The RCR Association Photographic Database

We have a few things on the schedule I hope branch members, and anybody other Royal Canadian in the area who wishes, will make time to attend.

Sunday, 7 June, Merriton Legion, 1000 to 1200 hours.

The parade will include a short march to the cenotaph and a memorial service. After wards, we shall return to legion for lunch. This is Ernie Wetzel‘s RCL branch and as such, I hope everybody will make a determined effort to attend. At 1230, we shall move to down the street to Victoria Lawn cemetery where we will participate with a memorial service. There is an RCR  WW1 veteran buried there and after the service, we shall find out where the marker is, say a prayer, place a regimental pennant and our poppies on his grave. Pictures will be taken for regimental publications. We will then retreat to the legion on Church Street for refreshments and a snack.

I have decided to avoid planning anything for July 1st in order to free up your long weekend in anticipation of Pachino Day Niagara on JULY 11th. This event has taken on a new dimension then when originally conceived and, in an effort to raise some funds for the Albert Storm CD memorial park in Crystal Beach and the time sensitive nature of the project, I have invited the local unit of the CAV and other associations to join us for an afternoon of comradeship and fundraising. Mic Storm, Albert’s brother, is the Niagara CAV unit’s VP and hopefully, between the two of us, we can draw enough people from the RCR and the CAV to raise some serious funds for the park and, to a lesser extent, replenish our soon to be depleted bank account. Should there be any CAV personnel reading this, particularly from Pet, allow me to extend an invitation to you for the weekend. Cmon down to Niagara!

Naturally, I will require your support. There will be tickets on a variety of draws to be sold and times, when the bands are playing, when we shall have to canvass the crowd for twoonies.. A couple of military bands and a piper have volunteered there time and I am hoping the local CAV will put a car wash, have a bike show and sell some hot dogs. The afternoon festivities, for us, will go between 1300 and seventeen hours after which we RCR shall retreat to prepare for the evenings festivities.

We shall assemble at 1900, regimental dress, wives on our arms. Diane (pres 479) has asked me to invite Kathleen Smith, silver cross mom, to join us and she has consented. Mgen Holmes, Colonel of the Regiment, has also promised to come so it is important that all branch members do their best to attend. Afterwards, there will be a dance and, around ten, the draw for all the prizes. I am hoping that you fellows will invite your friends down for the weekend as it will be a perfect time for the brotherhood to visit mid summer at discount prices. I have one motel, recommended by William Mackenzie during his frequent visits, already on board and on Friday will be talking to the manager of two others within walking distance of the legion/casino/falls. More info to follow but I am hoping for a sixty-dollar range, which is quite good for a weekend. Anyhow, it is important that we all encourage others to attend this event and I hope you do your part in getting the word out. Our mission, to support the Albert Storm CD park, is just and build date of September 19th is looming.

A memorial parade/service will be conducted the next day at 1100 hours at the cenotaph at 479. I am hoping to make this a multi organization event with the presidents of each regional association saying a few words followed by a short service ala Morningstar. Regimental dress. Politicians and the media will be in attendance so do try to attend.   

After that, we are quite until Peacekeeping Day in August. We have been invited to attend a CAVUNP parade at the air museum in Hamilton. Prince Charles is supposed to be in attendance so this is going to be quite the show. I have been assured that we, as senior regiment, will be accorded a place of distinction. More to follow as details are confirmed.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. If you know anybody who is a position to donate a gift for the Pachino Day raffles, please approach  them at your earliest convenience. The more prizes we can offer, the larger our take will be. Of course, should you have any ideas that will improve our chances for success, please contact me via email or telephone.

Pro Patria.

Mike

FYI


  New playground for Crystal Beach

   

A national award that helps build community playgrounds will lead to a new playground at Waterfront Park in Crystal Beach.

Fort Erie was selected one of 25 communities to receive the Let Them Be Kids-Kool-Aid-Smiles Award, which provides support and resources for community projects.

The playground will be named in honour of Corporal Albert Storm, a Crystal Beach native who died in Afghanistan in 2006.

The project will be officially unveiled Saturday at noon at Fort Erie Fire Station 6 on Ridgeway Road.

II

Kids help design new playground for Crystal Beach

   

Connect the dots and build a legacy.

The Crystal Beach Volunteer Firefighter Association invited local children to its firehall on Saturday to help design a new community playground at Waterfront Park.

As children will be the ones using the park, the association felt it was only fitting that they had a hand in designing the structure.

Over 100 kids attended the Ridgeway Road fire hall for a "dot"mocracy.

Pictures of various playground equipment were set up at the hall and children were given dot stickers and told to affix them to pieces of equipment they would like to see in a new playground.

"They were allowed to choose whatever they wanted to see in the playground," said firefighter Jeff Putman, co-chairman of the playground committee.

The dot-covered images of slides, climbing equipment and swings were then given to a representative from playground company who will create a design based on the childrens' input.

The kids are regular visitors to Station 6 firehall.

Every month from November to May, the firefighters host a free movie night at the hall.

"We get about 110 kids come out for the movies and each gets free popcorn and pop," Putman said.

The firefighters also host a community family picnic each summer and transform the station into a haunted house every Halloween.

