1. VETERAN'S WALKWAY

Our volunteer committee is leading an effort, with the support and approval of the Municipality of South Dundas, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 48, and the Morrisburg Waterfront Committee to refurbish and relocate six local cenotaphs and monuments in the village, into a new walkway location along the St. Lawrence River.

 

 

What is the estimated cost of this project?: $140,000

 

What is the estimated date of completion if this group receives the donation?: Summer 2026

 

This is a once-in-a-generation volunteer project that will enhance and bring together all of the village's cenotaphs and monuments into one location, be cleaned and restored, and have lighting added. It will improve visibility and provide an ideal location for Morrisburg's annual Remembrance Day ceremonies each year.

Re: Proposal for the Creation of Morrisburg Veterans Walkway 

Previous committees who led similar efforts in South Dundas in recent years were overwhelmed by the generous and positive community support received. 

The Matilda Monument Project at Matilda Hall, the Iroquois relocation and modernization of the village’s cenotaph and bronze plaques, and the reestablishment of the Williamsburg Cenotaph at J.C. Whitteker Park were all successful projects. 

Financial support was received from a wide  variety of sources, including the Municipality of South Dundas (all three projects) and Veterans Affairs Canada (the Matilda and Iroquois projects), which was greatly appreciated. 

Our Committee has worked together to propose a similar project in the village of Morrisburg. We are requesting Council’s support to move forward on this initiative as a tribute to our local veterans’ project that requires relocation, renovation, and enhancement in South Dundas. 

We have consulted with the Municipality of South Dundas (former CAO Mills, Mayor Broad, and Morrisburg Waterfront Council representative Councillor Veinotte), the membership of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 48, and the Morrisburg Waterfront Committee. 

These consultations have been essential to ensuring that all interested parties were engaged and are supportive of our plan moving forward. 

Current Situation

There are six pieces of local significance that pay tribute in some part to veterans and the military history of the Village of Morrisburg. 

Currently, those six pieces are located on two separate properties- the east and west front lawns of the South Dundas Justice Building and the Morrisburg Waterfront area by The Docksyde and pavilion area. 

Morrisburg Soldiers Monument: Located in the west lawn of the Justice Building

 

Two artillery guns:  Beside Soldiers Monument

 

Ladies Auxiliary Cenotaph:  Located in the east lawn of the Justice Building 

Morrisburg Veterans Cenotaph and Tribute to the Seaway project:  located at Morrisburg Waterfront between The Docksyde and gazebo

 

Howitzer:  located at Morrisburg Waterfront east of the Lakeshore Drive parking lot area

 

While the howitzer was the most recent piece installed and is in good condition, the other pieces are several decades old and are in a deteriorated and aged condition. 

A key challenge that our Committee had to address is to propose one single location to host the combined two cenotaphs, the statue, the two artillery guns, and the Howitzer.

 

After debating the merits of various locations, it was decided that the best site would be the current north half-moon walkway located east of the ball diamond along Canada Way Drive. This decision was based on the following factors:

•     Natural pedestrian traffic

•     Vehicular traffic along Canada Way Drive

•     Easy to access hydro for lighting

•     Currently open space to allow cenotaphs and pieces to be properly highlighted

Attached below is the conceptual drawing of our proposed project using the full half-moon walking path. You will be able to see the 3-D rendering video during the delegation presentation to Council.

 

Our Committee worked with Keith Ardron of Ardron Landscapes, who volunteered his services to provide the conceptual drawings for our vision, and he did an excellent job.

Keith also worked with the Municipality of South Dundas during the Matilda and Iroquois cenotaph projects.

 

In order to keep the process fair and

transparent, we will obtain bids from local small businesses who specialize in interlocking and landscaping and use the lowest bid.Our work plan, and the materials used, will ensure the longevity of this monument with low anticipated maintenance.

 

The following are the steps to be undertaken in the project:

 

●      Remove, refurbish, and relocate all 6 pieces from their current locations, including the removal of the flag poles beside the Cenotaph at the Morrisburg Waterfront (which have large trees overgrown around them now)

●      Remediate and clean up the former sites to flat surface and grass

●      Build interlock base and walkway, and install Morrisburg Soldier’s Monument along north pathway of the half moon walkway area

●      Install other 5 pieces symmetrically along inside of existing half-moon walkway, with bases of either interlock or stamped concrete for each

●      Install lighting under each of the 6 pieces so that they are visible after dusk

●      Install three new flag poles behind Morrisburg Soldiers Cenotaph

●      Install walkway lighting consistent with design of existing fixtures along waterfront walking path

●      Complete landscaping by adding low-maintenance shrubs

●      Purchase and install benches along walkway and interlock area in front of Soldier’s Monument

●      Create and install informational plaques on each piece to educate visitors

 

Timeline

 

With Branch 48 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Morrisburg celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2026, our Committee is aiming to complete the project next spring with a completion date of Summer 2026. A public Rededication Ceremony will be held at that time.

 

Our goal is to complete the conceptual plan and drawings this spring, raise the necessary funds over the course of 2025, and break ground on the project in Spring 2026.

 

We will work closely with the Municipality of South Dundas and the Morrisburg Waterfront Committee to ensure good communication and coordination of various aspects of the project (ie. hydro access, installation of lighting, creation of information plaques, etc.)

 

While we have not selected a contractor for the main interlock and landscaping work, our Committee is proposing to use the services of Eastern Ontario Monuments (Kevin Allen) for the moving and refurbishment of most of the pieces. They have extensive experience in their field and have assisted in each of the previous South Dundas cenotaph projects in Matilda, Iroquois and Williamsburg. We are also investigating options for the complex remediation and repairs needed for the two artillery guns.

 

Budget & Funding

 

We are estimating the budget for this project will total between $125,000-$150,000 in work to be completed. This would be the most expensive project to date when compared to the other South Dundas cenotaph projects, but there are a few factors contributing to this estimate, including inflationary increases.

 

The square footage of the site is larger and more complex, but we believe that this initiative is a generational project for the village of Morrisburg that will be a beautiful focal point for decades to come. It is also larger in that we are relocating 6 significant-sized pieces to a new site.

 

Another substantial budget item is the base work we are constructing for the interlock area. We want to provide not only a fitting, beautiful tribute to our local veterans, but we want to transfer the completed site to the Municipality without major financial burdens in the short and medium term.

 

To reflect the larger budget for this project, our financial request of the Municipality of South Dundas is more significant. We are also going to offer engraved bricks as a fundraising campaign, similar to the Iroquois and Matilda projects, where for $150 (with a $125 tax receipt), donors can purchase an interlock stone in the Morrisburg Soldiers Monument area.

Request of Council

 

Our Committee is asking for Council to support the following:

1. Approve the project proposal and conceptual design in principle to move and unify the cenotaphs and other pieces on one site at the new Veterans Walkway along the waterfront
2.  Provide a financial commitment in the 2026 Budget to complete the lighting and electrification of the walkway area
3.  Allow the Committee to complete the banking through the Municipality to save on HST costs and allow donors to receive an income tax receipt
4. the Municipality of South Dundas to be the lead applicant on the funding application to Veterans Affairs Canada’s Community War Memorial program (application reviewed by staff before submission)

 

Conclusion

 

Our community is grateful for the dedication and sacrifices made by those who served our country and provided us the quality of life we enjoy today.

 

We believe these repairs, relocation/unification of the cenotaphs and other pieces, and the site enhancements at the new Morrisburg Veterans Walkway will be well received by the community and be more visible to residents and visitors alike for decades to come.