Service. In 2005, a special ceremony was held at the War Memorial. A large dedicated stone was laid on the ground, separate from the War Memorial Wall, to honour one military soldier and six civilian personnel who lost their lives during the explosion at the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD), originally known as Depot 13X, on March 20, 1958. Their names are engraved on the dedicated stone for all to read and remember.
In the next few years, two more Flag Poles were installed beside the 1958 flag pole to enable the Canadian Flag, the United Nations Flag and the NATO flag to fly proudly alongside each other.
The Angus Cenotaph, as it is commonly referred to, is still in existence today, honouring all residents who died in wars. The village lives lost who fought so bravely from 1914 to 1918, known as World War I, the village lives lost who fought so bravely from 1939 to 1945, known as World War II, are engraved on the War Memorial Wall to read and remember.
Over the years, a special plaque was attached to the Memorial Wall for the “Korean War of 1950 to 1953”. Another special plaque was attached to the Memorial Wall for “Peacekeeping Missions of 1953 to 1955”. Other plaques acknowledge the “UN Forces” and “The Peacekeepers. “ We Will Remember Them”.
Currently, the Edward MacDonald Branch 499 Angus of the Royal Canadian Legion maintains the grounds and memorials. In the summer of 2023, a new stone entrance was installed, depicting the poppy symbol in the center.
Each year on November 11th, Canadian Armed Forces, Air, Army and Navy Cadets, Local Military Veterans, Honoured and special guests, Royal Canadian Legion members and Angus citizens gather at “Memorial Square” to give Remembrance and thanks, and later to share memories, renew friendships, and enjoy a period of Comradeship at the Angus Legion.
“Lest We Forget”.
Peacekeepers’ Park is located close by CFB Borden, in the small Town of Angus, Ontario, within the Township of Essa. The Park was created through the joint efforts of the Township, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 499 and the Central Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP). The Park is dedicated to the 160,000+ people who have served on
United Nations (UN) sanctioned peacekeeping missions since 1947, and it memorializes 283 Fallen Canadians on its Wall of Honour. The Park also displays two UN white armoured vehicles, a Lynx recce and now a LAV III. The LAV III commemorates all CAF personnel who served in Afghanistan and other UN-sanctioned missions.
Visitors who stroll along the park’s pathway can read storyboards explaining the various peacekeeping missions, take a photo in a guard post, view both armoured vehicles and pay tribute at the wall of honour. Then, for those who wish to pause for reflection, the park offers benches and tables amongst 2.5 acres of shady pine forest with plenty of peaceful green space.
Although once a simple community park in 2008, this land was leased from the township by Comrade Jerry Tremblay, CD, and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 499. A commemorative stone was then put in place, transitioning the park into a registered military memorial. The rock itself is comprised of solid granite, which was imported from Pakistan, and is marked by the polished maple leaf carved into its face. Peacekeepers Park is dedicated to the 160,000+ Canadians who have served on United Nations-sanctioned missions since 1947.
The stone path was installed in 2016 and is lined with 18 mounted pedestals which detail the 59 United Nations missions since 1949. The first eight plaques describe peacekeeping and peacemaking missions, while the last 10 depict aid and observer missions. Also along the path are the Buffalo Nine Memorial and “Bringing Their Faces into The Light” —walls mounted with renditions and short biographies of the faces of the fallen.
Included in the park are the Wall of Honour, Lynx reconnaissance vehicle (donated in part by Canadian Forces Base Borden), LAV III Monument, Korea Missions’ plaque, and a United Nations guard post. Peacekeepers Park is a local memorial site established nearly 17 years ago, which sits on the main street in Angus, surrounded by large evergreens. The park is bordered by Brentwood Road, Commerce Road, and Mill Street. The park is a short 10-minute drive from CFB Borden and 15-minute drive from Barrie Ontario.
