After serving 11 years as the West ShoreB次元官网网址檚 focal point to honour CanadaB次元官网网址檚 military veterans, the cenotaph in Langford has seen better days.
Weather beaten and well trod upon, concrete tiles at the base of the war memorial are chipped or falling away as mortar has disintegrated. To bring the monument back to mint condition, the City of Langford is seeking a grant from Veterans Affairs Canada, which will pay for half the repairs. The City will chip in the rest.
B次元官网网址淎nything that keeps the cenotaph in good shape is good for for us and for the veterans. Anything they do would be great,B次元官网网址� said Ron Caven, sergeant at arms with the Prince Edward Branch No. 91 in Langford. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time it was tidied back up.B次元官网网址�
Langford parks planner Jane Waters said itB次元官网网址檚 not yet known what the repair cost will be B次元官网网址� two different consultants are looking at options for refurbishment and preservation. A parks staff report estimated repairs anywhere from $16,000 to $40,000 and suggested replacing existing tiles with granite. Veterans Affairs will donate up to $25,000.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not looking to change the design, just the best solution to make it long lasting,B次元官网网址� Waters said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been wear and tear and skateboard action. We want to do a nice finish on it.B次元官网网址�
Derek Rowe of Renaissance Studios designed and built the original $80,000 cenotaph in 2001, using money fundraised through the community. The B次元官网网址淢ourning MotherB次元官网网址� stature represents a young Canada mourning its war dead, and the pillars represent peace and freedom.
The Veterans Memorial Park cenotaph closely matches the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, although at one-third the scale. A key element of the Langford memorial is a 90 pound stone donated from the original First World War memorial at Vimy.
B次元官网网址�(The monument) does degrade on its own, but unfortunately skateboarders running over it have made a mess,B次元官网网址� Caven remarked. B次元官网网址淪tones have degraded. Corners are broken off.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淔or me as a retired veteran of 40 years, I see people putting stuff on the cenotaph, but it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be touched. It should be left alone,B次元官网网址� he continued. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 there for people to remember, to remember members of their family. A lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 understand what its for.B次元官网网址�
Waters expects Veterans Affairs to announce its funding decision early next year. If given the go-ahead, repair work will probably take a few weeks during the summer.
B次元官网网址淚t is a sacred site and a main focus for LangfordB次元官网网址檚 downtown,B次元官网网址� Waters said. B次元官网网址淚t is a really popular park.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
