Pomp and circumstance will be part of a ceremony to welcome a piece of silver maple tree that inspired the song The Maple Leaf Forever.
New Westminster resident Vic Leach reports that a part of a tree that was blown down in a big storm in Toronto last July is making its way to New Westminster, where it will be turned into a mace by members of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild that meets monthly at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall.
“We are told that these pieces of wood are from the silver maple that had a leaf land on Alexander Muir in 1866 or 1867 and inspired him to write the song The Maple Leaf Forever,” Leach said. “This song was once considered as Canada’s national song for many years. The music to this song is the Royal Westminster Regiment’s regimental march.”
Rob Rathbun, president of the Society of Officers of the Honourable Guard, contacted Toronto Mayor Rob Ford after the tree fell down last year, as he thought the wood could be used to make a mace for his organization and represents an important piece of Canadian history.
Everyone is invited to attend a wood-welcoming ceremony at Westminster Pier Park (near the Lytton Square building) on Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 p.m. Pipers and a drummer with the Society of Officers of the Honourable Guard will don their Maple Leaf tartans and play at the ceremony that will also be attended by singers, representatives from the Royal Westminster Regiment and local officials.
Leach said the two pieces of wood, both about four feet long, are numbered and can be documented. Ed Pretty, past-president of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild, will dry the larger piece so it reaches the optimal dryness and turn it into a mace.
“He will save the wood chips so that Rob can make it into a special paper. Parts of the other wood will be laser cut into maple leafs to be given at special occasions,” Leach said. “At one end of the mace will be a stainless steel globe upon which will be adorned something signifying each of the provinces and territories.”
Learn more about anvil salute
With Victoria Day being celebrated this weekend, it’s apropos that the New Westminster Historical Society will be taking a look at one of the Royal City’s long-standing celebrations.
The historical society’s May program will focus on the firing of anvils – not guns – and the story of the traditional salute done by the Ancient and Honourable Hyack Anvil Battery.
“Since the late 1800s the Anvil Battery has been a major part of Victoria Day celebrations in New Westminster,” said a press release about the event. “Frequently we read in the press of the early days of B.C. that a group, gathering to welcome someone or to celebrate something, fired a salute – often with anvils. Such stories and many anecdotes from our past are part of this program.”
Everyone is invited to attend the free presentation on Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the New Westminster Public Library at 716 Sixth Ave.
The actual 21-shot salute takes place two days earlier – May 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Queen’s Park Stadium.
Fraserside strategizes
Fraserside Community Services Society has created a new five-year strategic plan aimed at creating “communities of belonging” where the diversity of all people is welcome.
The society’s mission is to support people with low incomes or who have developmental disabilities, mental health or substance-use issues, and need help finding housing or seeking work.
Lynda Edmonds, chief executive officer, is excited about the way the plan was developed.
“We had heartfelt conversations throughout the agency. It was inspiring to hear how the work of Fraserside is meaningful both to the people we serve and to the employees and volunteers,” she said in a press release.
Edmonds sees the work of Fraserside as contributing toward communities where everyone belongs.
“At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, this work is profound,” she said in the release.
“By setting the course towards a vision of belonging, not only will the lives of individuals be enriched, but our communities will be richer for it.”
Do you have an idea for Around Town? Send items of community interest to Theresa, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @TheresaMcManus. You can also read more about New West people and events at Theresa’s blog, Only in New West, online at www.royalcity
record.com.
