On April 12, the Parish of Penetanguishene celebrated its 190th anniversary, along with the 40th anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Vickie Edgeworth-Pitcher, the parish’s current interim priest-in-charge.
Participating in the celebration were Bishop Riscylla Shaw, the colour party from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 68, costumed interpreters from the Penetanguishene Museum, and costumed naval interpreters. (The Anglican parish of St. James-on-the-Lines was built for and by the soldiers stationed at the local garrison, which is now called Discovery Harbour.)
Bringing greetings on behalf of the province and the country were Adam Chambers, MP for Simcoe North, and the parents of Jill Dunlop, the local MPP.
Future anniversary plans involving the historic cemetery include the planting of a children’s memorial garden in remembrance of the boys of the Boys Reformatory of Upper Canada (the province’s first juvenile detention centre) and the many other children buried there. Children from Burkevale Protestant Separate School will also be participating in the No Stone Left Alone program, honouring and remembering Canada’s veterans. The program will conclude with placing white crosses made by clients of the Waypoint Mental Health Centre at the grave of every veteran in the historic cemetery.
Submitted by the Parish of Penetanguishene
