St. Joseph-Scollard Hall (SJSH) held a Remembrance Day service on Thursday, November 10. In order to commemorate our veterans and the 352 Scollard students who served in military service, St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Arts, Music, Drama, Dance and Mkwa Doodem programs showcased beautiful Remembrance Day tributes for all Grade 9-12 students, guests, and families in attendance of the Scollard 31. The school also welcomed a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Captain Gareth “Lester” Carter who shared the many ways the Canadian Miliary serves and protects Canada and the importance of honouring our veterans. Following the service, Father Larry Rymes provided a blessing of the newly commissioned statue of Mary and Memorial Plaque, which is now in the school courtyard for all students to visit. Families of the Scollard 31 and SJSH Alumni were in attendance to participate in the service.
This year’s Remembrance Day Service had a special focus as it was dedicated to honoring the Scollard 31. Colin Vezina, whose brother Howard was one of the Scollard 31, shared in a powerful way with our students and all those in attendance, this important history and shared our call as future generations to remember these young men who fought courageously for the freedoms we enjoy today as Canadians.
During World War II, 352 young men from the original Scollard Hall volunteered for military service. Tragically, 31 never made it back home and now lie in military cemeteries far from home. SJSH still displays the original list of young men who volunteered – lovingly created by one of the teachers during the war, Fr. Charles Brunck. Black crosses mark the names of those that died. This year, the school will honour those 31.
Aubrey, Joseph
Boyer, Albert
Boyer, Maurice
Charette, Reuben
Chatson, Raymond
Demarco, Joseph
Devine, Patrick
Dillon, Emmett
Dixon, John
Doyle, Earl
Godin, John
Hawke, William
Jasmin, Herbert
Kelly, John
King, Francis
Laronde, Gerald
MacDougall, Angus
McKay, Duncan
McMahon, Daryl
Mulligan, Gregory
O’Kane, Thomas
Proulx, Omer
Quinlan, John
Roffey, John
Sabourin, Frank
Shanks, James
Sorel, Gerald
Steepe, John
Sullivan, Joseph
Tillman, Gerard
Vezina, Howard
In 1945, the mothers of these 31 young men wanted to honour the sacrifice of their children by establishing a memorial at the school. They chose a powerful symbol – they commissioned a statue of Mary, Mother of Jesus, who watched her own Son die on the cross. A grotto with such a statue was built in the trees behind the school. Over the years, the original statue was moved off-site during a period of re-construction at the school and was unable to be re-located in recent years. However, a new statue and a new memorial plaque have been commissioned, and these now proudly rest inside a courtyard at SJSH for all future generations to see.
The Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board extends their deep gratitude to Principal Derek Belanger, the following Scollard Hall alumni for their leadership and collaboration to renew this important memorial at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall: Peter Gavan, Bob Lucenti, Al Orlando and Colin Vezina, all the families of the Scollard Hall 31 and Captain Gareth “Lester” Carter Royal of the Canadian Air Force who were able to join us.
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
Photo courtesy of Al Orlando Photography