The association's community spirit now includes an ambitious project to create a permanent playground at Waterfront Park.

The playground will be built Sept. 19 and the firefighters are planning various fundraisers throughout the summer to raise between $40,000 and $45,000 towards the project.

A summer bash at Waterfront Park is set for July 25, followed by a fish fry and a charity motorcycle run in August.

"We're pretty confident we'll be able to raise the money we need," Putman said.

Recently, the association received a $5,000 grant from the Kool-Aid Smiles program.

Fort Erie was selected as one of 25 communities to receive a Let Them Be Kids Kool-Aid Smiles Award, which provides support and resources to help make community projects a success.

"The volunteer firefighters already do so much for their local community and this is just another meaningful way to give back by providing a safe place for the children to play," said Kevin Smith, associated product manager at Kool-Aid.

Let Them Be Kids is also offering a 60/40 match in donations.

The project will receive $1 of equipment buying power for every .60 cents raised.

"The commitment and dedication shown by the firefighter's association and the vision that they have are outstanding, and we are excited to be supporting their efforts," said Ian Hill, volunteer CEO with Let Them Be Kids.

Let Them Be Kids is volunteer organization created to build community capacity on the grassroots level, while building playgrounds, skate parks and fitness parks across Canada.

The park will be named in honour of Corporal Albert Storm, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006.

Storm lived in Crystal Beach for a number of years before he went away to college.

"We thought what a perfect and fitting resolve, to name the park after him," Putman said.

By naming the playground after a local fallen soldier, Putman said the park will also serve as a reminder to all who enjoy it that freedom does sometimes come at a price.

The association is now calling on residents to help them make their dream a reality.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the fundraising campaign can call Doug Atkins, co-chairman of the playground committee, at 905-871-1600 ext. 2603.

To volunteer on the day of the build, visit www.ltbk.org to register.

By having students and community members get involved in the planning, financing and construction of the playground project, organizers say it will go along way to enhancing Crystal Beach Waterfront Park and fostering a sense of pride and ownership.

III

Playground builders call in experts -kids

Posted By ALISON LANGLEY , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
   

Connect the dots and build a legacy.

The Crystal Beach Volunteer Firefighter Association invited local children to its firehall Saturday to help design a new community playground at Waterfront Park on Lake Erie.

As children will be the ones using the park, the association felt it was only fitting they have a hand in designing the structure.

More than 100 kids attended the Ridgeway Road firehall for a "dot"-mocracy.

Pictures of various playground equipment were set up at the hall. Then children were given dot stickers and told to affix them to pieces of equipment they would like to see in a new playground.

"They were allowed to choose whatever they wanted," said firefighter Jeff Putman, co-chairman of the playground committee.

The dot-covered images of slides, climbing equipment and swings were then given to a representative from a playground company who will create a design based on the children's input.

The kids are actually regular visitors to the Station 6 firehall. Every month from November to May, firefighters host a free movie night at the hall.

"We get about 110 kids come out for the movies and each gets free popcorn and pop," Putman said.

The firefighters also host a commu n i t y family picnic each summer, and transform the station into a haunted house every Halloween.

The association's community spirit now

includes an ambitious project to create a permanent playground at Waterfront Park.

The playground will be built Sept. 19, and firefighters are planning various fundraisers throughout the summer in hopes of raising $40,000 to $45,000.

A summer bash at Waterfront Park is set for July 25, followed by a fish fry and a charity motorcycle run in August.

"We're pretty confident we'll be able to raise the money we need," Putman said.

Recently, the association received a $5,000 grant from the Kool-Aid Smiles program.

Fort Erie was selected as one of 25 communities to receive a Let Them Be Kids Kool-Aid Smiles Award. It provides support and resources to help make community projects a success.

"The volunteer firefighters already do so much for their local community and this is just another meaningful way to give back by providing a safe place for the children to play," said Kevin Smith, associated product manager at Kool-Aid.

Let Them Be Kids, a volunteer organization that builds playgrounds, skate parks and fitness parks across Canada, is also offering a 60/40 match in donations.

The project will receive $1 of equipment buying power for every 60 cents raised.

"The commitment and dedication shown by the firefighters association and the vision that they have are outstanding, and we are excited to be supporting their efforts," said Ian Hill, volunteer chief executive officer with Let Them Be Kids.

The park will be named in honour of Cpl. Albert Storm, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2006.

Storm lived in Crystal Beach for a number of years before he went away to college.

"We thought, what a perfect and fitting resolve, to name the park after him," Putman said.

By naming the playground after a local fallen soldier, Putman said the park will also serve as a reminder to all who enjoy it that freedom does sometimes come at a price.

Now, the association is calling on residents to help them make their dream a reality.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the fundraising campaign can contact Doug Atkins, co-chairman of the playground committee, at 905-871- 1600, ext. 2603.

To volunteer on the day of the build, visit www.ltbk.orgto register.

By having students and community members get involved in the planning, financing and construction of the playground project, organizers say it will go a long way toward enhancing Crystal Beach Waterfront Park and fostering a sense of pride and ownership.

It sounds like a real moving and fun event. I wish i was down there. Hope it all goes really great..rong