Scotiabank donates $2000 to “Fallen, but not forgotten” fund
Metcalfe, ON — On July 5th, Carla Carla McVeigh, Scotiabank Branch Manager for Findlay Creek, announced a contribution of $2000 to the “Fallen, but not forgotten fund.” This fund was launched several weeks ago by Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, and Rob Brewster, Osgoode Village Community Association Director, when local historian, Coreen Atkins-Sheldrick, discovered that the cenotaph was missing several names of soldiers who died in WWI and WWII. The money raised, combined with an application to Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) for matching funds, will ensure that the names of these forgotten soldiers will be added to the current monument.
“I am very pleased that Scotiabank has kick started our fundraising campaign with such a generous contribution,” said Poilievre. “This will make certain that the soldiers who fought and died for this nation, like Private Ernest Bonsall, can be properly remembered.” Poilievre added that the $2000 has been donated in honour of Private Bonsall.
Private Bonsall lived in the Osgoode Township from 1902 until 1915 when his family moved to Ottawa. At five-foot six-inches tall, Private Bonsall left Canada on June 2, 1917, never to return. Though his remains were never found, his name appears on the Ypres Memorial in Belgium. While no one is certain why Private Bonsall’s name is not included on the current WWI monument in Metcalfe, the community is rallying to correct this wrong in time for Remembrance Day this November.
“Scotiabank focuses its community giving at the local grassroots level, partnering with non-profit organizations to impact our local communities in positive ways,” McVeigh said. “As a resident of Metcalfe myself, I am thrilled to now be a part of this exciting and important initiative.”
The application for funding under VAC’s Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program has been submitted to the department and Poilievre says that he is hoping to find out the result of the application by September. This would ensure completion of all the work in time for Remembrance Day. Poilievre added that there is still the requirement for the community to raise an additional $1000. Donations can be made at any Scotiabank to the “Fallen, but not forgotten fund.”
L to R: Coreen Atkins-Sheldrick, Rob Brewster, Carla McVeigh, Pierre Poilievre, Joyce LeBeau, Paul B. Allen, Margery Toner