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WELCOME
Welcome to the first edition of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force e-newsletter. This newsletter will provide regular updates on the work taking place to fundraise and construct a memorial to honour 137 men who lost their lives building the Welland Ship Canal between 1914-1932. The memorial will be unveiled later this year. The Task Force will keep you informed with progress, news and upcoming events through this newsletter.
The newsletter is prepared by the City of St. Catharines on behalf of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force.
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Please share this with your friends, family members, and anyone interested in the history of the Welland Canal and marine heritage.
In early 2013, stories of the major losses of life during construction of the current Welland Canal were published in The St. Catharines Standard. The stories of 137 men who lost their lives inspired more than 2,200 people from across Canada and the United States to sign a petition supporting a memorial to honour the "fallen workers." Political representatives from Niagara's four canal communities came together to form the
Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force to finance, design, and build a suitable memorial.
On August 6, 2015 the Task Force unveiled the design for the memorial and announced a $150,000 grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage to support the project. Mayor Sendzik introduce Greg Wight as the fundraising campaign chair and the first corporate donation of $25,000 from Algoma Central Corporation kicked off the fundraising for the project.
The Task Force continues to seek support from the marine and business sector, community partners, the labour community and members of the public. Once fundraising is complete, the memorial will be installed in 2017 next to the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre at Lock 3 along the Welland Canal.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
Led by fundraising campaign chair, Greg Wight, the Task Force has been successful in raising almost $700,000 to date for the memorial. The fundraising goal is for the memorial and parkette is approximately $1 million. Donors include the Department of Canadian Heritage, marine industry businesses and organizations, as well as the labour community.
The Task Force is continuing to seek donations to build and unveil the memorial later this year. Donations can be accepted at the
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, St. Catharines City Hall, or by contacting Citizen's First. Donation receipts are provided by the City of St. Catharines.
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CANAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DESIGN PROGRESS
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Fabrication of the memorial designed by Dereck Revington Studio has begun. The frame for the veil is being fabricated by specialist metal fabricators
Once fundraising is complete, the memorial will be installed in 2017.
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THE WELLAND SHIP CANAL AND THE MEN WHO DIED TO BUILD IT
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Lock 1 of the Welland Ship Canal with gates closed in June 1924 Photo taken by J. A. McDonald
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The Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial will not only honour the memory of the 137 men who lost their lives - it will also help share their stories. Since August 2015, a series of columns complementing the significance of the memorial has been featured weekly in the St. Catharines Standard. These stories bring to life the men who were a part of the construction.
This series highlights the stories of the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice to build this marvel of modern engineering - from William Henry Burt who died on June 15, 1914, to Samuel Joseph Brennan who died on January 27, 1935.
This newsletter will continue sharing this series, complementing the work of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force.
Thank you to our partners at the St. Catharines Standard for helping to remember these men. Their work and sacrifice helped shape our communities and indeed, our entire country.
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COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS ACROSS NIAGARA
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Interested in learning more about the fallen workers and other topics related to the Welland Canal? Below is a list of upcoming community presentations.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 | Grimsby Probus Club
Life & Death on the Welland Ship Canal: The Untold Story of 137 Worker Fatalities by Arden Phair
Thursday, March 23, 2017 | Historical Society of St. Catharines
Medical Services on the Welland Ship Canal, 1913-1932 by Isabel Bachmann
Tuesday, March 28, 2017 | Welland Public Library
Life & Death on the Welland Ship Canal: The Untold Story of 137 Worker Fatalities by Arden Phair
Sunday, April 9, 2017 | Canadian Canal Society, AGM
Medical Services on the Welland Ship Canal, 1913-1932 by Isabel Bachmann
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 | Probus Club of St. Catharines
Life & Death on the Welland Ship Canal: The Untold Story of 137 Worker Fatalities by Arden Phair
Thursday, April 13, 2017 | Rotary Club of Dunnville
Life & Death on the Welland Ship Canal: The Untold Story of 137 Worker Fatalities by Arden Phair
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THANK YOU
To Our Funders, Sponsors and Supporters
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This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
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Platinum Crane $25,000 +
Project Partners
Canadian Canal Society, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre and, Welland Canals Foundation
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The
Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force
is a volunteer group established to finance, design, build and install a memorial to recognize workers who died while building the Welland Ship Canal between 1914 and 1932. Members of the Task Force include representatives from all Welland Canal communities, Niagara Regional Council, the federal government, the marine industry, local historians, the labour community, and community partners from the Canadian Canal Society, the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre and the Welland Canals Foundation. Administrative and project support is provided by the City of St. Catharines.
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TASK FORCE CHAIR
Walter Sendzik, Mayor St. Catharines
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN CHAIR
Greg Wight
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