KAWARTHA LAKES-Twenty-five years ago, Fenelon Falls Legion volunteer Arlene Coleman was inspired to introduce a candlelight vigil to Fenelon Falls’ annual Remembrance Day celebrations. At the time, candlelight vigils for Remembrance Day were not common in Canada, but were becoming a tradition in Europe. There is a Finnish tradition to remember loved ones on Christmas Eve by placing a candle on their grave. In 1991, a Finnish lady living in the Netherlands, Leena van Dam, brought this tradition to the Holten Canadian War Cemetery.
In 1995, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the country’s liberation, Dutch children placed candles on the graves of fallen soldiers, which remained lit overnight in a silent tribute. This touching event became an annual tradition. Placing one candle on each grave was an ambitious undertaking, but it did create a very striking spectacle in the dark, with row, after row of candles lighting up the night. Dutch citizens have long made an effort to recognize the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers to free their country from Nazi occupation. The thousands of headstones arranged neatly in rows in the military cemeteries are a poignant reminder of all of the Canadians who gave their lives in the fight for freedom.
At Fenelon Falls’ first Candlelight vigil, the crowd gathered on the evening of November 10th in front of Slices and Scoops, and each would carry their own tribute candle, or one for those who were not able to attend. The procession marched up Colborne Street, then Francis Steet to the Cenotaph, where there was a brief ceremony, and people lined up to place their candles. That night, cadets from the Hastings-Prince Edward Regiment stood vigil until morning as the candles lit up the cenotaph, remembering family members who served, local veterans, and the soldiers who gave their life in service of their country.
Volunteer Belinda Wilson explains, “as moving as the service was, it was nothing compared to the experience of visiting the cenotaph later, seeing folks there in quiet reflection with the glow of the candles flickering on the silhouettes of those young cadets who volunteered to stand vigil through the night, not standing down until the conclusion of the Remembrance Day service the following day. I have been there at 11:00 pm, or 1:00 in the frosty morning, and still there would usually be someone there, honouring and remembering. The Candlelight Vigil was one of the most important events for the cadets, and they would strive for the privilege to participate. Sadly, that ended after Nathan Cirillo was gunned down at the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa in 2014. Since then, cadets have only been permitted to stand vigil during the candlelight service.”
This year, November 10 was a cold and snowy night, perhaps a fitting reminder of the much greater hardships that Canadians soldiers have had to endure over the years as they have served their country. As has become the tradition in Fenelon Falls, the procession once again made its way from Slices and Scoops to the cenotaph, to solemnly remember those who have served their country. The candles were placed one by one on the cenotaph, creating a striking red glow in the night. “This was a new experience for me when I moved to Fenelon Falls from Toronto,” explains Royal Canadian Legion Branch 238 president Debbie Collins. “I had never seen anything like this. It’s beautiful and it’s overwhelming and a very touching tribute to Fenelon Falls’ veterans.”
Lest We Forget.
The Fenelon Falls Legion will be hosting a Remembrance Day Service on November 11 at 11 am at the cenotaph. That evening the Legion will host cocktails at 5 pm, followed by a Remembrance Day dinner at 6.
The Bobcaygeon Legion will be commemorating Remembrance Day on November 11 at the Cenotaph. Arrival time is 10:30 am with the service beginning at 10:45 am and refreshments to follow at the Legion.
This story is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum and was written by Glenn Walker.
If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to: curator@maryboro.ca or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
50 Oak Street
Fenelon Falls, ON
K0M 1N0
