Lieutenant Governor & Ogimaa Kwe dedicate expansion of the Souharissen Natural Area
The dedication ceremony marks the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Souharissen, and includes the installation of two new monuments, as well as nearly 10 additional acres of land.
Alongside dozens of residents, I was honoured to take part in two very special dedication ceremonies in Waterdown on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Our community played host to two special guests, the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, as well as Ogimaa Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault, of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
In the morning, the dignitaries unveiled several new monuments stones within “The Ponds”, a new extension of the Souharissen Natural Area. The event marks the 10th anniversary of the original dedication ceremony of the now 60 acre+ Souharissen Natural Area, which sits adjacent to the Mountainview Heights neighborhood, running along Dundas St. from First Street past Avonsyde Bvld. Along the trail network, one will find multiple monument stones, points of interest, a canoe garden, and numerous bat houses. Students from Waterdown District High School, led by Mr. Nathan Tidridge of the Department of Canadian & World Studies, have been instrumental in coordinating, developing, and maintaining the area. To learn more about the history and purpose of Souharissen Natural Area, as well as the City of Hamilton's financial investment in the area, click here.
In the afternoon, both the Ogimaa Kwe and the Lieutenant Governor joined students, veterans, and community members inside the Waterdown Legion for a dedication ceremony of the Waterdown Museum of Hope. What began as a project to engage Waterdown District High School students in the study of history, is now an internationally recognized museum. It boasts over 1,200 artifacts, ranging from missile shells, medals, letters, and uniforms donated by veterans, to carefully collected artifacts from the Holocaust, such as survivors’ stars and hate propaganda. With the support of Branch 551 along with many local benefactors, and the City of Hamilton, the museum has completed its transition from Waterdown District High School to its new, permanent home inside the Waterdown Legion.
