I just want to bring to the community's attention that on or about August 5, 2022 a “permanent” monument commemorating Canada’s Centennial and the construction of the Cremona Centennial Park that is situated next to the Cremona Village office and library, was destroyed. The destruction of this monument was completely unnecessary as it could have been left in place or at least moved to another site within the park. Through complete incompetence and lack of oversight, this historic monument has been turned into a pile of rubble and disposed of quietly.
This monument was constructed with local field stone. An almost duplicate monument was constructed in the same Centennial year, 1967, and has stood in front of the Cremona Royal Canadian Legion dedicated to the men and women of the Canadian and all Allied Forces who served their country in peace and war.
The park monument was destroyed when landscape construction was taking place this August, finishing the construction of the skate park. This monument was commission by the mayors and councillors of the village in 1967 and has stood in place for 55 years. To put names to the men who were involved with the funding and construction of the historic monument and for the dedication of the land were: Alex Hettinger, Ken Rose, John Hellec, Ray Haggerty, John Bellamy, and Paul Snyder; who should be recognized for their vision in setting aside the land for the Centennial Park and securing the funding from the provincial and federal governments to construct the monument.
It has been wonderful to watch the continued evolution of the park into a centre for children and young adults of the community today. It has progressed or changed from tennis courts to basketball courts with the addition of the toddler playground to the impressive and very much enjoyed skate park it is today. Through the hard work and dedication of many volunteers over the past decades, these great recreation facilities and parks finally become a reality and as such become a very integral part of Cremona. This monument has stood for five decades so each generation would be reminded of the history of this park.
It is shameful that our historic monuments are disappearing without a whimper. The mayor, Tim Hagen and chief administrative officer Rudy Friesen need to be held accountable, to make sure they undertake the construction of a new replica monument erected in the park, and installed with the original brass plaque if it exists. It would be meaningful and show to the community that they care and it was their responsibility to oversee this park, if they personally donated the money for the re-construction of the monument, as taxpayers have already carried the costs of the original.
Robert Reid,
Cremona
