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Most years a commemorative event in held in June to celebrate the individuals for whom new stones were placed that year.  The families of those being recognized are invited.  The accomplishments of that person are presented to those assembled, either by those sponsoring the stone or the Evergreen Committee.  REAL takes the opportunity to present environmental awards as well. 
 
 

June 22, 2025 

 
The 2025 event will take place a the the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 on June 22nd.   Four stones were placed earlier this year.  Two veterans, Dave Lawrence and Bill Baxter are being honoured and two community builders, Bud Fawcett and Enid Rabb.
 

June 2, 2024

 
The 2024 ceremony was planned for June 2, as this was close to the 80th Anniversary of D Day and was the start of Canadian Environment Week.  Being honoured this year were Richard Shanks, a Korean War Veteran, and Jim Jenkins, a veteran and Past President of RCL Branch 95. Both men passed away earlier this year.  REAL also took this opportunity to present several environmental awards.  Dan Andress and Terry Wills were recognized for their outstanding support of REAL through their businesses. Craig Sinclair was applauded for promoting and teaching tree care in our community and his enthusiastic participation in REAL’s greening projects. Katie Hoffman, past president of REAL, was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership in REAL for her consistent, dedicated commitment to REAL’s activities.
 
Thanks to Chris Uhlig for his photos of the event. 
 
 

September 16, 2023 Event

The 2023  Evergreen Avenue Dedication ceremony took place Sunday, September 17 at the Smiths Falls Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion starting at 1:30 p.m.  Four recipients will be recognized:  John Halpin, Hal Botham, Clayton Holbrook and Jack Traynor.   Their profiles are here.

September 25, 2022 Commemoration

The 2022  commemorative event was held at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95 in Smiths Falls, the first time the event has been held indoors.  The 2020 and 2021 Victoria Park dedication ceremonies  were missed during  COVID, so there were  29 new memorial stones to two community leaders and veterans to be dedicated.  Please see the names on the right sidebar of this page.  Guests were encouraged to take a walk over to Victoria Park following the dedication to see where the new stones have been placed.   

June 8, 2019 Commemoration

This year’s Evergreen Avenue dedication ceremony took place Saturday, June 8 at Victoria Park.  Seven new memorial stones were be dedicated, and several people  recognized for the environmental accomplishments. 

Stones have been placed in memory of George and Phyllis Lemay, Raymond Healey, Marty and Bob Dales, James Bobier, Len and Isobell Curran, Lyle Gibson and Doug Kilpatrick.  Read more in Desmond Devoy’s Inside Ottawa Valley story.

These environmental advocates were also recognized:  Michelle and Jeff Dunfield, Heather Mitchel-Adam, David and Sharon Brown and Sandra Jones.  See our news post for more.

September 22, 2018 Commemorative Service

An Evergreen Avenue’s dedication ceremony took place Saturday, Sept. 22 , 11:00 a.m. at Victoria Park. Seven additional memorial granite stones were added along the pathway to commemorate veterans, community builders and other special people. Three names were added to the Cenotaph at the northwest corner of Beckwith St. S and Canal  Streets.  Several  memorial stones at the east end of the walkway were removed in advance of the construction to replace the combine lock’s hydraulic gates and repair the basin walls and have been reinstalled.  

The ceremony will include tributes honouring Russ Beach, Ian Fraser, Dave and Edna Good, Judge Donald Smith, Phyllis Warden, Rebecca and Capt. J. Warden, and Norma and Lorraine Whiten.  Click on each name to access the written tribute.

Additional details are available in our April REAL Update and in Laurie Weir’s Metroland Media story announcing the commemoration.

The following photos were taking by Kathy Botham for the Smiths Falls HomeTown News. 

Vimy Memorial Project 2017

Vimy memorial unveiled 17 06 03On June 3, 2017, a memorial stone was placed honouring those that lost their lives in the WW1 Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 1917.    The memorial was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the Rotary Club of Smiths Falls, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 95, the Kinsmen Club of Smiths Falls, Wing 443 and Kinkaid Loney Monuments.  See closeup of the stone.

 

 

 

2015 and 2016 Celebrations 

Legion Colour Party

Legion Colour Party

On June 4, 2016 five new granite tribute stones were dedicated during an outdoor celebration at Victoria Park.    See an account of the event in the REAL Update, July 2016. 

A celebration event  took place June 6, 2015 at Victoria Park to pay tribute to eight individuals named in new granite memorial markers.  The celebration also coincided with the unveiling of a new interpretive panel, made possible by the generous donation of one of REAL’s long-time supporters. 

The date was chosen to commemorate D-Day of WW2 as well as Canadian Environment Week.

See some photos from the celebration.