The stone wall at the park’s entrance was added in 2011, and features the names of 283 fallen Peacekeepers. Funds for the stone and the wall of honour, costing over $72,000, were raised entirely within the community. To show their appreciation, the organization carved ‘Friends of Peacekeepers Park’ into the wall, which lists the names of everyone who made a donation of over $500 to the maintenance and development of the park. The names on the stone wall date back to 1949, starting with the India-Pakistan conflict. The first casualty is also the highest-ranking casualty, Brigadier General. In 2017, the formerly blank backside of the wall was turned into a photo montage of UN missions over the years.
Peacekeepers Park now features a stone pathway which guides visitors from the entrance around the park and back to the designated parking area. Installed in 2016, the path makes its way past 18 mounted pedestals, which detail the 59 UN missions that have taken place since 1949. The first eight plaques describe peacekeeping and peacemaking missions, while the last 10 depict aid and observer missions. The path also lies alongside three flagpoles, whose banners depict the “Buffalo Nine”, which represents the nine Canadians who were killed when their plane was shot down as it was approaching Damascus Syria on August 9, 1974.
On the path’s other side, pictographic walls have been mounted to show renditions and short biographies of the faces of the fallen, “Bringing Their Faces into the Light.” Eight of these mini walls are planned. In the spring of 2020, the fourth was erected. In addition to this, the path brings patrons past two armoured vehicles. The first is a LYNX RECCE vehicle, which was donated in part by CFB Borden, the second is a LAV III, commemorating the Afghan mission, and is currently the only white one in Canada, as it was used for UN missions.
Every year, a Peacekeepers Parade and ceremony takes place on August 9th. The event is attended by many UN peacekeepers, Royal Canadian Legion members, military members, government officials and members of the surrounding community.
Peacekeepers Park is maintained by the Central Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 499 Angus, and the Township of Essa.
Many individuals and organizations within the community, and nationally, have contributed enormous amounts of time, energy, and resources into making the park what it is today, as well as what it will become tomorrow.”
Inspired by John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”, Anna Guérin initiatied the distribution of the Poppy on Armistice Day as a way to raise fundsto support Veterans’ needs and to remember those who had both fought and given their lives during the First World War. In July 1921, the Great War Veterans Association (which joined with other Veteran groups to form the Canadian Legion) adopted the Poppy as the flower of Remembrance.
Since then, the Legion, its members, and Canadians of all ages have upheld this tradition of Remembrance.
The Remembrance Day parade is held annually on November 11th starting from the Angus Legion and ending at the Cenotaph.
During the poppy campaign, which runs from the last Friday in October until Remembrance Day, you can find poppies here at the Angus Legion Branch 499 during operating hours or at these local businesses:
Angus Library
CW Coops
Little Ceasers
424 Hair
Health Centre
Moon Flour
Tattoo Barber
Xlsior
Veternary Office
Angus Vapes
Helping Hand
Soldier Gear
Dollar Tree
Giant Tiger
Pharmasave
Angus Variety
Post Office
Stacked
Dollarama
Tooth Port
Bar Berrito
Stride Physio
Corner Market
The Beer Store
Home Hardware
Domino’s Pizza
Walk-In Clinic
Guardian Drugs
Dairy Queen
Mary Browns
Dentist
McCabes
Tim Hortons
TD Bank
McDonalds
Panda Express
Greekery
Optical Market
Naturally for you
Napa Auto
Sports Medicine
Ashe Day Spa
Pizza Pizza
Jo-Dees Blooms & Things
Hair It Is
Chucks Road House
The Den
UpLift Caannabis
Petro Canada
Circle K
Joes Barbershop
Mr. Sub
Value Buds
Beauty Lounge
Hollywood Pizza
No Frills
Scotia Bank
Osmos’s
Freshi
Pedi Nails
Buds
Harveys / Swiss Chalet
Mobile Gas
On the Run Gas Station
A&W
KFC
Starbucks
B&M Variety
Sweet Escapes
Pet Value
Subway
First Choice Haircutters
Pizza Hut
Wild Wings
LCBO
Sobeys
Shoppers
Canex
Subway
Barber
Pizza
Tim Hortons
Vicki Orr
Legion
Seniors Complex
Township
Utopia Church
Academic
Ecole
Nottawasaga Pines
Angus Morrison
Our Lady Grace
Pine River
DeCast
Bradford Greenhouse