War memorial erected 100 years ago in Mississauga honours fallen Canadians

City officials and the community gathered Saturday morning in Mississauga’s south end to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Port Credit’s cenotaph.

The ceremony, held at Vimy Park on Stavebank Road, was hosted by the City of Mississauga in partnership with Colonel Alex Thomson Memorial Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 82 in Port Credit.

“Today, we celebrated a century of memories in Vimy Park as we commemorated the 100th anniversary of Port Credit’s cenotaph and acknowledged the new inscription of Afghanistan 2001-2014,” the city said in a post to social media on Saturday.

The cenotaph, initially erected to honour Canadians who died in the First World War, has been updated for its 100th anniversary.

The Port Credit cenotaph has stood on Stavebank Road since 1925 and for decades has been the focal point for Remembrance Day ceremonies.

A new inscription on the 100-year-old Port Credit cenotaph honours Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014.

Originally known as the Port Credit and Vicinity Soldiers’ Memorial, the cenotaph was an initiative of the old Town of Port Credit and was commissioned in honour of the men who lost their lives in what was then called “The Great War.”

The names of those soldiers are inscribed in lead lettering, together with the battles fought.

In 1946, the names of men who fell during the Second World War were added. A further inscription of the men who died during the Korean War was made in 1983 and for the 100th anniversary, the monument will also acknowledge Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014.

Saturday’s ceremony began at 10 a.m. and welcomed all members of the community.

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish speaks at Saturday’s ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Port Credit cenotaph.

(All photos: City of Mississauga X)