September 25, 2010

Calgary - On September 25, 2010 Lee Richardson, MP for Calgary Centre along with the Canada Lands Company hosted a dedication ceremony for two major public spaces at the Currie Barracks in Calgary, Valour Park and Victoria Cross Park. . Valour Park is dedicated to the men and women who served in Canada’s armed forces during World War II while Victoria Cross Park honours Canadian recipients of the Victoria Cross during World War II. Both are large outdoor commemorative spaces honouring the Canadian Military.

Valour Park is defined by three large bronze statues representing the three branches of Canada’s armed forces – the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. In addition to the statues, there are storyboards that describe the role of each of the services during World War II. Valour Park’s role is to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by Canadians who served in the Second World War.

Victoria Cross Park is made up of a series of plaques to commemorate the 16 Canadians who won the prestigious Victoria Cross during the Second World War for their heroic actions, which includes the well-known, Calgary-born squadron leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette.


The following are remarks delivered by Lee Richardson, MP at the Valour and Victoria Cross Parks Inauguration

I would like to extend greetings to you today on behalf of the Government of Canada and thank Canada Lands.

Canada Lands Company, is the arms-length crown corporation that is responsible for the development of the Currie Barracks community. As you all know, this is a site with special significance for the people of Calgary.

As you all know, this is a site with special significance for the people of Calgary.

It is my hope that, over time, Valour Park and Victoria Cross Park will come to serve as places for both recreation – and reflection.

The creation of the parks is a respectful and very appropriate way to commemorate this area’s past connection with the military.

Valour Park salutes the Canadians who served and sacrificed in the Second World War.

And Victoria Cross Park, its neighbour, pays an equally eloquent tribute to the impressive group of Canadians who received the honour of the Victoria Cross during that same long conflict – the Second World War.

Beautiful parks like this simply do not appear overnight. Many, many people are involved in helping create what you see here today.

I would like to commend everyone involved in creating these parks.

As well as dedicating these two parks today, we are acknowledging the debt that Canada owes to all those who served and sacrificed for our country in World War II. 

“It is the men and women of the Canadian Forces who defend our way of life, and keep our country the True North Strong and Free.  We owe our peace and prosperity to those who wear, and have worn, the maple leaf so valiantly.”

To all retired personnel here today, I want to say, on behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, thank you for your service.

And to all active Canadian Forces personnel who are here today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, and all Canadians, I want to say thank you for keeping our True North strong and free.

As our  Prime Minister said, on a similar occasion, “ours is a country that has always stood up when the cause has been just.  A country that has never flinched in a fight no matter how fierce the foe.  And a country that has never wavered in its defence of freedom, democracy and justice.”

May these parks that we are opening today long serve as poignant reminders of just how much our soldiers, sailors and airmen sacrificed during the Second World War, to preserve these values.

Thank you.