Volunteers Needed for Culture Summerside’s Great War Project
Culture Summerside is once again bringing attention to the soldiers of the Great War. Many Prince County citizens will recall the 2016 project about the members of C Company of the 105th Battalion who trained in Summerside over the first six months of 1916 in preparation for overseas service. The current project titled, 1919 – PEI Soldiers Return from the Great War, will include a lecture series, a commemorative event, and the creation of a booklet with the assistance of creative writers and volunteer researchers. The various components will address the return of soldiers to Prince Edward Island with emphasis on the men whose homes were in the western half of the province.
While many wounded or otherwise discharged soldiers arrived in 1917 and 1918, the majority of Canadian troops (over 267,000) were still in France or Great Britain when the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. It was in 1919 that the demobilization took place and Islanders looked forward to welcoming home the men who had served for them.
The 2019 project is being funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage under the Anniversary Component of the Building Community through Arts and Heritage Program and will run from mid-January to the end of May. Volunteers are currently being sought to take part in research by reading on microfilm several Island newspapers that existed in 1918-19. Their findings will be the backbone of a booklet to be published in recognition of the return of the soldiers. A section of the booklet will also contain selections of creative writing to be inspired by images found in the newspapers.
A lecture series is being planned for late in the spring. One of the presenters will be Louise Morris, who has done extensive research on members of the 105th Battalion, in particular the men of C Company, who were mainly from Prince County. She has worked closely with the staff of the MacNaught History Centre to determine what happened to the men after the war and has made some interesting discoveries.
The project will culminate in a public event to take place on Sunday, May 26th with special emphasis on commemorating the return of the largest group of returned soldiers, which arrived in Summerside on May 18, 1919. In addition to music and drama, the afternoon event will include the launch of the booklet, which will be a lasting reminder of the year the soldiers of the Great War came home.
If you are interested in being part of this project contact the MacNaught History Centre and Archives at 75 Spring St.
Call 902-432-1332 or email archives@city.summerside.pe.ca
This project is being supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage
City of Summerside is Inviting Nominations for Culture & Heritage Awards
The City of Summerside is inviting nominations for its Culture and Heritage Awards program. The awards recognize significant contributions or achievements in the field of culture or heritage promotion, education or preservation in 2018.
Anyone can nominate individuals or groups for a wide range of cultural or heritage projects such as events, artistic expression, publications and more occurring in 2018. The result of these efforts may have taken the form of a book, a performance piece, a webpage or a restoration process to name a few examples of achievements recognized in previous years.
Nominees will have exhibited a significant achievement in heritage or cultural expression in Summerside or the geographic area it serves. Projects having one or more significant outside components must have a strongly rooted Summerside connection to qualify for consideration.
Nominations may be made under the following headings: Heritage Activities, Cultural Activities, Natural Heritage Activities, Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Publication Of The Year, Award of Honour.
The awards ceremony will take place in City Council Chambers during the Mayor’s Heritage Tea, Friday, February 22 at 1:30 pm.
From Jan 2 forward nomination forms will be available at MacNaught History Centre and Archives, 75 Spring Street, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or by email: fred.horne@city.summerside.pe.ca. Completed nomination forms must be received at the MacNaught History Centre by Noon Friday January 18, 2019.
This is the 9th year that the City of Summerside has recognized those who help build our community and its resources by making arts, heritage and culture a vibrant part of our life.
For more information, contact Fred Horne at (902) 432-1332 or email fred.horne@city.summerside.pe.ca
You can download the nomination form in PDF format by clicking this link:
City of Summerside Cultural Plan | Cultural Plan Recommendations Progress Sheet