Veterans Remembrance Program

Veterans Remembrance Program

The veterans banner program, a Council initiative in 2020, honours the veterans whose names are listed on the Parksville Cenotaph. There are sixty names on the Cenotaph from the two world wars and through extensive research we have been able to obtain images and information for thirty-one veterans. Their stories are both heartwarming and tragic.

Research for the project started in 2020 and although it has presented some incredible findings, it has posed many challenges. Experienced researcher, Valda Stefani, was pleased to pursue the veterans’ stories even though archives worldwide were closed for months due to the pandemic. Ms Stefani established relationships with military museums and other researchers and conducted interviews to ensure we were able to put faces to as many names as possible. Many of the local young men who enlisted, especially in World War I, had recently arrived from places as far away as the United Kingdom and Australia and were too young to have started families, adding to the challenge of finding photographs. We received images from archives in England, Ireland, Parksville Museum and Archives, UBC Archives, Times Colonist, personal collections, and other sources.

Many residents shared personal stories and valuable information about family members, information not otherwise accessible from archives or museums. This process of gathering information and stories to personalize the lives of these veterans has been rewarding for the City.

We continue searching for missing information and if you can help, contact communications@parksville.ca or 250 954-3073. We encourage the public to review the lists to determine if you can provide additional information. We truly appreciate even the smallest contribution to help memorialize these brave soldiers.